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TERMGROUPDEFINITION
BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLLNBACTERIAPronunciation:

Etymology:

Bacteriochlorophylls are prokaryotic photosynthetic pigments that are related to chlorophylls of eukaryotes.
BALLISTOSPORENFUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

A spore forcefully ejected from its source.
BARREN BASAL BODYNPPLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Basal body with no associated flagellum.
BARREN ORTHOGONAL BASAL BODYNPPLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Some flagellated taxa have motile cells with basal bodies that do not have attached flagella. Such basal bodies are called barren. The orientation of the basal bodies relative to each other can be varied. Orthogonal basal bodies occur at right angles to each other.
BASAL ROSETTENPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

A circular cluster of leaves at the base of a stem.
BASAL BODYNPANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Basal bodies (also called kinetosomes) are organelles that are not membrane-bound. All eukaryotic flagella (also called undulipodia) are underlain or attached to the cell by the basal body. The basal body is a microtubular structure with the general formula 9(3)+0. They are indistinguishable from centrioles.
BASAL DISKNPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The basal disk is the attachment organ of some sessile taxa, particularly Cnidaria and Entoprocta.
BASAL PLATENPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

A basal plate is a characteristic component of the “jaw” mechanism of a gnathostomulid. It lies within the mouth, anterior to the “jaws” at the entrance to the pharynx.
BASAL SHEATHNPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Lower part of the leaf that encloses the internode.
BASIDIOCARPNFUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Fruiting body of a basidiomycete which bears spores on specialized cells.
BASIDIOSPORENFUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Sexually produced fungal spore borne on a basidium.
BASIDIUM (BASIDIA)NFUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Microscopic structures at the end of hyphae in which fungi produce spores.
BDELLOIDADJANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Bdelloid (adj.) means leech-like.
BELLNANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The bell is the jellyfish or medusoid body (some are box or umbrella-shaped).
BENTHICADJANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGI, BACTERIAPronunciation:

Etymology:

A benthic (adj.) organism is one that lives in or on the bottom of marine or freshwater environments.
BERRYNPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

A fleshy indehiscent fruit with the seed or seeds immersed in pulp.
BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURENPSYSTEMATICSPronunciation: bi-NO-me-al NO-men-kla-tshur

Etymology: Binomial is derived from two Latin roots that mean two (bi) and name (nomen). Nomenclature also is formed from two Latin roots meaning name (nomen) and call (calare).

The binomial as a way to unambiguously define a species was inadvertently created by Linnaeus. Each species name has a genus (a noun) and a modifying specific epithet (an adjective). The names should agree in gender, though that is not always the case. Usually, the species name includes the authority (the person(s) who named the species and the date it was officially named). The species name is never just the species epithet. For example, the full binomial or proper species name for our species is: Homo sapiens Linnaeus 1758.
BIOLUMINESCENTADJANIMALS, PROTISTS, FUNGI, BACTERIAPronunciation:

Etymology:

Bioluminescence is the ability of a living organism to produce light by enzyme-mediated reactions.
BISEXUAL STROBILUS (BISEXUAL STROBILI)NPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The cones containing both staminate and ovulate structures.
BISPORANGIATE CONESNPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Synonymous with bisexual strobili.
BITEGMATIC OVULESNPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

An ovule with two integuments.
BITUNICATEADJFUNGIPronunciation:

Etymology:

Ascus with clearly differentiated outer and inner walls.
BLADENPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

A blade is the leaf-like photosynthetic organ of seaweeds, particularly the kelps.
BLASTOCOELNANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The fluid-filled cavity in a blastula.
BLASTOPORENANIMALSClick here
BLASTULANANIMALSClick here
BOOK GILLNPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Book gills are specialized respiratory organs that occur in the Merostomata (Chelicerata). These are highly reduced appendages that lie as pages of a book in the abdomen and function as the primary respiratory organs.
BOOK LUNGNPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Book lungs (like book gills) are specialized respiratory organs that occur in terrestrial Chelicerata. These are highly reduced appendages that lie as pages of a book in the abdomen and function as the primary respiratory organs. Often, they are associated with a tracheal system.
BORDERED PITSNPPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

In a xylem-conducting cell, usually a tracheid, it is a pit in the secondary wall having a thickened rim (border).
BOTHROSOMESNPROTISTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Bothrosomes (sagenogen, sagengenetosomes) are organelles on the cells of labyrinthulids which produces the slime web.
BOTTLENECKNEVOLUTIONPronunciation & Etymology: This word is formed from two common English words that mean a reduction from a once large passage.

A bottleneck (n.) is the reduction in genetic diversity of a population resulting from an event that led to mortality of most individuals. See Founder Population.
BRACTNPLANTSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The branchial siphon is the incurrent siphon.
BRANCHIAL SIPHONNPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

The branchial siphon is the incurrent siphon.
BRANCH LENGTHNPSYSTEMATICSClick here
BUCCAL STYLETSNPANIMALSPronunciation:

Etymology:

Buccal stylets are needle-like feeding structures in tardigrades.
BUDNANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGI, BACTERIAPronunciation:

Etymology:

A bud is a structure that functions in asexual reproduction. It also can be an embryonic shoot in plants.
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