cline {Ans: a graded change in a trait along a geographic axis}invertebrates {Ans: animals without a backbone}stem {Ans: supporting structure that connects roots and leaves and carries water and nutrients between them}peristalsis {Ans: the process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along}transformation {Ans: modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA}nitrogen fixation {Ans: process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use (ammonia)}