Biology Final Exam Review Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards related to biology concepts from lecture notes.

Positive Control

A control group that should produce a positive result, demonstrating that the experimental setup is capable of producing results.

Negative Control

A control group that should not produce a result, ensuring that there are no confounding variables that could lead to a false positive.

Hypothesis

A testable statement or prediction about the relationship between variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable.

Controlled Variables

Factors that are kept constant during the experiment to prevent them from influencing the dependent variable.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the chemical properties of an element.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, giving it an electrical charge.

Hydrogen Bond

A type of weak chemical bond formed between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative atom.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, resulting in partially positive and partially negative regions.

Monomer

A small, repeating unit that makes up a polymer.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many monomers bonded together.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar, such as glucose or fructose.

Disaccharide

A sugar composed of two monosaccharides joined together.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate made up of many glucose monomers.

Lipid

A type of biological molecule that is hydrophobic and insoluble in water.

Protein

A biological molecule made up of amino acids.

Primary Structure (Protein)

The sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary Structure (Protein)

Local folding patterns of a protein, such as alpha helices and beta sheets.

Tertiary Structure (Protein)

The overall three-dimensional shape of a protein.

Quaternary Structure (Protein)

The association of multiple polypeptide chains to form a functional protein.

Nucleic Acid

A biological molecule made up of nucleotide monomers.

Catalyst

A molecule that speeds up a chemical reaction.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst.

Substrate

The specific reactant that an enzyme acts upon.

Active Site

The region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that requires energy input.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy.

Activation Energy

The energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Denaturation

The process by which a protein unravels and loses its native shape.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the main energy currency of the cell.

Gene

A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for making a specific protein or RNA molecule.

Transcription

The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA.

Translation

The synthesis of a polypeptide from an mRNA template.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to an mRNA codon.

Ribosome

A cellular structure that carries out protein synthesis.

Mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.

Virus

A small infectious agent that replicates inside the cells of living organisms.

Vaccine

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Prokaryotic Cell

A type of cell without a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic Cell

A type of cell with a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Organelle

A membrane-bound structure within a cell that performs a specific function.

Homeostasis

The control of internal conditions.

Negative Feedback Loop

A type of regulation in which the end product of a process inhibits the process itself.

Hormone

A type of chemical messenger produced by endocrine glands and transported in the blood.

Target Cell

A cell that has receptors for a specific hormone.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules.

Mechanical Digestion

The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

Chemical Digestion

The chemical breakdown of food molecules by enzymes.

Gas Exchange

The exchange of gases between an organism and its environment.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Receptor protein

A protein found on the postsynaptic neuron that binds neurotransmitters.

Transporter/reuptake protein

A channel that lets the neurotransmitter go back to the presynaptic neuron.