Biology Honors NC EOC

Cell Wall

A ridged structure that surrounds the cells of plants, fungi, many protists, and most bacteria

Chloroplast

contains chlorophyll; the site of photosynthesis

Chromatin

The DNA in a non-dividing cell; uncoiled chromosomes

Chromosome

DNA in a coiled, rod-shaped form that occurs during cell division

Cilium/Cilia

A short, hairlike organelle that extends from a cell and functions in locomotion

Cytosol/Cytoplasm

The gelatin like aqueous fluid that bathes the organelles on the inside of the cell membrane

Flagellum/Flagella

A whip-like structure made up of microtubles that function in locomotion

Golgi Apparatus

A system of membranes in eukaryotic cells that modifies protiens for export by the cell

Lysosome

A organelle containing digestive enzymes, existing primarily in animal cells

Mitochondria

The organelle that is the site of aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells; FOLDS=More Surface Area=More ENERGY

Nuclear Envelope

A double membrane that surrounds the nucleus of eukaryotic cells

Nuclear Pore

A small hole in the nuclear envelope through which substances pass between the nucleus and the cytoplasm

Nucleolus

The structure in which ribosomes are synthesized and partially assemble; found in most nuclei

Ribosome

the site of protein synthesis

Selectively Permeable (Semi-Permeable) Membrane

A membrane that keeps some molecules out but allows others to pass through

Vacuole

A fluid filled organelle that stores water & food; plants have enzymes of metabolic waste material

Concentration Gradient

the difference of a concentration of substance across a space

Contractile Vacuole

an organelle in protists that expels/regulates water

Diffusion

the process, by which, molecules move from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration

Equilibrium

a state that exists when the concentration of a substance is equal throughout a space

Facilitated Diffusion

a process in which substances move down their concentration gradient across the cell membrane with the assistance of carrier proteins; passive-requires NO Energy

Hypertonic

describing a solution whose solute concentration is higher than that inside a cell; water moves out & cell shrinks

Hypotonic

describing a solution whose solute concentration is lower than that inside a cell; water moves in & cell swells

Isotonic

describing a solution whose solute concentration is equal that inside a cell; water moves in & out at a constant rate (equilibrium)

Osmosis

the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane

Passive transport

the movement of substances across the cell membrane without the use of cell energy

Turgor Pressure

water pressure within a plant cell

Active Transport

the movement of a substance across the cell membrane against a concentration gradient; requires the cell to expend energy (APT)

Endocytosis

the process by which the cell surrounds and engulfs substances

Exocytosis

a process in which a vesicle inside the cell fuses with the cell membrane and releases its contents into the external environment

Phagocytosis

a type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs large particles or whole cells

Pinocytosis

a type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs solutes or fluids

Sodium-Potassium Pump

a carrier protein that actively transports K+ ions into and Na+ ions out of cells; active transport/requires energy

Vesicle

a membrane-bound sac in a eukaryotic cell that contains materials involved in endocytosis, exocytosis, or transport within a cell.

Cell

a membrane-bound structure that is the basic unit of life

Plasma/Cell Membrane

the phospholipid bilayer that forms the outer boundary of a cell

Eukaryote

a cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

Nucleus

In a eukaryotic cell, the organelle that contains DNA & stores the information for making proteins

Organelle

one of several formed bodies with a specialized function that is suspended in the cytoplasm and found in eukaryotic cells

Prokaryote

a unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; BACTERIA

Birth rate

the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area

Death rate

the ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area

Population Density

number of individuals per unit area

Carrying capacity

largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

Exponential Growth

population growth pattern where a population grows faster as it increases in size; J-curve

Limiting factor

factor that causes the growth of a population to decrease or stop at a given density

Logistic growth

growth pattern in which a population's growth rate slows or stops following a period of exponential growth; S-Curve

Chemosynthesis

synthesis of carbohydrate (glucose) from chemicals (energy source), carbon dioxide, and water

Commensalism

the relation between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it (+0)

Competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Mutualism

the relation between two different species of organisms that both benefit (++)

Parasite

an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant)

Parasitism

the relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it (+-)

Predator

any animal that lives by preying on other animals

Prey

animal hunted or caught for food

Symbiosis

any relationship in which two species live closely together with mutalism, commensalism, parasitism

Consumer

an organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms

Decomposer

organisms in an ecosystem that break down organic material (dead organisms, their waste, etc.)

Food chain

(ecology) a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member

Food web

(ecology) a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains

Producer

the bottom of the energy pyramid; includes any organism that makes its own food from raw materials

Trophic level

each step in a food chain or food web

Asexual reproduction

reproduction that does not involve the union of gametes and in which a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent; Examples: mitosis, binary fission, budding, fragmentation

Autotroph

An organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms or substances derived from other organisms. These use energy from the sun or from chemicals to make food

Differentiation

(biology) the structural adaptation of cells for a particular function; signals activate/"turn on" specific genes

DNA

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; stores information for making proteins

Ecosystem

a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment

Evolution

(biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms; occurs through Natural Selection

Gene

(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a specific polypeptide chain/protein

Homeostasis

Relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain

Natural selection

a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment; "survival of the fittest"

Photosynthesis

the process by which plants and some other organisms use light/radient energy to power chemical reactions that convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high energy carbohydrates (glucose)

Sexual reproduction

reproduction involving the union or fusion of a male and a female gamete; causes diversity/variation

Metabolism

the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life

Activation Energy

enzymes reduce this to speed up reactions

Enzyme

proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions; usually end in -ase; VERY SPECIFIC

Product

a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction

Reactant

a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction

Hydrogen bond

a chemical bond consisting of a hydrogen atom between two electronegative atoms (e.g. nitrogen); holds the 2 sides of DNA together

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

principal chemical compound that cell use as energy

Macromolecules/Organic Molecules

any very large complex molecules that make up living things; Carbs., Lipids, Proteins, & Nucleic Acids

Monomer

a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers; smallest unit

Organic compound

any compound of carbon and hydrogen

Polymer

made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers

Amino acid

monomer of Proteins; link together by peptide bonds to make polypeptides/proteins

Carbohydrate

compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; they are the main/1st energy source of living things, they are also called ("sugars"); usually end in -ose

Fatty acid

form part of a lipid molecule

Hydrophillic

the hydrocarbon end of a fatty acid molecule (water loving); head of the phospholipid

Hydrophobic

the fatty acid chains of a lipid (water hating); tails of the phospholipid

Lipid

macromolecules used for long term energy storage (2nd Source), cell membranes, and insulation

Monosaccharide

The simplest carbohydrate, active alone or serving as a monomer for disaccharides and polysaccharides. Also known as simple sugars

Nucleic Acid

stores & delivers the information for making proteins; which gives you your traits/characteristics

Nucleotide

The building block of a nucleic acid, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group; DNA & RNA

Peptide bond

used to connect 2 amino acids together

Phospholipid

makes up the bi-layer of the cell membrane

Polypeptide

A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds; Protein

Polysaccharide

carbohydrate chains made up of monosaccharide molecules

Protein

macromolecule that provides structure and functional processes for the cells; made up of amino acids

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

single strand nucleic acid with the bases A, U, C, G; delivers information for making proteins

Steroid

a lipid; cholesterol