Biology Term 1 Exam Study Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the scientific method, SI measurements, cell structures and functions, cellular transport, tonicity, and cellular energy.

Scientific Method Steps

The sequential process of scientific inquiry: 1.) Question, 2.) Research, 3.) Hypothesis, 4.) Experiment, 5.) Collect data, 6.) Analyze + draw conclusions, 7.) Communicate results.

Variables

Factors in an experiment whose limitation makes for a good experiment.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changing (cause) in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable being measured as a result (effect) in an experiment.

Control

A factor or condition in an experiment that remains the same.

Quantitative Data

Data consisting of numbers and measurements.

Qualitative Data

Data consisting of descriptions and words.

SI Units of Measurement

Standard units: mass in kilogram, length in meter, volume in liter, and temperature in Kelvin.

King Henry Died Unusually Drinking Chocolate Milk (KDHBDCM)

A mnemonic for metric unit conversions representing Kilo ($1{,}000$), Hecto ($100$), Deca ($10$), Unit, Deci, Centi, and Milli.

Prokaryotic

Simple life forms with no nucleus (for example: bacteria).

Eukaryotic

Complex life forms that have a nucleus and organelles (for example: human cells).

Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells

1.) Plant cell's vacuole is much larger, 2.) Plant cells have chlorophyll, 3.) Plant cells have a cell wall.

Mitochondria

Organelle that turns food into energy.

Nucleus

Organelle that stores genetic info.

Rough ER

Organelle that makes, folds, and ships proteins.

Smooth ER

Organelle that breaks down fats and has no ribosomes.

Vacuole

Organelle that acts as storage for water.

Golgi Apparatus

Flattened stacks that modify proteins.

Cell Membrane

Organelle structure that acts as a barrier for the cell.

Lysosome

Organelle that breaks down waste and recycles materials.

Cytoskeleton

Cell structure that gives shape and supports the cell.

Ribosome

Cell structure that produces proteins.

Chloroplasts

Organelles that change light energy into food.

Levels of Life Organization

The biological hierarchy: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.

Passive Transport

Transport that does not require energy (examples include: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis).

Active Transport

Transport that requires energy (examples include: exocytosis, endocytosis, molecular transport, bulk transport).

Isotonic Solution

A solution where the amount of solute inside the cell is the same as the outside; animal cells are stable and plant cells are stable.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution where the amount of solute is lower than inside the cell; animal cells gain water and explode, and plant cells thrive.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution where the amount of solute is higher than the cell; animal cells shrivel and die, and plant cell's vacuoles will shrivel.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water through a semi permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration.

Homeostasis

The process where a living organism keeps its internal environment stable and balanced, even when the outside world changes.

Equilibrium

When a substance is spread out evenly throughout a solution.

Exocytosis

Transport process that uses vesicles to move substances out of the cell.

Endocytosis

Transport process that uses vesicles to move substances in the cell.

Energy

The ability to do work.

ATP

The energy currency of all living cells, composed of adenine, ribose, and triphosphate groups.

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food from light or chemical energy (ex: tree).

Heterotroph

An organism that consumes other organisms for energy (ex: wolf).

Photosynthesis

Process carried out by autotrophs that uses sunlight to make glucose.

Chemosynthesis

Process carried out by autotrophs that uses energy from chemicals to make glucose.

Glycolysis

The step of cellular respiration that occurs in the cytoplasm.

Krebs Cycle

A step of cellular respiration that occurs in the mitochondria.

Electron Transport Chain

A step of cellular respiration that occurs in the mitochondria.

Aerobic

A process that requires oxygen to make energy (ATP).

Anaerobic

A process that does not require oxygen to make energy (ATP).

Fermentation

Process that breaks down sugars to release energy without using oxygen.

Cell Theory

A fundamental biological theory with three points: 1.) The cell is the basic unit of all living things, 2.) Cells perform all the functions of living things, 3.) Cells come from the reproduction of existing cells.