Keystone Biology Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering major themes in biology: Themes of Life, Organic Chemistry, Cells and Cell Transport, and Energy.

Biology

The study of life.

Biotechnology

The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.

Forensics

The application of science to criminal and civil laws.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.

Organ

A group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function.

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform a specific function.

Organism

An individual living thing.

Scientific Principle

A fundamental concept in science.

Science Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for a set of observations.

Eukaryote

A cell with membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus.

Prokaryote

A cell lacking membrane-bound organelles, such as a nucleus.

Asexual Reproduction

Formation of a new organism from one parent; offspring is a clone.

Sexual Reproduction

Two cells from different parents unite to produce the 1st cell of a new organism.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The universal genetic code molecule in living things.

Autotroph

Obtains energy from the sun.

Heterotroph

Obtains energy from consuming other organisms.

Cell

Smallest unit of an organism that is considered alive.

Tissue

A group of similar cells that perform a particular function.

Adhesion

Water sticking to something else.

Cohesion

Water sticking to water.

Atom

The basic unit of a chemical element.

Concentration

The amount of a substance in a defined space.

Biological Macromolecules

Large organic molecules that are essential for life (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids).

Monomer

A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Freezing Point

The temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; provides energy and structural support.

Amino Acid

The building block of proteins.

Protein

A macromolecule made of amino acids; performs various functions in the body.

Macromolecule

A very large molecule, such as a polymer.

Lipid

A macromolecule made from long carbon chains; includes fats, oils, and waxes.

Nucleic Acid

A macromolecule made of nucleotides; includes DNA and RNA.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction.

pH

A measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together.

Specific Heat

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Organic Molecule

A molecule containing carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen and carbon.

Polymer

A long chain of bonded groups.

Phospholipids

Compose cell membranes.

Genes

Segments of DNA that code for a particular protein.

Active Site

Part of an enzyme that interacts with a substrate.

Point of saturation

The concentration where the reaction rate is maximized.

Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane)

Surrounds the cell and determines which substances enter and exit.

Nucleus

Control center for all cell functions.

Ribosome

The centers of protein synthesis in the cell.

Mitochondrion

Organelle where most stages of cellular respiration occur and energy is stored as ATP.

Chloroplast

Organelle that contains chlorophyll and carries out photosynthesis.

Protein Synthesis

The process of creating protein molecules.

Active Transport

Movement across the cell membrane that requires energy and moves from low to high concentration.

Passive Transport

Movement across the cell membrane that does not require energy and moves from high to low concentration.

Carrier (Transport) Proteins

Proteins that facilitate diffusion.

Concentration Gradient

The difference in concentration of a substance across a space.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration.

Endocytosis

The movement of a large substance into a cell by means of a vesicle.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A membrane-bound system of channels or tubes through which materials are transported within the cell.

Endosymbiosis

Development from prokaryotic cells.

Exocytosis

The movement of material out of a cell by means of a vesicle.

Facilitated Diffusion

Transport proteins help ions and polar molecules diffuse through the membrane.

Extracellular

Located outside a cell.

Golgi apparatus

Associated with the production of lysosomes and with the sorting and packaging of various cellular products.

Impermeable

Not allowing passage of fluids or substances.

Intracellular

Located inside a cell.

Organelle

Structures within a cell that perform specific functions.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Plastids

Organelles (such as chloroplasts) that contain pigment or food.

Pumps (ion or molecular)

Proteins that transport ions or molecules across the cell membrane against their concentration gradients.

Unicellular

Consisting of one cell.

Multicellular

Consisting of many cells.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells break down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that breaks down glucose to produce ATP.

Thylakoid

Membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place.

Cristae

Folds in the inner membrane of mitochondria.

Matrix

The space inside the inner membrane of a mitochondrion.

Mitochondria

Organelles that carry out cellular respiration.

Anaerobic

Occurring without oxygen.

Krebs Cycle

A series of chemical reactions that extract energy from pyruvate.

Glycolysis

Occurs in cytoplasm for prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space surrounding the thylakoids inside a chloroplast.

Aerobic

Occurring with oxygen.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; the energy currency of cells.