Life Science: Biology Regents Exam Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key topics for the Life Science: Biology Regents Exam, including structure and function, ecosystems, inheritance, evolution, and engineering design.

Transcription

The process where a DNA base sequence is converted into an mRNA sequence.

Translation

The process where an mRNA sequence is converted into an amino acid sequence.

Hormones

A type of protein that acts as a chemical messenger in the body.

Enzymes

A type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions.

Structural Proteins

Proteins that provide physical structure to organisms.

Cell Receptors

Proteins located on the cell membrane that receive signals from other cells.

Antibodies

Proteins used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.

Hierarchical Organization

The structural levels of an organism, specifically: atoms $\rightarrow$ molecules $\rightarrow$ cells $\rightarrow$ tissues $\rightarrow$ organs $\rightarrow$ organ systems $\rightarrow$ organism.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that restores balance and counteracts a change to maintain homeostasis.

Positive Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that amplifies a change rather than reversing it.

Type 1 Diabetes

An example of a breakdown in homeostasis involving the protein insulin and blood sugar regulation feedback loops.

Photosynthesis

The process where plants use light energy to convert inputs into outputs; these outputs serve as the inputs for cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

The process of breaking down matter to release energy; notably, plants perform both this and photosynthesis.

10% Rule

The ecological principle where only a small portion of energy is passed to the next trophic level; for example, if producers have $10,000\,J$, primary consumers receive $1,000\,J$, and secondary consumers receive $100\,J$.

Energy Flow

The one-way movement of energy through an ecosystem that cannot be recycled.

Matter Cycling

The process where atoms are reused continuously throughout the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Algal Blooms

Ecological disruptions caused by excess fertilizers that lead to oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems.

Biomolecules

The four main classes of organic compounds: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely, given the available food, habitat, water, and other necessities.

Limiting Factors

Environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population.

Group Behaviors

Behaviors such as flocking, herding, schooling, and pack hunting that provide survival and reproductive advantages.

Primary Succession

The series of community changes which occur on an entirely new habitat which has never been colonized before, such as bare rock.

Secondary Succession

The series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat where soil remains.

Functional Redundancy

A characteristic of biodiversity where multiple species perform similar functions, enhancing ecosystem resilience.

Mitosis

A type of cell division for growth and repair resulting in two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent.

Meiosis

A type of cell division for reproduction resulting in daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.

Differentiation

The process by which a single zygote turns into a complex organism with specialized cells.

Genotype

The genetic makeup or allele combinations of an organism (e.g., $AA$, $Aa$, or $aa$).

Phenotype

The observable physical traits or characteristics of an organism.

Homozygous

An organism that has two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

An organism that has two different alleles for a particular gene.

Mutagens

Environmental factors that cause errors or mutations in DNA replication.

CRISPR

A technology used for genetic engineering to modify DNA sequences.

Gene Flow

A mechanism of evolution involving the transfer of genetic material between populations.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution involving random changes in the frequency of traits within a population.

R&D Cycle

The engineering process steps: Define, Design, Test, Analyze/Argue, and Iterate.

Criteria

The specific goals or requirements that a design solution must meet.

Constraints

The limits or restrictions on a design, such as time, budget, or materials.

Trade-off

A deliberate choice to sacrifice one feature or quality of a design in order to gain another.

Iteration

The process of repeating cycles of testing and revision to improve a design solution.