Video Lecture Flashcards: Ecology, Evolution, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes (Ecology, Evolution, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology).

Territoriality

Defense of a territory (often around a food source or mating area), especially during reproductive periods; defense has adaptive costs.

Reproductive strategies

Patterns of mating and parental investment; in primates, typically polygamous arrangements.

Polygamous

Mating with multiple partners; in this context, males monopolizing several females.

Female choice

Females prefer certain male traits, influencing mating success.

Male competition

Males compete for limited receptive females to fertilize eggs.

Sexual dimorphism

Differences in size/traits between males and females often due to sexual selection.

Sexual selection

Form of natural selection favoring traits that increase mating success, including female choice and male competition.

Facial symmetry

Symmetry in face/body; considered attractive and associated with mate quality.

Youthfulness

Preference by men for younger women, signaling fertility.

Kin selection

Altruistic behavior toward relatives that can increase inclusive fitness.

Altruism

Self-sacrificing behavior that benefits others, sometimes at a cost to the actor.

Genetic relatedness

Degree of shared DNA between relatives (e.g., siblings share about 50%).

Biotic potential

Highest possible per capita growth rate of a population under ideal conditions.

Exponential growth

Growth that speeds up over time; often depicted as a J-shaped curve.

Logistic growth

Growth that slows as carrying capacity is approached, producing an S-shaped curve.

Carrying capacity

Maximum population size that the environment can sustain indefinitely.

Survivorship Type I

Most individuals survive to old age (e.g., humans with parental care).

Survivorship Type II

Mortality rate roughly constant across ages.

Survivorship Type III

High mortality early in life; many offspring die young.

Prions

Misfolded proteins that cause other proteins to misfold, leading to disease.

Prion diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions.

Monomer

Small molecule that can join with others to form polymers.

Polymer

Large molecule formed by linking monomers.

Carbohydrate

Macromolecule for quick fuel and energy storage; structural roles in plants.

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar (e.g., glucose, fructose).

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides linked together (e.g., lactose, maltose, sucrose).

Polysaccharide

Long polymers of glucose (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).

Starch

Plant energy storage polymer of glucose.

Glycogen

Animal energy storage polymer of glucose.

Cellulose

Plant cell wall polysaccharide; polymer of glucose.

Chitin

Exoskeleton polymer in insects and crustaceans.

Lipid

Hydrophobic biomolecules involved in energy storage, membranes, and hormones.

Triglyceride

Fat molecule with glycerol backbone and three fatty acids.

Saturated fat

Fats with maximum hydrogens (no double bonds); typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fat

Fatty acids with one or more double bonds; usually liquid at room temperature.

Trans fat

Hydrogenated unsaturated fats with trans bonds; associated with health risks.

Hydrogenation

Addition of hydrogen to unsaturated fats to make them more saturated.

Phospholipid

Lipid with a phosphate group; essential component of cell membranes.

Steroid

Lipids with four fused carbon rings (e.g., cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen).

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not dissolve in water.

Glycerol

Three-carbon backbone of triglycerides.

Fatty acid

Long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group; can be saturated or unsaturated.

Amino acid

Monomer of proteins; contains an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group.

Peptide

Short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Polypeptide

Long chain of amino acids that folds into a protein.

Primary structure

Linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Alpha helix

Right-handed coiled secondary structure of some proteins.

Beta sheet

Sheet-like secondary structure formed by hydrogen bonds between strands.

Tertiary structure

Three-dimensional folding of a single polypeptide; overall shape.

Quaternary structure

Arrangement of multiple polypeptide subunits in a protein.

Denaturation

Loss of protein structure and function due to heat, pH, or chemicals.

Nucleic acid

Polymers (DNA/RNA) that store and transmit genetic information.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; stores genetic information; typically a double helix.

Double helix

Two DNA strands wound around each other; held by hydrogen bonds.

Adenine-Thymine pairing

A always pairs with T in DNA; C pairs with G.

Cytosine-Guanine pairing

C always pairs with G in DNA; forms hydrogen bonds between strands.

Hydrogen bond

Weak bond between a hydrogen atom and a more electronegative atom; key in DNA and water.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; energy currency of the cell; released by hydrolysis.

Virus

Acellular particle that must infect a host cell to reproduce; composed of a capsid and nucleic acid.

Capsid

Protein shell that encloses the viral genome.

Nucleic acid cord

The genetic material (DNA or RNA) of a virus.

Model organism

A species easy to study in the lab and to generalize findings from.

Replicate

Repeat an experiment to verify results; multiple trials.

Helicobacter pylori

Bacterium linked to stomach ulcers; treated with antibiotics.

Observational study

Study that observes natural conditions (e.g., Nurses Health Study).

Water properties

Cohesion, adhesion, high heat capacity, high heat of vaporization, solvent for polar molecules.

Hydrophilic

Molecule or part that interacts favorably with water.

Hydrophobic

Molecule or part that does not interact favorably with water.

Electronegativity

Attraction of an atom for electrons in a covalent bond.

Polar covalent bonds

Unequal sharing of electrons between atoms (e.g., O–H).

Nonpolar covalent bonds

Even sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic bonds

Bond formed by transfer of electrons, creating ions.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms that determine how a molecule reacts.

CH2O

Empirical formula for carbohydrates (one carbon, two hydrogens, one oxygen).