Apbio unit 1 vocab

Biology

Study of living things and their interactions.

Cell Theory

All living things are made of cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells without a nucleus (e.g., bacteria).

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a nucleus and organelles (e.g., plants, animals).

Plasma Membrane

Membrane controlling cell substance movement.

Organelles

Cell structures performing specific functions.

Cytoplasm

Jelly-like fluid inside the cell, excluding nucleus.

DNA

Genetic material of organisms.

RNA

Molecule for gene expression and regulation.

Homeostasis

Stability of internal environment.

Metabolism

Chemical reactions supporting life processes.

ATP

Main energy carrier in cells.

Enzyme

Protein that speeds up chemical reactions.

Substrate

Substance on which an enzyme acts.

Active Site

Region on an enzyme that binds substrates.

Catalyst

Substance that increases reaction rate without being consumed.

Activation Energy

Energy needed to start a reaction.

pH

Measure of acidity or alkalinity.

Buffer

Substance that minimizes changes in pH.

Hydrogen Bond

Weak bond between polar molecules.

Covalent Bond

Strong bond formed by sharing of electrons.

Ionic Bond

Bond formed through transfer of electrons between ions.

Hydrophobic

Substances that repel water.

Hydrophilic

Substances that attract water.

Polarity

Distribution of electric charge over molecules.

Carbohydrate

Organic compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (sugars).

Lipid

Hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats and oils.

Protein

Large molecules made up of amino acids.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins.

Peptide Bond

Bond between amino acids in a protein.

Nucleic Acid

Biomolecules essential for genetic information (DNA, RNA).

Gene

Segment of DNA that codes for a protein.

Chromosome

DNA molecule that contains genetic information.

Genome

Complete set of genes in an organism.

Transcription

Process of copying DNA into RNA.

Translation

Process of converting RNA into protein.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence.

Natural Selection

Mechanism of evolution where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive.

Speciation

Formation of new and distinct species in evolution.

Ecology

Study of organisms and their environment.

Biodiversity

Variety of life in an area.

Ecosystem

Community and environment interacting as a system.

Food Chain

Series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

Trophic Level

Each step in a food chain or food web.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.

Respiration

Process of breaking down glucose to produce energy.

Biogeochemical Cycle

Pathway by which a chemical substance moves through biotic and abiotic compartments of Earth.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size that an environment can sustain.

Population Density

Number of individuals per unit area.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems.