Final Test KCC Sci

Parasites

Organisms that live on or inside a host, deriving nutrients at the host’s expense. Example: Tapeworms.

Producers/Autotrophs

Organisms that generate their own food, typically through photosynthesis. Example: Plants.

Chemotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight. Example: Bacteria in deep sea vents.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. Example: Animals.

Herbivores

Animals that eat only plants. Example: Cows.

Carnivores

Animals that eat only meat. Example: Lions.

Omnivores

Animals that eat both plants and meat. Example: Humans.

Scavengers

Animals that consume dead organisms without actively hunting them. Example: Vultures.

Biotic

Living factors in an ecosystem. Example: Trees.

Abiotic

Non-living factors in an ecosystem. Example: Rocks.

Ecosystem

A community of interacting organisms and their environment. Example: A forest.

Community

Different populations living together in the same area. Example: All the fish in a lake.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species in a specific area. Example: A herd of deer.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring. Example: Homo sapiens.

Terrestrial Planets

Rocky planets that form closer to the sun. Example: Earth.

Gas Giants

Planets made of hydrogen and helium that typically form farther from the sun. Example: Jupiter.

Domains of Life

The three main categories are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Example: Eukarya includes animals.

Eukaryote

Organisms with complex cells containing a nucleus. Example: Animals.

Prokaryote

Organisms with simple cells lacking a nucleus. Example: Bacteria.

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms found in diverse environments. Example: E. coli.

Archaea

Microorganisms that thrive in extreme conditions. Example: Thermophiles in hot springs.

Protists

Single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotes. Example: Algae.

Big Bang Theory

The scientific explanation of how the universe expanded from a singularity. Example: Expansion of space.

Support for bigbang theory

Evidence includes cosmic microwave background radiation, galaxy redshift, and element formation. Example: The expanding universe observed through telescope measurements.

continental drift

The gradual movement of continents due to tectonic plate shifts. Example: Fossil evidence from South America and Africa shows they were once connected.

Darwin’s theory

natural selection, where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over generations, these advantageous traits become more common in a population, leading to gradual evolutionary changes.

lamarck’s theory

proposed that organisms could develop new traits during their lifetime through use and disuse, then pass those traits to their offspring.

homologous structures

body parts that share a common ancestral origin but may serve different functions. An example is the forelimbs of mammals—humans, bats, and whales

analogous structures

features that serve similar functions but evolved independently in different species. For instance, the wings of birds and insects both enable flight but have different structural origins.

Feedback Mechanisms

Biological processes that regulate homeostasis. Example: Body temperature regulation.

Positive Feedback

Amplifies a response until completion. Example: Blood clotting.

Negative Feedback

Maintains stability by counteracting changes. Example: Insulin response to high blood sugar.

Primary Source of Energy for the Body

Carbohydrates are the body's preferred fuel. Example: Glucose.

primary source of stored energy in the body

Fats store energy for long-term use.

Pernicious Anemia

A condition caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Example: Lack of intrinsic factor.

Whole grains

Whole grains contain all three parts of the grain—bran, germ, and endosperm—making them rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. support heart health, digestion, and blood sugar regulation. Examples: brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread

refined grains

Refined grains have the bran and germ removed, leaving only the starchy endosperm, which reduces their nutritional value. Can lead to blood sugar spikes and lower fiber intake. Examples: white rice, white bread, and pastries

USDA Recommendation for Daily Amount of Exercise

At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Example: 30 minutes of brisk walking, 5 days a week.

Nutrient Processing

The body's method of handling nutrients through ingestion, digestion, absorption, utilization, and excretion. Example: Digestion of proteins into amino acids.

Chernobyl

April 26, 1986, Ukraine, Cause: A flawed reactor design and operator errors during a safety test led to an uncontrolled reaction, causing explosions and releasing massive amounts of radiation

Fukushima

March 11, 2011, Fukushima, Japan, Cause: A 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a 15-meter tsunami, which disabled the plant’s cooling systems, leading to reactor meltdowns and radiation leaks

3 Mile Island

March 28, 1979, Pennsylvania, USA, Cause: A combination of mechanical failures and human errors led to a partial meltdown of Reactor Unit 2, releasing radioactive gases into the environment

Homeostasis

The regulation of internal conditions to maintain stability. Example: Maintaining a stable body temperature.

how do we maintain homeostasis

The body regulates internal conditions through mechanisms like temperature control (sweating/shivering), blood sugar regulation (insulin/glucagon), and fluid balance (kidney function).

Accretion

The gradual accumulation of matter, often seen in planetary formation. Example: Formation of planets from dust and gas.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead matter, recycling nutrients. Example: Fungi.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells capable of developing into most cell types. Example: Embryonic stem cells.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Adult cells reprogrammed to behave like pluripotent stem cells. Example: Reprogrammed skin cells.

Invasive BCIs

Brain-computer interfaces implanted directly into the brain, posing high surgical risks. Example: Electrode arrays.

Non-Invasive BCIs

Brain-computer interfaces that use external sensors, making them the safest option. Example: EEG-based BCIs.

partially invasive BCIs

Placed on the brain’s surface, reducing risks but still requiring surgery. (medium risk)

types of materials used in 3d printing

Plastics, metals, and composites like carbon fiber, glass-filled polymers for strength and lightweight properties

frontal lobe

Located at the front of the brain, responsible for decision-making, reasoning, emotions, and voluntary movement.

parietal lobe

Located behind the frontal lobe, processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and spatial awareness.

occipital lobe

At the back of the brain, primarily responsible for vision processing.

temporal lobe

Located on the sides of the brain, involved in hearing, language comprehension, and memory storage.

primary motor cortex

Situated in the frontal lobe, controls voluntary muscle movements.

Primary somatosensory cortex

Located in the parietal lobe, processes sensory input such as touch and pain.

Primary gustatory cortex

Found in the insula and frontal lobe, responsible for interpreting taste sensations.

Pons

Located in the brainstem, relays signals between the brain and body, regulates sleep, breathing, and facial expressions.

Broca’s area

Found in the left frontal lobe, crucial for speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

Located in the left temporal lobe, responsible for understanding spoken and written language.

midbrain

Part of the brainstem, involved in motor control, vision, hearing, and alertness.

medulla oblongata

Located in the lower brainstem, regulates vital functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. (anger)

cerebellum

Positioned at the back of the brain, helps with coordination, balance, and motor learning.

growth hormone

Stimulates growth and cell reproduction.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Regulates the adrenal glands and stress response.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Controls thyroid function and metabolism.

oxytocin

Influences social bonding and childbirth contractions

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Regulates water balance and kidney function.

What controls the pituitary gland?

The hypothalamus, located above the pituitary gland, regulates its function by releasing signaling hormones that stimulate or inhibit hormone production.

In the severed corpus callosum video

it was revealed that the left side of the brain is for language and the right side recognizes faces.

Reflexes

Reactions controlled by the spinal cord and reflex arcs. Example: Knee-jerk reflex.

stem cells

undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cell types.

totipotent

Can develop into any cell type, including an entire organism. Example: Zygotes (fertilized eggs) are totipotent, forming a complete human.

multipotent

Can differentiate into a limited range of related cell types. Example: Bone marrow stem cells produce blood cells but not skin or nerve cells.

induced pluripotent

Adult cells reprogrammed to behave like pluripotent stem cells. Example: Skin cells can be transformed into nerve cells for medical treatments.

Proprioception

The body's ability to sense its position and movement. Example: Knowing where your limbs are without looking.

Problem with Invasive Species

Non-native species disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting native organisms. Example: Kudzu in the southeastern United States.

Characteristics of Living Species

Includes the ability to reproduce, respond to the environment, and carry out metabolism. Example: Growth and reproduction.

Comparative Embryology

Evidence for evolution showing similarities in embryonic development among species. Example: Gill slits in fish and human embryos.

Comparative Biochemistry

Reveals genetic similarities between species. Example: DNA sequence similarities.

Comparative Cytology

Demonstrates common evolutionary origins through cell structure similarities.

Vestigial Structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.

hunger

The biological need for food, regulated by hormones like ghrelin. Example: After fasting, ghrelin levels rise, signaling hunger.

satiety

The feeling of fullness, regulated by hormones like leptin. Example: Eating fiber-rich foods increases satiety for longer periods.

ingestion

The process of taking in food or nutrients through the mouth.

Absorption

The transfer of nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream or cells.

digestion

The breakdown of food into simpler molecules for absorption.

utilization

The body's process of using absorbed nutrients for energy, growth, and repair.

excretion

The removal of waste products from the body.

embryonic stem cell harvesting

Obtained from early-stage embryos, offering pluripotent cells but raising ethical concerns.

adult stem cell harvesting

Taken from bone marrow, fat, or blood, offering multipotent cells for therapies.

cord blood stem cell harvesting

Collected from umbilical cord blood after birth, rich in hematopoietic stem cells.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) Technique

Reprogramming adult cells to regain pluripotent properties, avoiding ethical concerns with embryonic cells.

Individual adaptation in humans

Humans adapt biologically and culturally to environmental changes. Example: High-altitude populations develop increased lung capacity to cope with lower oxygen levels

Negative impact of Love Canal

A toxic waste disaster in Niagara Falls, NY, causing severe health issues. Example: Residents suffered from cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders due to chemical exposure

Formation of oxides and dioxides

Chemical reactions producing compounds like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Example: Burning fossil fuels releases CO₂, contributing to climate change

How are plant cells different from animal cells

Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole, allowing them to perform photosynthesis and maintain structural rigidity, while animal cells lack these features and rely on consuming food for energy. Additionally, plant cells have a fixed shape, whereas animal cells are more flexible and adaptable due to their lack of a rigid cell wall.

fossils are found in

Sedimentary rocks like shale, limestone, and sandstone