Biology Unit 1 - Cell Biology and Biochemistry Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to biochemistry, biomolecules, enzymes, cell theory, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and organelle functions.

Cell

The basic structural, functional, and biological unit of living organisms.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into anything lower than itself.

Molecule

A structure formed when $2$ or more atoms are joined together by bonds.

Carbohydrate

A biomolecule made of $\text{CHO}$ (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) that provides quick energy, is produced during photosynthesis, and is used in cellular respiration.

Monosaccharide

The monomer of carbohydrates, which includes basic sugars such as fructose, glucose, and galactose.

Disaccharide

A sugar molecule formed by combining $2$ monosaccharides.

Starch

A carbohydrate used for energy storage in plant cells.

Cellulose

A structural carbohydrate component found in plant cell walls.

Chitin

A structural carbohydrate component found in insect exoskeletons and fungi cell walls.

Lipid

A hydrophobic biomolecule composed of $\text{CHO}$ (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) with monomers of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, used for long-term energy storage.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A lipid structure that forms the primary framework of the cell membrane.

Steroids

Lipids consisting of $4$ carbon rings that serve as the base for vitamins, hormones, and cholesterol.

Protein

A building block biomolecule composed of $\text{CHONS}$ (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur) that does not serve as an energy source.

Amino Acids

The monomers of proteins, existing in $20$ different kinds.

Peptide

A single chain of amino acids connected together to build a protein.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst in living organisms to speed up chemical reactions, typically ending in -ase.

Substrate

The specific reactant that binds to an enzyme's active site during a chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A reusable substance that changes the rate of a reaction or allows it to occur at a lower temperature.

Denatured

The condition of an enzyme when its shape has been altered so that it can no longer function.

Activation Energy

The amount of energy needed for a particular chemical reaction to occur, usually provided in the form of light or heat.

Biochemical Reactions

Reactions that allow organisms to grow, develop, reproduce, and adapt by breaking down or building up substances.

Nucleic Acid

A biomolecule composed of $\text{CHONP}$ (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus) that carries and transports genetic information.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A double-helix nucleic acid containing deoxyribose sugar and nitrogenous bases C, G, A, and T.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A single-helix nucleic acid containing ribose sugar and nitrogenous bases C, G, A, and U.

Cell Theory

The biological principles stating that the cell is the smallest living unit in organisms, all living things are made of cells, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Prokaryotes

Smaller, usually unicellular organisms (such as bacteria and archaea) that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, with DNA stored in a single circular chromosome.

Eukaryotes

Larger organisms (such as animals, plants, fungi, and protists) that possess a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, and DNA stored in multiple linear chromosomes.

Nucleus

A membrane-bound organelle in eukaryotic cells that stores and protects DNA.

Mitochondria

A membrane-bound eukaryotic organelle responsible for generating energy through cellular respiration.

Chloroplast

A membrane-bound organelle in plant cells that acts as the site of photosynthesis.

Ribosomes

Organelles present in all cells that function as the machinery responsible for making proteins.

Golgi Apparatus

A membrane-bound eukaryotic organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids.

Rough ER

A network of flattened membrane sacs studded with ribosomes that processes proteins.

Smooth ER

A tube-shaped network of membranes that synthesizes lipids, processes toxins, and manages calcium.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle used for storage and support, existing as one large central vacuole in plant cells and multiple small vacuoles in animal cells.

Cell Membrane

A structure present in all cells that separates the cell interior from its outside environment while controlling what enters and exits.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound eukaryotic organelles containing digestive enzymes to break down and digest waste and old cell parts.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like fluid inside all cells that holds shape and suspends organelles.