BIOL 150 Unit 1 - Introductory Material and Chemistry of Life

Comprehensive vocabulary terms based on Unit 1 BIOL 150 lecture notes covering introductory biological concepts, chemistry of life, water properties, and carbon.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

Includes growth and development, reproduction, response to environment, energy processing, evolving, order, and regulation.

Natural Selection

The mechanism of a descent with modifications to fit the environment.

Variation in Traits

The component needed for natural selection to occur.

DNA

A primary molecule shared by all organisms that carries hereditary and genetic information.

Eukaryotic Cell

A complex cell containing a nucleus or membrane-enclosed organelles.

Prokaryotic Cell

A simpler and smaller cell without a nucleus or membrane-enclosed organelles.

Inquiry

The search for information and explanation.

Hypothesis

A testable and falsifiable explanation.

Domains of Life

The three categories of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya (Eukaryotic).

Gene Expression

The process by which the genetic instructions in DNA are converted into a functional product, usually a protein.

Biotic Factors

Living things or once-living things that made a change to the environment.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living things such as sun, air, dirt, and water.

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

The different categories of biotic factors.

Levels of Biological Organization

The hierarchy consisting of biosphere, ecosystem, community, and population.

Neutron

A neutral subatomic particle with a mass of $1$ dalton.

Proton

A positive subatomic particle with a mass of $1$ dalton.

Electron

A negative subatomic particle with no mass.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom; it also equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom.

Neutron Calculation

$$\text{Neutron} = \text{Mass \#} - \text{atomic \#}$$

Reactively Incomplete shell

An atom is reactive if it is missing one or two electrons in its outer shell; if the outer shell is full, it is non-reactive.

Isotopes

Chemical elements with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Trace Elements

Essential elements that are present in small amounts.

Electronegativity

The ability to be able to attract shared electrons towards itself within a chemical bond.

Highly Electronegative Elements

Fluorine, Oxygen, Chlorine, and Nitrogen.

Atom

The basic building block of all matter.

Element

A specific type of atom.

Molecule

Formed when two or more atoms join together through bonding.

Valence Shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom which dictates how an atom interacts with others.

Non-Polar Covalent Bond

A very strong bond formed when atoms share electrons equally; electronegativity difference is $0 - 0.4$.

Polar Covalent Bond

A very strong bond formed when atoms share electrons unequally, creating partial charges; electronegativity difference is $0.5 - 1.9$.

Ionic Bond

An extremely strong bond in dry states where one atom transfers an electron to another, held together by electrostatic attraction; electronegativity difference is $> 1.9$.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak electrostatic attraction between a covalently bound hydrogen atom and a strongly electronegative atom on another molecule.

Ion

Any atom or molecule that has an electrical charge due to an unbalanced amount of protons and electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion which has more protons than electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion with more electrons than protons.

Cohesion

The attractive force between molecules of the same substance.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of different substances.

Solute

The substance that is being dissolved.

Solvent

The substance doing the dissolving.

Hydrophilic

A molecule that is attracted to water based on its electrical charge and polarity.

Hydrophobic

A molecule that is not attracted to water based on its electrical charge and polarity.

Specific Heat Capacity

The property that allows water to moderate temperature; it arises from hydrogen bonding between molecules.

Tetravalency

The property of carbon having four valence electrons, allowing it to form four robust, stable covalent bonds.

Isomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures, categorized as structural isomers and stereoisomers.

Functional Groups

Specific clusters of atoms attached to carbon backbones that dictate chemical properties, reactivity, and behavior.