BISC 101 Midterm 1 - Cellular and Molecular Biology Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the BISC 101 Midterm 1 study guide covering general cell biology, biological chemistry, macromolecules, and cell organelles.

Biology

The scientific study of life and living organisms.

Evolution

The overarching biological process driven by natural mechanisms such as mutation and natural selection that gives rise to organismal variation and adaptation.

Natural Selection

A natural process underlying evolution where environmental factors select for beneficial variations and adaptations in organisms.

Adaptation

Inherited features or structures evolved by organisms that enhance their survival and reproductive success in specific environments.

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell containing membrane-bound specialized organelles, a cytoskeleton, cell wall (in plants/fungi), and a defined nucleus.

Prokaryotic Cell

A single-celled organismal structure lacking a nucleus and eukaryotic membrane-bound specialized organelles.

Scientific Method

A systematic process used by scientists to investigate natural phenomena and study living organisms.

Atom

The basic unit of matter composed of subatomic particles with electrons arranged in defined electron shells.

Element

A pure chemical substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means, characterized by a specific atomic number.

Subatomic Particles

The structural components of an atom, comprising protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons contained within the nucleus of an atom.

Mass Number

The total combined number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Atomic Mass

The calculated total mass of an individual atom.

Isotope

An alternate form of an element that differs in the number of neutrons and may exhibit radioactivity.

Radioactivity

The process by which unstable atomic nuclei release particles or energy.

Electron Shell

The energy levels or regions surrounding an atomic nucleus where electrons are distributed.

Cohesion

The physical property of like molecules (such as water) sticking together.

Adhesion

The attraction and sticking together of different types of molecules (such as water to cell walls).

Solvent

A liquid agent capable of dissolving solutes to form a homogeneous solution.

Solution

A homogeneous liquid mixture created when a solute dissolves into a solvent.

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water; readily dissolving in or interacting with water.

Hydrophobic

Repelling or failing to mix with water; typical of nonpolar molecules like lipids.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a given quantity of a substance by a specific amount.

Heat of Vaporization

The quantity of heat needed to convert a given quantity of liquid into a gas.

pH Scale

A scale indicating the relative concentration of hydrogen ions to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic, or neutral.

Buffer

A substance that resists changes in pH when acids or bases are added to a solution.

Organic Molecules

Carbon-based molecules essential to biological life.

Functional Group

A specific arrangement of atoms attached to organic molecules that confers specific chemical characteristics.

Monomer

A small molecular building block that links together with other units to synthesize large polymers.

Polymer

A large biological molecule constructed by linking multiple repeating monomer units together.

Carbohydrates

Large biological molecules composed of sugars, providing cellular energy and structural support.

Proteins

Functional biological macromolecules formed by chains of amino acids connected via peptide bonds, featuring distinct 3D structures.

Amino Acid

The structural monomer subunit of proteins, linked together through peptide bonds.

Peptide Bond

The covalent chemical bond linking adjacent amino acids within a protein chain.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.

Nucleic Acids

Large biological polymers, including DNA and RNA, composed of chains of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.

Lipids

A group of hydrophobic biological molecules, including fats and oils, characterized by nonpolar hydrocarbon structures.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A type of fatty acid with no double bonds between carbon atoms, typically characteristic of solid fats.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A type of fatty acid containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, typically characteristic of liquid oils.

Cell Theory

A foundational biological principle describing the fundamental characteristics, attributes, and structural nature of cells.

Cytoskeleton

A cellular network of protein fibers within eukaryotic cells providing shape, structural support, and transport pathways.

Cell Wall

A rigid external structure providing protection and support outside the cell membrane in plants and fungi.

Cilia

Short, hair-like projections on the eukaryotic cell surface utilized for locomotion or moving extracellular materials.

Flagella

Long, whip-like appendages on cells used primarily for cellular movement.

Nucleus

The central eukaryotic organelle containing chromatin, chromosomes, messenger RNA, and the nucleolus.

Chromatin

The uncoiled mass of DNA and associated proteins located inside the eukaryotic nucleus.

Chromosomes

Condensed individual threads of DNA and protein in the nucleus carrying genetic information.

Messenger RNA

RNA molecule synthesized in the nucleus that carries genetic messages to ribosomes for protein assembly.

Nucleolus

A specialized region within the eukaryotic nucleus responsible for ribosome synthesis.

Ribosome

A cellular complex responsible for assembling proteins based on messenger RNA sequences.

Endomembrane System

A system of membrane-bound organelles working together, including vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.

Vesicles

Small membrane-bound sacs involved in endocytosis, exocytosis, and intracellular transport within the endomembrane system.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

A portion of the endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes on its membrane surface.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

A portion of the endoplasmic reticulum that lacks attached ribosomes.

Golgi Apparatus

An endomembrane organelle responsible for receiving, processing, sorting, and packaging cellular products.

Endocytosis

An active cellular process where materials are imported into the cell via vesicles.

Exocytosis

An active cellular process where membrane-bound vesicles fuse with the outer membrane to export materials out of the cell.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound organelles loaded with enzymes used to degrade cellular waste and biomolecules.

Contractile Vacuoles

Specialized vacuoles that collect and expel excess water out of freshwater organisms.

Central Vacuole

A prominent vacuole found in plant cells that maintains turgor pressure and stores water and solutes.

Mitochondria

Eukaryotic energy-converting organelles responsible for cellular respiration and ATP generation.

Chloroplasts

Photosynthetic organelles found in plant cells that capture light energy to produce carbohydrates.

Plastids

A category of plant cell organelles involved in synthesis and storage, which includes chloroplasts.

chromatin

The complex of DNA and proteins that forms chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, playing a crucial role in gene regulation and DNA packaging.

nucleolus

A prominent structure within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells responsible for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and ribosome assembly.

endomembrane system

A system of membranes within eukaryotic cells that divides the cell into functional and structural compartments, including the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and vesicles.

endoplasmic rectilum

A network of membranes involved in protein and lipid synthesis, including rough and smooth regions.

golgi apparatus

modifies, sorts, and packages

important molecules

smooth endoplasmic rectilum

the region of the endoplasmic reticulum that is involved in lipid synthesis and lacks ribosomes.

rough endoplasmic rectilum

is studded with
ribosomes and produces proteins destined for
other membranes or for secretion

nucleotide

composed of 5 carbon sugar, phosphate group nitrogenous base

nitrogenous base

single ring

• -thymine,uracil,cytosir(pyrimidines)

• double ring

• - adenine, guanine(purines)

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

ribos nucleotide with 3 phostphate

stores energy and releases

NAD, FAD, cAMP

transport energy, activate in ATP, messenger molecule

nucleic acids

polymers of nucleoitides

O in P.G on one bonded to sugar in another

ex:DNA, RNA

lipids

-contain only CHO

-one or more fatty acid chains

triglycerides

1 molecule of glycerole

3 fatty acid chains

fats

-saturated(as many H atoms) closely packed

-primarily produced by animals

oils

-primarily from plants

-unsaturated (fewer H atoms) due to double bonds

Hydrogenation

breaks double bonds and adds hydrogen, converts liq to solid, trans fat

phospholipid

make up plasma membrane, similiar to oil