Biology Midterm Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Biology for midterm review.

Biology

The study of life and living organisms.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Taxonomy

The science of classification of living organisms.

Eukarya

One of the three domains of life, includes organisms with complex cells.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variation in a species.

Polarity

The distribution of electrical charge over the atoms joined by the bond.

Macromolecules

Large complex molecules essential for life, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Hydrolysis

The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.

Denature

The process in which proteins lose their structure and thus their function.

Phospholipid

A lipid containing a phosphate group in its molecule, forming the cell membranes.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse of the cell, where cellular respiration occurs.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Virus

A microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

Lytic Cycle

A viral replication process that results in the destruction of the host cell.

Gene Transfer

The process of transferring genetic material from one organism to another.