fact
objective, verifiable observation
principle
statement based on repeated experimental observations
law
broad concept or principle (explains how)
theory
explanation of an observed phenomenon (explains why)
matter
anything that has mass and/or occupies space
cell
most basic unit of life
six elements necessary for life
carbon
hydrogen
nitrogen
oxygen
phosphorus
sulfur
CHNOPS
polar molecule
one side is more positive, one side is more negative than the other
dissolves in water
nonpolar molecule
both sides are equal, no positive or negative poles are formed
does not dissolve in water
hydrophilic
dissolves in water (water loving)
hydophobic
does not dissolve in water (water fearing)
macromolecules
large, organic molecules that make up all living things
monomer
small, basic, sub-units
polymer
large, more complex structures made from monomers
dehydration reaction
builds a polymer by removing a water molecule to stick monomers together
hydrolysis
breaks polymers by adding a water molecule to break bonds between the monomers
cell theory
all living things are made out of cells
cells are the most basic unit of life
all cells come from other cells
unicellular
composed of one singular kind of cell
mulitcellular
composed of many cells that organize into tissues, organs, organ systems
organelle
specialized structure within the cell that has a certain job to help the cell function
solute
what gets dissolved
solvent
what does the dissolving
solution
uniform mixture of two or more substances
concentration
amount of solute that dissolved in solvent
concentration gradient
difference in a concentration of a substance from one location to another
photosynthesis
process where sunlight, water, carbon dioxide are converted into chemical energy stored in glucose
reactants
ingredients in a chemical equation, on the left side
products
results in a chemical equation, on the right side
cellular respiration
process where chemical energy from food is converted to energy stored in A
chemosynthesis
process of an organism making its own food using chemicals
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
RNA
ribonucleic acid
antiparrallel
running in opposite directions
helicase
enzyme that unzips the DNA ino two strands
primase
enzyme that makes and adds short RNA primers to help get the next step started (like key for car ignition)
polymerase
ensyme that adds complementary polynucleotides to the exposed strands, removing the RNA primers. also proofreads strand when done
ligase
enzyme that zips up new DNA strands, sealing them with phosphodiester bonds
genetic code
code of instructions for how to make protiens
codon
a set of three nucleotides on the mRNA
anticodon
“complementary” three nucleotides on the tRNA
mRNA
messenger RNA (copies instructions in DNA and carries these to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm
tRNA
transfer RNA (binds and carries specific amino acids to the ribosome)
rRNA
ribosomal RNA (makes up the ribosome along with the protiens)
transcription
DNA to RNA
translation
RNA to Amino Acids
cell cycle
a repeated pattern of growth, DNA duplication and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells
chromosome
one long continuous thread of DNA that consists of thousands of genes and regulatory information (humans have 46)
gene
section of DNA that contains the instructions for making a protein
chromatid
one half of a duplicated chromosome
centromere
region of the condensed chromosomes that looks pinchedt
telomere
ends of the DNA molecule
Gap 1 Phase (G1)
cell grows and makes protiens
Synthesis Phase (S phase)
DNA replication occurs, doubling the number of chromosomes
Gap 2 Phase (G2)
more cell growth and protein synthesis
prophase of mitosis
chromosomes condense and are visible as sister chromatids
nuclear membrane deforms
centrioles create spindle fibers
metaphase of mitosis
chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell and the spindle fibers connect to the centromeres of each chromatid
anaphase of mitosis
sister chromatids separate, becoming individual chromosomes
said chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell
telophase
chromosomes decondense and look like chromatin
nuclear membrane reforms at each side of the cell
spindle fibers deform
cytokinesis
in plant cells: cell plate forms between two nuclei and gradually becomes a membrane
in animal cells: forms a cleavage furrow that pinches the cell into two equal parts
apoptosis
programmed cell death
cancer
uncontrolled cell division
metastasis
spreading of disease from one organ to another
carcinogen
chemical that causes cancer by mutating DNA
somatic cell
diploid body cell
gamete
haploid sex cell
diploid cell
cell that contains two full sets of chromosomes - one from each parent (2n=46)
haploid cell
cell that contains one full set of chromosomes that is a combination of one from each parent (n=23)
autosomes
chromosome that carries traits that make you who you are
fertilization
the actual fusion of egg and sperm to form a zygote
meiosis
process of cell division to make gametes
karyotype
diagram of a set of chromosomes
ploidy
the number of sets of chromosomes in each cell
haploid: one set of chromosomes
diploid: two sets of chromosomes
triploid: three sets of chromosomes
zygote
cell formed when the egg and sperm come together
nondisjunction
error during meiosis in which chromosomes don’t separate properly
can cause genetic disorders
deletion
when part or all of a chromosome is completely removed
translocation
when part of a chromosome breaks off and attaches to a different chromosome
plasma membrane
surrounds the outside of all cells and controls what goes in and out of the cell
cytoskeleton (animal cells only)
gives the cell shape and provides structural support
cytoplasm
jelly-like substance that is mostly made of water. it holds everything in place
nucleus
contains genetic material
protects DNA
controls cell activity
nucleolus
located inside the nucleus and makes ribosomal RNA (makes up ribosomes)
ribosomes
located on the rough ER and makes proteins
Rough ER
packages proteins for secretion
Smooth ER
makes lipids
golgi apparatus
sorts and ships proteins where necessary (like a mailman)
lysosomes (animal cells only)
breaks down dead things and programs cell death
vacuoles
storage unit
small and numerous in animal cells, one large in plant cells
centrioles (animal cells only)
helps cell divide by pulling chromosomes apart
cilia (animal and bacteria cells only)
moves fluid across cell surface
flagella (animal and bacteria cells only)
moves entire through extracellular fluid (whip-like structure)
mitochondria
where cellular respiration happens
breaks down chemical energy in food to release usable energy in the form of ATP
“powerhouse of the cell”
chloroplast (plant cells only)
where photosynthesis happens
converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy in sugar
cell wall (plant and bacteria cells only)
protects and maintains shape of plant cells