TEAS Life Sciences

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from the TEAS Life Sciences lecture notes, focusing on biological macromolecules, cell structures, genetics, and microorganisms.

Organic molecules

Molecules that contain both carbon and hydrogen.

Inorganic molecules

Molecules that have no carbon or have carbon without hydrogen.

Metabolism

The sum of chemical reactions that occur in a cell.

Anabolic reactions

Reactions that build larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring ATP energy.

Catabolic reactions

Reactions that break down large molecules into smaller ones, releasing ATP energy.

Polymers

Large molecules made up of monomers.

Monosaccharide

A monomer of carbohydrates, also known as a simple sugar.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate formed from two monosaccharides bonded together.

Polysaccharide

A polymer of carbohydrates, such as glycogen or cellulose.

Dehydration synthesis

The process of joining two molecules together with the removal of water.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down a compound by reaction with water.

Lipids

Organic molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, and a small percentage of oxygen, used for energy storage and structural purposes.

Fatty acids

Long chains of carbon atoms with attached hydrogens, ending with a carboxyl group.

Saturated fatty acids

Fatty acids with no double bonds between carbons, solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acids with one or more double bonds between carbons, liquid at room temperature.

Proteins

Organic compounds composed of amino acids that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Amino acid

The monomer unit of proteins, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique R group.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Substrate

The molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Active site

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

DNA

A nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, and functioning of living organisms.

RNA

A nucleic acid that plays an essential role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Cell membrane

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates what enters and exits.

Passive transport

Movement of molecules across a membrane without the use of energy.

Active transport

Movement of molecules across a membrane using energy, typically against a concentration gradient.

Mitosis

A process of cell division that results in two daughter cells with the same genetic material as the parent cell.

Meiosis

A specialized form of cell division that produces gametes with half the number of chromosomes.

Dominant allele

An allele that expresses its phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele.

Recessive allele

An allele that only expresses its phenotype when both alleles are recessive.

Punnett square

A tool used to predict the probability of genotypes in offspring from parental genotypes.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics of an organism.

Mutation

Any change in the DNA sequence.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease.

Microorganisms

Organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Natural selection

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

Koch's Postulates

A series of criteria for establishing a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.