Principles of Biology - Energy and Metabolism

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to energy and metabolism in biological systems.

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Active Site

The specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane requiring energy.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy carrier in living organisms.

Allosteric Activation

The process by which a molecule binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, enhancing the enzyme's activity.

Allosteric Inhibition

A regulation mechanism wherein an inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site, decreasing enzyme activity.

Anabolic Reactions

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

Catabolic Reactions

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

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.

Concentration Gradient

A difference in the concentration of a substance across a distance.

Diffusion

The process of moving from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Endergonic Reaction

Reactions that absorb free energy from their surroundings.

Exergonic Reaction

Reactions that release free energy into their surroundings.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Metabolic Pathway

A series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, typically used in the formation of ATP.

Tonicity

The ability of a surrounding solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water.

Thermodynamics

The study of energy transformations that occur in a collection of matter.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system.