Biology and Medical Concepts: Diabetes, Cell Theory, and Cancer

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

A group of diseases characterized by elevated and unregulated blood sugar (glucose) levels.

What hormones are involved in regulating blood sugar levels?

Insulin and glucagon.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

A form of diabetes resulting from the pancreas not producing any insulin.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

A form of diabetes resulting from the pancreas not producing enough insulin or cells not responding to insulin.

What triggers the release of glucagon?

Low blood sugar levels.

What are the main symptoms of diabetes?

Increased thirst, slow-healing cuts, fatigue, blurred vision, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss.

What is the Cell Theory?

All living things are made of cells, which are the basic unit of life, and cells arise from pre-existing cells.

What are the common features of all cells?

All cells have a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

What are the three basic functions of the plasma membrane?

Separation of internal content from the external environment, regulation of material movement in/out of the cell, and communication with other cells.

What is passive transport?

Movement of material in/out of the cell without the use of energy, moving from high to low concentration.

What is facilitated diffusion?

The passive movement of material in/out of the cell using transport proteins.

What happens in a hypertonic solution?

Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.

What happens in a hypotonic solution?

Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell.

What is active transport?

Movement of material in/out of the cell using energy, moving from low to high concentration.

What is endocytosis?

The net movement of material from outside to inside the cell.

What is exocytosis?

The net movement of material from inside to outside the cell.

What is hyperglycemia?

A condition characterized by high blood sugar levels.

What is hypoglycemia?

A condition characterized by low blood sugar levels.

What is binary fission?

Asexual reproduction in bacteria resulting in genetically identical cells.

What is the viral replication cycle?

The process by which a virus infects a host cell, replicates, assembles, and releases new viruses.

What is cancer?

Uncontrolled cellular division of somatic cells.

What are proto-oncogenes?

Normal genes that control cellular division and promote growth.

What are oncogenes?

Mutated versions of proto-oncogenes that promote cancerous cell development.

What is a tumor?

A mass of rapidly dividing cells.

What is metastasis?

The spreading of cancer cells from their original site to form new secondary tumors.

What are the three phases of bacterial reproduction by binary fission?

Replication, elongation, and separation.