Living Environment Regents Flashcards

Homeostasis

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

Metabolism

The sum of all the chemical reactions that occur within the cells of an organism.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain skeleton structures of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules that include starch and simple sugars like glucose; found in grains, vegetables, and fruit.

Proteins

Organic molecules made of amino acids (20 kinds); found in meat, egg whites, and beans.

Lipids

Organic molecules composed of fatty acids and glycerol; found in animal fats, nuts, and oils.

Nucleic Acid

Organic molecules made of nucleotides; found in small amounts in all foods.

Organization of Living Things

Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems, Organism.

Organelles

Small parts that make up a cell, each with at least one specific function.

Vacuoles

Organelles that store waste and water; large in plant cells, small in animal cells.

Ribosome

Very small organelles where proteins are made (protein synthesis); located on the ER or in cytoplasm.

Mitochondria

The site of cellular respiration in both plant and animal cells.

Cellular Respiration Formula

Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + ENERGY (ATP).

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where the process of photosynthesis occurs.

Photosynthesis Formula

Sun's energy + carbon dioxide + water → glucose + water + oxygen.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that contains DNA (the program or code of life).

Cytoplasm

The liquid media that fills the cell.

Cell Membrane

Separates the contents of the cell from the outside environment and controls the transport of materials into and out of the cell.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration without using energy.

Active Transport

The movement of a molecule from low concentration to high concentration using energy in the form of ATP.

Digestive System

Breaks down food into nutrients and puts them in the bloodstream; includes mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum.

Circulatory System

Carries gases and nutrients throughout the body; includes heart, arteries, veins, capillaries.

Respiratory System

Exchanges carbon dioxide and oxygen; includes lungs, alveoli, diaphragm.

Excretory System

Removes wastes from the blood and then from the body; includes kidneys, bladder, urethra.

Nervous System

Provides fast control of the functioning of all body systems; includes brain, spinal cord, nerve cells.

Endocrine System

Provides slow control of the functioning of all body systems; includes pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads.

Control

Chemicals produced in the endocrine glands (hormones) and chemicals produced by nerve cells are primarily responsible for communication between cells.

Respiration

The process used by all organisms to produce energy by using oxygen to burn sugar in order to release energy in the form of ATP.

Digestion

The process of breaking large molecules down into smaller molecules.

Carbohydrates and Starches

Broken down into Simple Sugars.

Fats (Lipids)

Broken down to Fatty Acids & Glycerol.

Transport

Involves the movement of materials inside the cell as well as the movement between parts of a multicellular organism.

Excretion

The removal of all waste produced by the cells of the body.

Synthesis

The making or building of large molecules from smaller ones.

Photosynthesis

The process of storing the energy from the sun in the chemical bonds of glucose (sugar).

Chloroplast

Organelle used in the process of Photosynthesis.

Formula for Photosynthesis

Sun + Carbon Dioxide + Water --------enzymes------ Glucose + Oxygen + Water.

Cellular Respiration

Occurs in the Mitochondria of All Organisms both plants and animals.

Formula for Cellular Respiration

Glucose + Oxygen -----------enzymes--------- Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP).

Enzymes

Special proteins that affect the rate of chemical reactions; catalysts used in digestion and synthesis.

Enzyme reaction rates

Affected by Shape, Temperature, and pH.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A steady state-balance; HOMEOSTASIS.

Negative Feedback

Controls hormone levels to maintain homeostasis.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that prompts glucose to move from the blood into body cells.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that prompts the release of glucose stored in the liver.

Skin and Circulation Systems

The body's primary defense against disease-causing pathogens (Immunity) via White blood cells.

Surface Receptor Protein

A molecule found on the cell membrane that the immune system recognizes as either part of the body or an outside invader.

Antigens

Receptor proteins on the membrane of pathogens (germs).

Antibodies

Special proteins produced by the white blood cells that can be thought of as your body's army to fight diseases.

Immunity

Our body's ability to fight disease; white blood cells remember the antigens and produce antibodies.

Vaccination

Composed of a weakened or dead virus or bacteria that triggers our white blood cells to produce antibodies.

Diseases

Caused by pathogens (virus, bacterium, and fungus or protists).

Mitosis

A type of cell division that produces 2 identical daughter cells, used for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces gametes, resulting in either 4 sperm cells or 3 polar bodies and 1 egg, with half the genetic makeup of the parent cell.

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction involving one parent that produces identical cells.

Sexual reproduction

Reproduction involving two parents that produces genetically varied cells.

Diploid number (2n)

The genetic makeup that is identical to the parent cell, having two sets of chromosomes.

Haploid number (1n)

The genetic makeup that is half of the parent cell, having one set of chromosomes.

Gonads

The sex glands, which include ovaries in females and testes in males.

Gametes

Sex cells that unite in fertilization to form a zygote.

Zygote

A fertilized egg formed when a male and female gamete unite.

Fertilization

The process when a male and female gamete unite, resulting in a zygote.

Differentiation

The process that transforms developing unspecialized cells into specialized cells with different structures and functions.

Vagina

The birth canal in the human female reproductive system.

Uterus

The organ where the baby develops in the human female reproductive system.

Ovaries

The female gonads that produce eggs and important female hormones.

Placenta

The organ that provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and removes waste, attached to the baby via the umbilical cord.

Oviducts (fallopian tubes)

The place where fertilization occurs in the human female reproductive system.

Testis

The male gonads that produce sperm and male hormones like testosterone.

Artificial insemination

A reproductive technology that uses sperm from a donor.

Amniocentesis

A procedure that removes cells from the amniotic fluid to analyze their DNA.

Karyotype

A visual map of chromosomes used to identify chromosomal problems.

Cancer

A condition that occurs when genetic mutations result in uncontrolled cell division.

Heredity

The passing of genetic information from one generation to the next through reproduction.

DNA

A double stranded helix polymer of nucleotides that contains the genetic code of the individual.

Nucleotide

The basic unit of DNA, made of a phosphate, a sugar, and a base.

RNA

A single stranded polymer produced by DNA, with bases A, U, G, C.

Clones

Identical genetic copies produced through asexual reproduction.

Protein Synthesis

The process where DNA sends mRNA to the ribosome to direct tRNA to bring amino acids, which are assembled to make a protein.

Mutation

Any alteration of the DNA sequence which changes the normal message carried by the gene.

Substitution

One base is put in the place of another.

Deletion

A base is left out.

Addition

A base is added.

Inversion

Bases are switched.

Gene Expression

An organism's environment can affect the way that some genes are expressed.

Himalayan Rabbit

An example of gene expression where fur color is influenced by temperature.

Genetic Engineering

A technology that humans use to alter the genetic instructions in organisms.

Gene Splicing

Cutting DNA using restriction enzymes and placing it into another organism.

Insulin Example

Putting the gene for insulin into bacteria, which then produces insulin for humans.

Restriction Enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA in specific places and is essential in gene splicing and gel electrophoresis.

DNA Fingerprint

A pattern from gel electrophoresis that resembles a barcode, indicating common heritage or ancestry.

Selective Breeding

A process of picking parents with favorable traits to produce those traits in the offspring.

Species

A group of closely related organisms that share certain characteristics and can produce offspring capable of reproduction.

Evolution

The process by which organisms have changed over time from simple, single-celled to complex organisms.

Natural Selection

Nature selects those individuals who are best fit for the environment.

Overproduction

More offspring are produced than can survive.

Competition

The fight for limited resources.

Variation

Differences among organisms in a species, with sexually reproducing organisms having more variation than asexually reproducing organisms.

Adaptive Value

Any trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions.

Extinction

The disappearance of an entire species caused by a failure to adapt to a changing environment.