General Biology: Foundations and Chemical Basis of Life

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the general principles of biology, including its branches, characteristics of life, and the chemical molecules that form the basis of living organisms.

Biology

The natural science that studies life and living organisms, derived from the Greek words bios (life) and logos (study).

Aristotle

The Father of Biology ($384-322\,BC$), known for systematically studying living organisms and making contributions to zoology and anatomy.

Botany

The branch of biology that studies plants, including their structure, growth, reproduction, physiology, and classification.

Zoology

The branch of biology that studies animals, including their behavior, structure, evolution, and classification.

Microbiology

The branch of biology that studies microscopic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

Genetics

The branch of biology that studies genes, heredity, variation, and the mechanisms of inheritance in living organisms.

Ecology

The branch of biology that studies interactions among organisms and their environment, including ecosystems and biodiversity.

Biochemistry

The branch of biology that studies the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms.

Physiology

The branch of biology that studies how living organisms and their parts function and carry out life processes.

Cytology

The branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells, which are the basic units of life.

Unicellular

Organisms composed of only one cell, such as bacteria and Amoeba.

Multicellular

Organisms composed of many cells, such as humans and trees.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells characterized by the absence of a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; they usually reproduce through binary fission.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, dividing through mitosis and meiosis.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring inside living organisms to sustain life.

Catabolism

Metabolic reactions that break down complex molecules into simpler ones to release energy, such as cellular respiration.

Anabolism

Metabolic reactions that use energy to build larger, more complex molecules, such as protein synthesis and photosynthesis.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Locomotion

An action by an organism or a part of it that causes a change of position or place.

Organic Molecules

Carbon-based compounds that commonly contain C-H bonds and are essential for growth and energy, such as carbohydrates and proteins.

Inorganic Molecules

Molecules that generally lack C-H frameworks, such as water ($H_2O$), salts, minerals, and oxygen ($O_2$).

Monomer

A smaller building-block molecule, such as a monosaccharide, amino acid, or nucleotide.

Polymer

A larger molecule formed from repeating monomers linked by covalent bonds.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical process that builds larger molecules by joining monomers and releasing a water ($H_2O$) molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that breaks polymers into smaller units by adding water across a bond.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules made of monosaccharides that provide quick or short-term energy and structural support.

Lipids

Hydrophobic molecules built from glycerol and fatty acids, used for long-term energy storage and forming cell membranes.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that serve functions as enzymes, structural components, and antibodies.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers made of nucleotides that store and transfer genetic information, such as DNA and RNA.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

A nucleotide with 3 phosphate groups used by cells for energy transfer.

Acids

Substances that release hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in solution, typically resulting in a pH lower than $7$.

Bases

Substances that release hydroxide ions ($OH^-$) or accept $H^+$ from solution, resulting in a pH higher than $7$.

Buffer

A chemical system that resists large pH changes by absorbing or releasing ions to maintain stability in cells and body fluids.