Biochem midterm

Theory

An explanation of a natural occurrence based on many consistent experiments and hypotheses

Scientific Method

A logical approach or procedure to the solution of a scientific problem

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Experiment

A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact.

Data

Evidence; information gathered from observations

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested (Independent variable)

Observation

Process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

Control Group

The group that does not receive the independent variable, for comparison.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is changed and observed in response to the other variable (response variable)

Independent Variable

The variable that is deliberately changed (manipulative variable)

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

Metric System

A system of measurement based on the number 10

Adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce

Biology

The study of life and living things

Development

The improvement of the complexity and maturity of an organism.

Growth

The increase of physical size

Homeostasis

Constant internal, physical, and chemical conditions that organisms maintain

Organism

A living thing

Reproduction

The process of producing offspring

Response

An action or change in behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus.

Example of response

Plant growing towards light

Stimulus

A signal to which an organism responds

Example of stimuli

Sunlight

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot make its own food.

Unicellular

Made of a single cell

Multicellular

Consisting of many cells

Asexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Sexual reproduction

A process by which cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism that differs from its parents.

Endothermic reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs heat energy

Exothermic reaction

A chemical reaction in which energy is released, usually in the form of heat

Plasma Membrane (cell membrane)

A selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer that forms the boundary of the cells and maintains the cell's homeostasis

Prokaryotic Cell

A cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles in which DNA is stored in the nucleolus

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell that has a nucleus in which DNA is stored in and other membrane-bound organelles

DNA

A molecule that contains genetic information in cells.

Organelle

A structure that carries out a specific function in a cell.

Nucleus

The organelle that is the control center of the cell and is in charge of everything that happens in it, also contains DNA

Cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended excluding the nucleus

Cytoskeleton

Network of protein filaments within some cells that helps the cell maintain its shape and is involved in many forms of cell movement

Nuclear Envelope

Double membrane perforated with pores that surrounds the nucleus and controls the flow of materials in and out of it.

Ribosomes

A cell organelle that consists of RNA and protein and is a site for protein synthesis.

Nucleolus

A cell organelle found inside the nucleus and synthesizes ribosomes

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum that is dotted with ribosomes and is involved in protein synthesis

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum that lacks ribosomes and is involved of lipid synthesis

Golgi Apparatus

A cell organelle in cells that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and other materials from the endoplasmic reticulum for storage in the cell or release outside the cell

Vacuoles and vesicles

Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates

Lysosomes

Cell organelle that cleans up the cell, recycles macromolecules, digests food and break down macromolecules into small molecules that can be used by the rest of the cell.

Centriole

Cell organelle made out of microtubules that aids in cell division in animal cells

Mitochondria

Cell organelle that provides energy for the cell by breaking down food and converting chemical energy in them into compounds for convenient cell use

Chloroplast

Plant cell organelle that captures the energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy in photosynthesis

Chlorophyll

A green pigment found in chloroplasts that absorb energy.

Cell Wall

Strong, supporting layer around the cell membrane in some cells

Cilia

Short, hairlike organelles that aid in movement within the cell.

Flagella

Long, threadlike organelles that aid in movement within the cell.

Organic Compound

Compounds that contain carbon (carbs, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid)

Carbon

Atom that makes up the backbone of biological macromolecules.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles

Covalent bond

Chemical bond created by sharing (2) electrons with other atoms, makes molecules

hydrogen bond

Weak attraction between a positive hydrogen atom and negatively charged atom,, can form between molecules

Macromolecules

A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

Polymers

Large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

Monomers

Building blocks of polymers

Carbohydrate

Macromolecule (organic compound) that include carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is a source of short term energy storage

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar molecule that is the monomer of carbohydrates

Disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.

dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.

Polysaccharide

Large macromolecule formed from monosaccharides

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide that makes up the cell walls of plants as the main component and provides structural support to the cell

Lipid

Macromolecule that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and provides long term energy storage and is a cell membrane component, also doesn't dissolve in water due to being hydrophobic. (fats, oils, waxes)

Glycerol and fatty acids

The monomers of lipids that form to make triglycerides

Triglyceride

Polysaccharides of lipids that are fat molecules, composed of three fatty acids and one glycerol and store energy.

Glycogen

Storage form of glucose in animals

Saturated fatty acid

A fat in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can attach to the carbon skeleton, making it solid

Unsaturated fatty acid

A fat possessing one or more double bonds between the carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton, making it liquid

Unsaturated carbon

Carbon that is double bonded in unsaturated fats

Hormones

Chemical messengers that are apart of lipids

Protein

Macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair. (Most versatile macromolecule)

Amino acid

Building blocks/monomer of protein

Polypeptide

The polymer of proteins and chain of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Enzymes

Proteins or specific catalysts that lower activation energy and speed up chemical reactions

Nucleic acid

Macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphate. Stores and transmits genetic information.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids that make up a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. (3 phosphate groups make ATP)

Cellular Respiration

The process of energy production in which food (glucose) is broken down to release energy in the presence of oxygen

Aerobic

Requires oxygen

Anaerobic

Without oxygen

Glycolysis

The anaerobic first step of cellular respiration started by 2 ATP in which glucose is broken down into 2 pyruvate molecules and also generates electrons.

Pyruvate

Three-carbon molecule that forms as the two end products of glycolysis which is converted to acetyl coA.

Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

The second stage of cellular respiration, in which pyruvic acid is converted into acetyl-CoA and broken down into carbon dioxide in a series of energy-extracting reactions.

Electron transport chain (oxidative phosphorylation)

The last step of cellular respiration, a sequence of high-energy electron carriers that shuttle electrons from glycolysis and Krebs cycle to form water and release energy used to make ATP.

What electron carriers are used carry electrons to the electron transport chain

NADH and FADH2

Chemiosmosis

A process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane and the ATP synthase enzyme.

Concentration gradient

Difference in the concentration of a substance from one location to another

Mitochondrial matrix

Innermost part of the mitochondria

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration that does not require oxygen (fermentation)

Aerobic respiration

Respiration that requires oxygen (cellular respiration)

Fermentation

The process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen (Anaerobic pathway from cellular respiration)

Where does fermentation occur?

The cytoplasm