PRE IB BIO I MIDTERM REVIEW

What are the properties of water?

Water has cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, a versatile solvent, and can exist in three states.

What are macromolecules?

Macromolecules are large complex molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used by the body for energy.

What are lipids?

Lipids are hydrophobic organic molecules including fats, oils, and waxes, important for energy storage and cell membranes.

What are proteins?

Proteins are macromolecules made up of amino acids, essential for body structure, function, and regulation of tissues.

What are nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids are macromolecules like DNA and RNA that store and transmit genetic information.

What is cell theory?

Cell theory states that all living organisms are made of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and all cells arise from existing cells.

What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and organelles.

What is a mitochondrion?

Mitochondria are organelles that produce ATP through cellular respiration, known as the powerhouse of the cell.

What is the function of vacuoles?

Vacuoles are membrane-bound sacs within cells that store nutrients, waste products, and help maintain turgor pressure.

What is the nucleus?

The nucleus is the organelle that contains the cell's genetic material (DNA) and regulates gene expression.

What is the cell cycle?

The cell cycle is the series of phases that a cell goes through from division until it divides again, including interphase and mitosis.

What is mitosis?

Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, ensuring equal distribution of DNA.

What is meiosis?

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that produces haploid gametes, resulting in genetic diversity.

What is DNA structure?

DNA consists of two strands forming a double helix, made of nucleotides containing a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

What is protein synthesis?

Protein synthesis is the process of translating genetic information from DNA to produce proteins, involving transcription and translation.

What are amino acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, and a unique side chain.

What is the function of ribosomes?

Ribosomes are cellular structures where protein synthesis occurs, translating messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptide chains.

What is phospholipid structure?

Phospholipids consist of a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and two hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails, forming cellular membranes.

What role do enzymes play in biological processes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

What are nucleotides?

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

What is glycolysis?

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

What are chloroplasts?

Chloroplasts are organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs, converting sunlight into chemical energy.

What is cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration is the metabolic process by which cells convert glucose into ATP, using oxygen.

What is the role of ATP in cells?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) acts as the primary energy carrier in cells, fueling various cellular processes.

What are simple sugars?

Simple sugars are carbohydrates like glucose and fructose that provide immediate energy.

What are complex carbohydrates?

Complex carbohydrates are polysaccharides, such as starch and glycogen, that provide long-term energy storage.

What is the role of chaperone proteins?

Chaperone proteins assist in the proper folding of other proteins, ensuring they achieve their functional shapes.

What is the function of the cell membrane?

The cell membrane regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

What is tonicity?

Tonicity refers to the ability of a solution to affect the volume of cells by osmosis, affecting cell stability.

What is a prokaryotic organism?

Prokaryotic organisms are unicellular and lack a defined nucleus; examples include bacteria and archaea.

What is a eukaryotic organism?

Eukaryotic organisms can be unicellular or multicellular and possess a defined nucleus; examples include plants, animals, and fungi.

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or use within the cell.

What are lysosomes?

Lysosomes are organelles that contain digestive enzymes to break down waste materials and cellular debris.

What is facilitated diffusion?

Facilitated diffusion is the process of passive transport of molecules across a cell membrane via a protein channel.

What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher.

What are the phases of the cell cycle?

The cell cycle consists of interphase (G1, S, G2) and the mitotic phase (mitosis, cytokinesis).

What is cytokinesis?

Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm that occurs at the end of mitosis or meiosis.

What is a nucleosome?

A nucleosome is a structural unit of chromatin, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a core of histone proteins.

What are histones?

Histones are proteins that help package and stabilize DNA into nucleosomes, facilitating DNA organization.

What role does RNA play in protein synthesis?

RNA is a key molecule in protein synthesis; mRNA carries instructions from DNA, tRNA brings amino acids, and rRNA forms ribosomes.

What is the function of the endoplasmic reticulum?

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) synthesizes proteins (rough ER) and lipids (smooth ER), regulating cellular metabolism.

What are glycoproteins?

Glycoproteins are proteins that have carbohydrate chains attached, playing roles in cell recognition and signaling.

What is glycolipid?

Glycolipids are lipids with carbohydrate groups attached, important for cell recognition and signaling.

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information: DNA → RNA → Protein.

What are transcription factors?

Transcription factors are proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate gene expression.

What is the significance of mutation?

Mutations are changes in DNA that can lead to changes in proteins, impacting gene function and fitness.

What is a gene?

A gene is a segment of DNA that encodes instructions for the synthesis of a specific protein.

What is a chromosome?

Chromosomes are structures made of DNA and protein that contain genetic information.

What is the S phase of the cell cycle?

The S phase is part of interphase where DNA replication occurs, resulting in two sister chromatids for each chromosome.

What is an oncogene?

An oncogene is a mutated gene that has the potential to cause cancer by promoting uncontrolled cell division.

What is a tumor suppressor gene?

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or trigger apoptosis.

What is apoptosis?

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

What are surface proteins?

Surface proteins are found on the plasma membrane of cells, involved in cell signaling and interaction.

What is the role of microtubules?

Microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton, providing structure, support, and facilitating intracellular transport.

What are centrioles?

Centrioles are cylindrical structures involved in cell division, forming the spindle fibers that separate chromosomes.

What is a stem cell?

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of giving rise to various cell types through differentiation.

What is gene expression?

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products like proteins.

What is a protein domain?

A protein domain is a distinct functional and structural unit within a protein that can evolve and function independently.

What is the role of cell signaling?

Cell signaling is the process by which cells communicate with each other through chemical signals, regulating cellular activities.

What is a signaling pathway?

A signaling pathway is a series of chemical reactions within a cell that occur when a signaling molecule binds to a receptor.

What is endocytosis?

Endocytosis is the process by which cells engulf materials from the outside by enclosing them in a membrane.

What is exocytosis?

Exocytosis is the process by which cells expel materials by vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane.

What is the purpose of the plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane maintains the cell's integrity, providing a barrier and regulating the entry and exit of substances.

What is selective permeability?

Selective permeability is the property of cell membranes that allows certain molecules to pass while restricting others.

What is a transport protein?

Transport proteins are integral membrane proteins that assist in the movement of ions and molecules across the membrane.

What is the DNA double helix?

The DNA double helix is the twisted ladder structure of DNA formed by two strands of nucleotides running in opposite directions.

What are codons?

Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids during protein synthesis.

What is an anticodon?

An anticodon is a three-nucleotide sequence on tRNA that is complementary to a specific codon on mRNA.

What is the significance of the genetic code?

The genetic code translates the sequence of nucleotides in DNA and RNA into the sequence of amino acids in proteins.

What is polyadenylation?

Polyadenylation is the addition of a poly(A) tail to mRNA, enhancing its stability and export from the nucleus.

What is splicing in RNA processing?

Splicing is the removal of introns from pre-mRNA and the joining of exons to form mature mRNA.

What are introns?

Introns are non-coding sequences of RNA that are removed during the splicing process of mRNA maturation.

What are exons?

Exons are the coding sequences in RNA that are retained after splicing and translated into proteins.

What is a mutation?

A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in organisms.

What are epigenetic changes?

Epigenetic changes are modifications to DNA that do not alter the sequence but affect gene expression.

What is the pH scale?

The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, with 7 being neutral.

What is a hydrocarbon?

A hydrocarbon is an organic compound composed solely of carbon and hydrogen, commonly found in lipids.