Biology Keystone Review Flashcards

Flashcards for Biology Keystone Review

Biology

The study of life.

Biotechnology

The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.

Forensics

The application of scientific methods and techniques to investigate crimes.

Homeostasis

Maintaining a stable internal environment.

Homeostatic mechanism

The process by which the body maintains a stable internal environment.

Scientific law

A statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some phenomenon of nature.

Scientific mechanism

A description of the components and interactions that produce a particular phenomenon.

Organ

A group of tissues working together to perform a specific function.

Organ system

A group of organs that work together to perform a specific function.

Organism

An individual living thing.

Scientific principle

A basic truth or law of nature.

Science

The pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.

System

A set of interacting components forming a complex whole.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for a set of observations.

Eukaryote

Organisms with cells containing membrane-bound organelles.

Prokaryote

Single-celled organisms that lack internal membrane-bound compartments.

Cell

Smallest unit of an organism that is considered alive.

Asexual reproduction

Formation of a new organism from one parent; offspring is a clone.

Sexual reproduction

Two cells from different parents unite to produce the 1st cell of a new organism.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid, a molecule that contains the universal genetic code.

Autotroph

Organism that obtains energy from the sun. (Self-feeding)

Heterotroph

Organism that obtains energy from consuming other organisms. (Other-feeding)

Biology

Study of life.

Tissue

Group of similar cells that perform a particular function.

Cell

Basic unit of structure and function in living things.

Organ system

Group of organs that work together to perform a specific function.

Cohesion

Water sticking to water.

Adhesion

Water sticking to something else.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with opposite charges on either side.

Hypothesis

A scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested.

Theory

A well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses.

Adhesion

The attraction between different types of molecules.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance (e.g., water molecules attracting each other).

Atom

The basic unit of matter that retains the chemical properties of an element.

Concentration

A measure of the amount of a substance in a defined space.

Biological macromolecules

Large organic molecules that are essential for life; includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomer

A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Freezing point

The temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid.

Carbohydrate

An organic compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, often in a 1:2:1 ratio.

Amino acid

The building blocks of proteins, each containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique side chain.

Protein

A macromolecule composed of amino acids, essential for various functions in the body.

Macromolecule

A very large molecule, such as a polymer, consisting of many smaller repeating units (monomers).

Lipid

A type of organic molecule including fats, oils, and waxes, that is insoluble in water.

Nucleic acid

A macromolecule (DNA or RNA) composed of nucleotide monomers, carrying genetic information.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions in cells.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

Specific heat

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree Celsius.

Organic molecule

A molecule containing carbon atoms, typically bonded to hydrogen atoms.

Carbon

Uniquely suited to form biological macromolecules due to its properties

Valence shell

Enables easy formation of four covalent bonds

Covalent bonds

Involve sharing of electrons between two atoms

Organic compounds

Contain carbon.

Polarity

Description of the balance of charges in a molecule.

Nonpolar

Equal balance of charges.

Macromolecules

Very large molecules

Polymers

Long chains of bonded groups

Monomers

The molecules that link to form polymers

Dehydration Synthesis

Generates water and is a common way for polymers to form

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking apart polymers

Saccharide

Means sugar

Monosaccharide

1 Sugar.

Disaccharide

2 Sugars

Polysaccharide

More than 2 sugars

Glycolysis

Breaks down Carbohydrates like glucose for use in cellular respiration

Steroids

Made of four connected carbon rings with functional groups attached

Amino acids

Have amino and carboxylic groups. They are made unique by the “R” group that is attached to carbon

Nucleotides

Monomers that consist of pentose attached to a phosphate group and nitrogen base

Active Site

Refers to the part of an enzyme that interacts with a substrate

Activation

The process of turning enzymes on

Deactivation

Of enzymes occurs can occur either through competitive or non competitive inhibition

Competitive inhibition

Means another chemical bonds with and blocks the active site of the enzyme

Noncompetitive inhibition

Means another chemical bonds to the enzyme in a position away from the active site, but blocks or alters the active site as a result

Enzymes

Do not function well above or below the optimum temperature

Semipermeable

Some substances can pass freely through the cell membrane and others cannot

Cell

Base level of living things, can be either eukaryotic or prokaryotic

Cell Membrane

surrounds the cell.

Nucleus

Control centre for all cell functions

Cytoplasm

Material in the cell outside the nucleus

Mitochondria

Found in the cytoplasm and where the stages of cellular respiration occur

Chloroplast

Contain green pigment called chlorophyll, which carries on the process of photosynthesis

Ribosomes

Small, dense granules found free in the cytoplasm and the nucleus and lining the membranes of some endoplasmic reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum

Membrane-bound system of channels or tubes through which materials are transported within the cell

Golgi Apparatus

Made up of a series of membrane-enclosed sacs, and is usually found near the nucleus

Lysosomes

Packages or sacs, of digestive enzymes

Vacuoles

Membrane-enclosed structures that are generally filled with water containing various dissolved substances

Centrosome

Small organelles found just outside the nucleus in animal cells

Cell Wall

Structure found outside the cell membrane of plant cells

Cytoskeleton

Filamentous network of proteins that are associated with the processes that maintain and change cell shape and produce cell movements in animal and bacteria cells

Cell Cycle

period of time from the beginning of one cell division to the beginning of the next.

M phase

mitosis – the division of the cell nucleus and cytokinesis.

G1

intense growth and activity

S phase

copying of chromosomes

G2

intense growth and activity.

Interphase

time between two cell divisions.

prophase

prophase – 1st and longest phase of mitosis

metaphase

2nd phase of mitosis