College Bio

Reactants

Substances that start a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances formed by a chemical reaction.

Components of fats

Fats are made of glycerol and 3 fatty acids.

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions.

Energy

The ability to do work.

Kinetic energy

Energy of movement (e.g., a rolling ball).

Potential energy

Stored energy (e.g., a rock perched on a cliff).

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from high concentration to low concentration.

Role of proteins

Provide structure, enable movement, speed reactions, transport substances, and defend the body.

Phospholipids

Molecules with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails; they form cell membranes.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; stores and provides energy for cell processes.

Hypotonic solution

More water outside → cell swells.

Isotonic solution

Equal water → cell stays the same.

Hypertonic solution

More water inside → cell shrinks.

Active transport

Using energy (ATP) to move molecules from low to high concentration across a membrane.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane.

Enzyme denaturation

Temperature changes, pH changes, or inhibitors can block enzyme activity.

Number of chromosomes in human body cell

46 chromosomes.

Monomers

Small molecules that join together to form polymers.

Water molecule bonds

Covalent bonds hold within a water molecule, hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

Importance of polymers

They build structures (proteins), store energy (carbs), and carry information (DNA/RNA).

Sugars in carbohydrates

Monosaccharides like glucose; disaccharides like sucrose; polysaccharides like starch.

Substances in lipids

Primarily carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Cellular respiration

Process that breaks down glucose to make ATP; occurs in mitochondria.

Role of organelles

Perform specific jobs within the cell.

Lysosomes

Break down waste using digestive enzymes.

Extracellular matrix

Provides support, protection, and helps cells communicate.

Differences between plant and animal cells

Plants have chloroplasts, cell wall, and large vacuole; animals do not.

Antibiotics

Kill or stop bacteria by targeting cell walls or ribosomes.

Golgi apparatus

Modifies, packages, and ships proteins.

Ribosome assembly location

In the nucleolus.

Saturated fats

No double bonds, solid at room temp.

Unsaturated fats

Double bonds, liquid at room temp.

Lactose tolerance evolution

Gained through mutations in populations that domesticated dairy animals.

Complementary base pairs in DNA

DNA: A–T, C–G.

Complementary base pairs in RNA

RNA: A–U, C–G.

Organic compound

Contains carbon and is usually made by living things.

Similarities between proteins and lipids

Both are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; essential biological molecules.

Covalent bond

Sharing electrons.

Ionic bond

Transferring electrons.

Differences between DNA and RNA

DNA has deoxyribose; RNA has ribose; DNA uses thymine; RNA uses uracil.

Steroid

Lipid with four fused rings; e.g., testosterone and estrogen.

Protein function determinant

Its shape (structure).

Sugars in DNA vs RNA

DNA sugar = deoxyribose; RNA sugar = ribose.

Carbon versatility

Can form 4 bonds and create complex molecules.

Types of carbohydrates

Monosaccharides (glucose), disaccharides (sucrose), polysaccharides (starch).

Components of amino acids

Central carbon, hydrogen, amino group, carboxyl group, and R-group.

Trace elements

Needed in small amounts; e.g., iron, zinc, iodine.

Prostate cancer treatments

Surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy.

Cell definition

The basic unit of life.

Isotope

Same element, different number of neutrons.

Radioactive vs nonradioactive isotopes

Radioactive decay; nonradioactive do not.

Common elements in living things

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen.

Cancerous cell division

Uncontrolled growth; forms tumors.

Acid definition

Releases hydrogen ions (H+).

Base definition

Removes H+ or releases OH– ions.

Atomic number

Number of protons.

Atomic mass

Protons + neutrons.

Electrons in neutral atom

Same as protons.

Buffer

A substance that resists changes in pH.

Adhesion

Water sticking to other surfaces.

Identifying atoms in a reaction

Counting the subscripts and coefficients.

Neutral solution

pH 7; neutralizes acids and bases.

Insects walking on water

Surface tension from hydrogen bonds.

Ion definition

An atom with a charge.

Radiometric dating

Using radioactive isotopes to determine the age of rocks/fossils.

Entropy

Measure of disorder/randomness in a system.

Metabolism definition

All chemical reactions in an organism.

Phagocytosis

"Cell eating"—cell engulfs large particles or pathogens.