Fundamentals of Biology

Vocabulary flashcards about the properties of life and basic biology.

Order

Specific parts put together in a certain order; each part has a role.

Regulation

The ability to control environments and respond to non-living things.

Growth & Development

Growing larger and changing over time.

Energy Processing

Taking in substances from the environment and using them as a source of energy.

Reproduction

The process by which every species/organism creates offspring or cells.

Response to the Environment

Reacting to changes in the surrounding environment.

Evolutionary Adaptation

Changing over time in response to the environment.

Atoms

The building blocks of all matter in the universe.

Molecules

Made from two or more atoms.

Macromolecules

Large molecules.

Organelles

Structure in a cell that performs a specific function; made of many macromolecules.

Cells

Basic unit of life; all living things are made of cells.

Tissues

Groups of identical cells working together.

Organs

Groups of tissues working together.

Organ Systems

Groups of organs that work together.

Organism

Individual made of organ systems.

Population

Group of organisms of the same kind living together in a particular geographic location.

Species

All of the individuals of the same type that exist in the entire world.

Community

Multiple populations interacting with each other in an area.

Ecosystem

All of the communities in a geographic location interacting with each other, including living and non-living things.

Biosphere

Encompasses every population, species, community, and ecosystem on the planet Earth.

Multicellular

Organisms made of more than one cell.

Unicellular

Organisms made of just one cell.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells with a basic internal structure and free floating DNA; Bacteria and Archaea.

Eukaryotic Cells

Busier, more complex cells that have a nucleus that holds the cell’s DNA.

Scientific Theory

A scientific explanation for a natural phenomenon backed by facts, laws, models, experiments, data, and usually years of testing.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryotes that play a role in human health & the environment.

Archaea

Single-celled prokaryotes that have characteristics of both bacteria and eukaryotes.

Eukarya

Single-celled or multi-celled eukaryotes.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Vaporization

The process of a liquid changing to a gas.

Condensation

The process of a gas changing to a liquid.

Melting

The process of a solid changing to a liquid.

Freezing

The process of a liquid changing to a solid.

Sublimation

The process of a solid changing to a gas.

Deposition

The process of a gas changing to a solid.

Protons

Subatomic particles with a positive charge.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles with no charge.

Electrons

Subatomic particles with a negative charge.

Isotopes

Atoms that have gained or lost neutrons.

Ions

Atoms that have gained or lost electrons.

Cation

Positively charged atom (more protons than electrons).

Anion

Negatively charged atom (more electrons than protons).

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom of a specific element.

Mass Number

Number of protons + neutrons in an atom.

Essential elements

Elements an organism must have to survive.

Non-essential elements

Element(s) that are nice to have, but not absolutely necessary.

Macronutrients

Elements an organism needs in a large amount.

Trace elements/micronutrients

Elements an organism needs in small amounts.

SPONCH elements

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Sulfur

Valence Shell

Outermost shell of an atom.

Valence Electrons

Electrons on the outermost shell of an atom.

Covalent Bond

Sharing of electrons between two atoms.

Molecule

Created through covalent bonds.

Electronegativity

Determines how much an atom pulls an electron towards itself.

Ionic Bond

Transfer of electrons from one atom to another.

Ionic compound

Created through ionic bonds.

Hydrogen Bond

Weak associations / interactions between molecules.

van der Waals Interactions

Weakest of interactions, positive area of one molecule/compound is attracted to a negative area of the other molecule/compound.

Reactants

What we start with in a chemical reaction, found on the left side of the arrow.

Products

What we end up with in a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the arrow.

Synthesis Reaction

Putting things together; often called dehydration reactions.

Decomposition Reaction

Taking something apart; often called hydrolysis reactions.

Solution

A mixture composed of more particles of solvent than solute.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute.

Solute

A substance dissolved by a solvent.

Hydrophilic

"Water loving"; molecules that are attracted to water.

Hydrophobic

"Water fearing"; molecules that are not attracted to water.

Acids

Substances that have more H+ than OH-.

Bases

Substances that have more OH- than H+.

pH

A measure of how acidic/basic water is; measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water.

Strong Acid/Base

Completely split apart into individual components when placed into water.

Weak Acid/Base

Some of molecules will split apart; others stay together when put into water.

Buffers

Substances that help maintain a constant pH.

Organic Molecules

Carbon & hydrogen and often oxygen; C & H at a minimum.

Inorganic Molecules

May have carbon or hydrogen but not both; May not have C or H at all.

Hydrocarbon

Molecule that contains JUST carbon & hydrogen.

Isomers

Molecules with the same types and number of atoms arranged in different ways.

Structural Isomers

Different arrangement and placement of the same atoms.

Cis-Trans Isomers

Skeleton remains the same, but functional groups are moved to different sides.

Enantiomers

Mirror images of each other.

Functional Groups

Groups of molecules that add variation in structure, function, and behavior.

Macromolecules

Large molecules held together by covalent bonds.

Polymers

Molecules made of monomers strung together.

Monomers

Individual subunits strung together.

Enzymes

Are used to carry out dehydration reactions ; proteins.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecule; Functions: energy, structure; Monomers: saccharides.

Lipids

Macromolecule; Functions: Energy storage (longer term), structure, signaling; Monomers: Fatty acids, phospholipids, etc.

Proteins

Macromolecule; Functions: Structure, metabolism, basically everything; Monomers: Amino acids.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecule; Functions: Store and transmit information; Monomers: Nucleotides.

Monosaccharides

Single monomers/ single saccharides; Ex. Glucose, Fructose

Disaccharides

Two saccharides joined together with glycosidic linkage; Ex. Sucrose.

Polysaccharides

Three or more monomers joined together; Typically used for short-term energy storage or structure.

Starch

Individual glucosines joined together that exist in certain plants.

Cellulose

Big role in structure in plants.

Fats

Glycerol + fatty acid(s) tails (aka fatty acid chain. Function: Long-term energy storage.

Saturated Fat

Fats that have fatty acid tails completely saturated with hydrogen.

Unsaturated Fats

Double bond between 1+ carbon atoms in the fatty acid tail – some of the hydrogens get kicked off.

Phospholipids

Glycerol + two fatty acids + phosphate group. Function: Cell membrane structure.

Steroids

Four fused rings. Function: Membrane stability, signaling.