s1 exam flashcards

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars such as glucose and fructose that serve as building blocks for complex carbohydrates.

Polysaccharides

Large, complex carbohydrates like starch, glycogen, and cellulose that serve as energy storage or structural components.

Triglycerides

Lipids composed of three fatty acids bonded to a glycerol backbone, primarily used for energy storage.

Phospholipids

Major components of cell membranes, characterized by a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.

Catalysis

The process by which enzymes accelerate biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

DNA

Nucleic acid that stores and transmits genetic information, composed of two strands forming a double helix.

RNA

Nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis and gene expression in various forms (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down a polymer by adding water, crucial for digestion.

Cell membrane

A selectively permeable barrier that regulates the entry and exit of substances in the cell.

Active Transport

Movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy (ATP).

Endocytosis

The process of taking in large particles or fluids into the cell.

Exocytosis

The process of expelling materials from the cell.

Positive Feedback

Feedback mechanism that amplifies responses, such as blood clotting.

Negative Feedback

Feedback mechanism that dampens responses to maintain stability, like temperature regulation.

ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, yielding ATP and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, processing pyruvate to produce NADH, FADH2, and ATP.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Occurs across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.

Chloroplast

The organelle where photosynthesis occurs in plant cells.

Light Dependent Reactions

Reactions occurring in the thylakoid membranes that use water and light energy to produce oxygen, ATP, and NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

Light-independent reactions occurring in the stroma, using ATP and NADPH to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.