Biology Review: Homeostasis and Life Processes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts about homeostasis, life processes, inorganic and organic compounds, and biological reactions.

Homeostasis

A balanced state in an organism’s body necessary for survival.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that all living things perform, including nutrition, cellular respiration, synthesis, transport, regulation, excretion, and reproduction.

Nutrition

The process by which organisms use nutrients for growth, synthesis, repair, and energy.

Cellular Respiration

The process of converting energy in food into usable form (ATP).

Excretion

The removal of wastes produced by metabolic activities.

Oxygen O2

A gas needed by most organisms for cellular respiration, released as a waste product by plants during photosynthesis.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that releases energy from glucose without using oxygen.

Nitrogen N2

The most common gas in air, essential for making proteins and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates

Polymers made of monosaccharides that provide and store energy.

Lipids

Polymers that include fats and oils, crucial for waterproofing, insulation, and energy storage.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids with diverse functions determined by their specific shapes.

Enzymes

Catalysts that control chemical reactions in the body, functioning under specific temperature and pH conditions.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers such as DNA and RNA, consisting of nucleotides and involved in genetic information and protein synthesis.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining monomers to form polymers by removing water.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by adding water.