Midterm Study Guide for CPP

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the midterm study guide.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism involving catabolism (breakdown of substances) and anabolism (synthesis of larger molecules).

Catabolism

Chemical reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller ones, producing energy.

Anabolism

Chemical reactions that build larger molecules from smaller ones, consuming energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells, produced during catabolism.

Glycolysis

The metabolic process that converts glucose into pyruvic acid, yielding 2 ATP without requiring oxygen.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol, allowing for ATP production in low oxygen.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that use light energy to synthesize their own food, such as plants and some bacteria.

Chemoautotrophs

Organisms that derive energy from inorganic compounds to produce organic matter.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs, containing chlorophyll.

Calvin Cycle

The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Chromatin

Material consisting of DNA and proteins that make up chromosomes.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells.

Malignant Tumor

A cancerous growth that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.

Haploid

A cell with one complete set of chromosomes, typically found in gametes.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by the combination of alleles.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism determined by its genotype.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that can result in varying traits.

Dominant Allele

An allele that expresses its phenotype even when only one copy is present.

Recessive Allele

An allele that only expresses its phenotype when two copies are present.

Nitrogenous Bases

The building blocks of nucleic acids; in DNA, the bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.

DNA Replication

The process of copying a DNA molecule to produce two identical DNA strands.