General Biology 1 Midterm Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering General Biology 1 topics including cell theory, cell types, organelles, cell cycle, meiosis, and genetic disorders.

Scientific Method

A methodology for learning about the world consisting of the problem, hypothesis, experiment, results, and conclusion.

Homeostasis

An organism’s ability to keep a constant internal state.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of food molecules which is converted by cells into usable forms.

Niche

The occupational or functional position of a life form within nature.

Spontaneous Generation

A prehistoric belief that living things could appear from non-living material under the right conditions.

Animalcules

The name Anton van Leeuwenhoek gave to the moving organisms he observed in pondwater.

Cytology

The branch of biology that involves the study of cells.

Histology

The branch of biology that involves the study of tissues.

Stem Cells

Unspecialized cells originating from embryos or bone marrow that can develop into specialized cells for specific tissues.

Osteoclasts

Bone cells responsible for bone resorption by dissolving the mineral and organic matrix.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that secrete osteoid and deposit collagen to make bone hard.

Osteocytes

Bone cells that detect mechanical stress or pressure and send signals to maintain bone tissue.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.

Leukocytes

White blood cells responsible for fighting infections.

Neutrophils

The most abundant white blood cells ($40\text{--}60\text{\%}$) that act as first responders to bacterial and fungal infections.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells including T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells that target viral infections and produce antibodies.

Thrombocytes

Also known as platelets, these cells are responsible for controlling blood clotting.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels from existing ones.

Adipocytes

Fat cells that contain droplets of stored triglycerides used for energy.

Epidermis

The outermost visible layer of skin made mostly of keratinocytes and melanin.

Gametes

Reproductive sex cells (sperm and egg) produced in the gonads.

Mitosis

Cell division that produces somatic or body cells.

Meiosis

A reduction division that produces haploid ($n$) sex cells with 23 chromosomes in humans.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

A single layer of cells that appears multi-layered because the nuclei are at different levels.

Apoptosis

A genetically controlled, deliberate process of programmed cell death (cellular suicide).

Necrosis

A passive, accidental, and pathological form of cell death resulting from injury or disease, causing cell rupture.

Mitochondria

The power plant of the cell that generates energy in the form of ATP ($\text{adenosine triphosphate}$).

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis, found in the cytoplasm or on the Rough ER.

Capsid

The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) of a virus.

Endosymbiosis Theory

The theory that eukaryotic organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as small prokaryotes consumed by larger ones.

Autogenous Theory

The theory suggesting that organelles like the ER and Golgi apparatus originated from the inward folding of the cell membrane.

Nucleosome

A basic structural unit of chromatin formed by DNA wrapped around histone proteins.

Somatic Cells

Body cells derived from the Greek word 'soma' whose traits cannot be passed on to offspring.

Karyotyping

A laboratory procedure used by physicians to examine a set of chromosomes.

Autosomes

Numbered chromosomes ($1\text{--}22$) that contain genes for traits not related to sex determination.

Centromere

The specific region where two sister chromatids are joined together in a replicated chromosome.

Contact Inhibition

An external factor that prevents cells from dividing when they become too crowded.

Crossing Over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes occurring at the chiasma during Prophase I.

Oogenesis

The process of egg cell formation which results in one mature ovum and three polar bodies.

Trisomy 21

Also known as Down Syndrome, caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Turner Syndrome

A chromosomal condition ($45,X$) affecting females characterized by the partial or complete absence of one X chromosome.

Klinefelter Syndrome

A chromosomal condition ($47,XXY$) affecting individuals assigned male at birth, characterized by an extra X chromosome.