Biology Concepts Review

Flashcards covering key biology vocabulary and concepts for review and exam preparation.

Biochemistry

The study of molecules in living things and how they react with each other.

CHON

The four primary elements in biomolecules: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen.

Hydrophilic

A substance that interacts favorably with water.

Hydrophobic

A substance that does not interact well with water.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Cell Membrane

A structure that separates and protects the interior of the cell from the external environment.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules across a membrane.

Metabolism

The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism.

Gene Regulation

The process of turning genes on and off to control gene expression.

Mutation

A change in the genetic material of a cell or virus.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their environment.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an individual.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics or traits of an organism.

Allosteric Regulation

The regulation of an enzyme or protein's function through the binding of an effector molecule at a site other than the active site.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in materials by engulfing them.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells expel materials in vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by B cells that help identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.

Cohesion

The property of water that allows molecules to stick to each other.

Adhesion

The property of water that allows it to stick to other substances.

Amoeba

A type of single-celled organism that can alter its shape.

Cell Cycle

The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication.

Endocrine System

The system of glands that release hormones to regulate various functions in the body.

Immune Response

The body's defense mechanism against pathogens.

Trophic Levels

Levels in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Feedback Inhibition

A process where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step in the pathway.

Fossil Record

The history of life as documented by fossil remains.

Symbiosis

A close and often long-term interaction between two different species.

Carbohydrate

A biomolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, primarily serving as energy sources.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that influence other living organisms.

Biodiversity

The variability of life forms within a given ecosystem.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread widely and cause harm to native species and ecosystems.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy.

Signal Transduction Pathway

A series of molecular steps through which a signal outside the cell is converted into a specific cellular response.