IB BIO SL MIDTERM December 2024

Carbon compounds

The building blocks of life essential for organisms' survival, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Alveolus

Microscopic balloon-shaped structures located at the end of the respiratory tree.

Polyploidy

A condition in which a cell has more than two paired (homologous) sets of chromosomes.

Nucleus

An organelle containing DNA, associated with histone proteins, organized into chromosomes.

Natural selection

The process by which variations that are favorable for survival are passed on to offspring.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down macromolecules into smaller units for absorption by cells, utilizing water.

Condensation

A chemical reaction that joins monomers to form macromolecules.

Totipotent Stem Cells

Stem cells capable of differentiating into any cell type, including placental cells.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells that can differentiate into all body cells but cannot form a complete organism.

Multipotent Stem Cells

Stem cells that can differentiate into a few closely related body cell types.

Unipotent Stem Cells

Stem cells that can only differentiate into their associated cell type.

Holozoic Nutrition

A type of nutrition involving ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion of solid food.

Saprotrophic Nutrition

A type of nutrition where organisms feed on dead and decaying matter, involving external digestion.

Selective Breeding

The process of choosing specific organisms to reproduce, leading to rapid changes in populations.

Tidal Volume

The volume of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing.

Ventilation Rate

The number of breaths taken per minute, crucial for gas exchange in the alveoli.

Cell Membrane Structure

Composed of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrate groups, with cholesterol being a significant lipid component.

Genomes

The total genetic information of an organism, consisting of all DNA sequences necessary to build and maintain that organism.

Chromosomes

Long threads of DNA and proteins located in the nucleus, organized in pairs, containing many genes.

Speciation

The formation of new species through reproductive isolation, often due to geographical barriers.

Facilitated Diffusion

Movement of solutes across a cell membrane down their concentration gradient with the aid of membrane proteins.

Active Transport

The movement of particles against their concentration gradient using energy.

Selectivity in Membrane Permeability

A property of membranes allowing only certain molecules to pass while restricting others.

Xylem

Vascular tissue in plants that transports water and minerals, strengthened by lignin.

Transpiration

The process where plants lose water vapor from leaves through stomata.

Coral Reefs Conditions

Require specific environmental factors, like temperature and pH, for formation.

Atypical Cells

Cells that do not have typical structures found in most eukaryotic cells.

Heart Rate Measurement

Counting beats at the radial or carotid artery, calculating beats per minute.

Ethical Testing of Human Subjects

Requires written consent from subjects; parental consent for those under 16.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Includes plaque buildup in arteries that can lead to ischemia.

Niche Components

Includes habitat, activity patterns, and resource acquisition of an organism.

Biodiversity

The variety of life forms in an ecosystem, reflecting genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.