honors bio final exam (vocabulary)

Constants

Factors that remain unchanged during an experiment, ensuring that the test conditions are consistent.

Control group

A group in an experiment that is not affected by the independent variable, so that it can be used to compare against the experimental group.

Experimental group

Group that is being experimented on, is affected by the independent variable.

Hypothesis

Logical prediction on the outcome of the experiment.

Independent variable

The part of the experiment that is changed.

Dependent Variable

The effect of the independent variable.

Cellular respiration

The process of organisms turning glucose into usable energy (ATP).

Combustion

When fossil fuels are burned, releasing carbon dioxide gas back into the atmosphere (part of the carbon cycle).

Competition

Occurs when two different organisms compete for the same resources/prey.

Commensalism

When one organism benefits and the other one is unaffected.

Condensation

When water molecules condense and form masses (clouds).

Consumption

When plants use CO2, and when animals eat those plants containing the CO2 (CO2 gets passed on).

Decomposers

Organisms whose roles are to decompose and break down dead organisms into organic matter.

Evaporation

When water molecules turn into gas or vapor by the means of the sun's heat.

Generalist

Species/organisms that can survive or reproduce in a large variety of environments. These organisms do not have specific diets and can adapt to new or changing environments.

Host

An organism that harbors or carries another organism.

Invasive Species

(Foreign) species that enter a new environment where they have no predators, so their populations grow to an uncontrollable extent (hard to get rid of, damaging to the native species of that environment).

Keystone Species

Species that have a (disproportionately) large effect on their environments.

Mutualism

When both species benefit.

Parasitism

When a parasite attaches to and feeds off of its host.

Parasite

Organisms that live in their host and use the host to survive for their own benefit.

Photosynthesis

A process in which plants make glucose with CO2, H2O and sunlight.

Precipitation

When water falls from the atmosphere back onto Earth's surface (water cycle).

Predation

When the predator benefits and the prey is negatively affected.

Predators

Animals that hunt and prey on other animals.

Prey

Animals hunted and killed to be used as food.

Specialist

Species that have very specific needs when it comes to surviving in an environment. For example, they may feed on specific things or have specific necessary resources to survive.

Transpiration

When water evaporates after moving through a plant from the Earth's surface.

Acid

When a substance has a high concentration of hydrogen ions.

Amino acid

The monomers of proteins.

Base

A substance that has a low concentration of hydrogen ions.

Carbohydrate

Macromolecules that are almost always used as an energy source (sugars) or have a structural function.

Dehydration synthesis

The process by which macromolecules are made by connecting subunits by removing a water molecule.

Fatty acid

Long hydrocarbon chains that make up lipids.

Hydrolysis

The process of separating polymers by inserting a H2O molecule.

Lipid

Macromolecules that are hydrophobic (do not mix or dissolve in water) due to hydrocarbon chains, and can be used for insulation, storage, protection.

Monomer

Repeating subunit that makes up polymers.

Monosaccharide

Monomer of carbohydrates.

Nucleic acid

Macromolecules provide cells with genetic info and conduct chemical reactions.

Nucleotide

Macromolecules provide cells with genetic info and conduct chemical reactions.

pH

Way to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution based on the Hydrogen ion concentration.

Phospholipid

Type of lipid that makes up the cell membrane, has a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many repeating subunits (monomers).

Polysaccharide

The polymer version of carbohydrates.

Protein

Macromolecules are primarily used for the structure and function of cells.

Cell membrane

semi-permeable membrane on the outside of the cell made up of a phospholipid bilayer

Cell wall

protective and structural rigid layer on the outside of plant cells

Central vacuole

membrane-bound organelle found in plant cells that is used to store supplies such as water

Centrioles

cylindrical organelle found in animal cells that helps the cell during mitosis/meiosis/cell division

Chloroplast

an organelle found in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs (contains chlorophyll)

Cytoplasm

gelatinous inside of all cells

Eukaryotic

cells or organisms with a nucleus

Flagella

thread like tail structure that helps some cells move

Golgi apparatus

organelle found in eukaryotic cells that is important in processing, modifying and packaging proteins and lipids

Lysosome

membrane-bound organelles that contain digestive enzymes

Mitochondria

organelle where most of the cells energy is generated (where ATP is synthesized)

Nucleus

structure found in eukaryotic cells that contains the cell's genetic material, also where RNA is made

Prokaryotic

cells or organisms with no nucleus

Ribosome

an organelle that is responsible for the production of proteins

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

an organelle covered in ribosomes and is a crucial part in protein synthesis and protein processing

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

an organelle that is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in the synthesis of lipids

Vacuole

a membrane-bound sac in cells, usually used to store necessities or for waste disposal

Active transport

cellular transport which requires energy in the form of ATP because it goes against the concentration gradient

Diffusion

the passive movement of molecules through the cell membrane

Endocytosis

a process where the cell takes in substances from outside of the cell by engulfing them into a vesicle and breaking it down

Exocytosis

process by which cells move stuff out of the cell into extracellular fluids

Facilitated diffusion

passive transport through the cell membrane with the help of transport proteins

Glycolipid

carbohydrate attached to a lipid, used for cell-to-cell recognition, maintaining stability, and signaling

Glycoprotein

carbohydrate attached to a protein (found in the hydrophilic area of the phospholipid bilayer) and is used for cell communication, recognition and attachment

Hydrophilic

attracted to water

Hydrophobic

repelled by water

Hypertonic

when there is a higher solute concentration outside of the cell (cell will shrink)

Hypotonic

when there is a higher solute concentration inside of the cell (cell will swell)

Isotonic

when there is an equilibrium between solute concentration in the cell and in it's environment

Membrane protein

proteins embedded in the cell membrane that can help facilitate diffusion of molecules in and out of the cell

Passive transport

transport in or out of the cell through the membrane that does not require energy as it goes with the concentration gradient

Phospholipid bilayer

membrane made up of two layers of phospholipids, created a inner hydrophobic region which makes the membrane semi permeable

Phospholipid head

hydrophilic part of the phospholipid

Phospholipid tail

hydrophobic part of the phospholipid

Osmosis

passive transport of water molecules

Solute

a substance that can be dissolved in a solution

Solvent

the substance that dissolves the solute

Activation energy

energy needed to start an enzyme's chemical reaction (hill on graph)

ADP

molecule involved with energy transfer in cells and is formed when ATP loses one of its phosphate groups

Aerobic cellular respiration

cellular respiration with oxygen

Anaerobic cellular respiration

cellular respiration without oxygen

ATP

main energy-carrying molecule in cells

Competitive inhibitor

inhibitor that attaches directly onto the active site and blocks the substrates from joining

Decomposer

organisms that break down dead organisms into organic matter or nutrients

Endothermic

reaction that involves the absorption of heat

Enzyme

protein that can catalyze chemical reactions

Exothermic

reaction that releases heat

Food chain

linear representation of energy flow through an ecosystem

Food Web

complex, interconnected network that shows multiple relationships and energy transfer within ecosystems

Light dependent reactions

reactions that make up one part of photosynthesis which has the purpose to capture energy from the sun and store energy in energy carrying molecules

Light independent reactions

reactions that make up one part of photosynthesis which has the purpose to use the energy stored from the light-dependent reaction to make sugar (glucose)

Noncompetitive inhibitor

attaches to anywhere but the active site, changing the shape of the enzyme which prevents the reaction from happening

Producer

another name for a autotroph, and is at the base of the trophic levels (level 1)

Primary consumer

heterotrophs, usually herbivores (level 2)

Secondary consumer

heterotrophs, usually omnivores (level 3)