Bio Test 1: Characteristics of Life and Cell Biology

Comprehensive flashcards for Bio Test 1 covering characteristics of life, cell theory, prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic organelles, plant cell specializations, and the chemical processes of photosynthesis and respiration.

Characteristics of Life: Respond to Stimuli

A trait where an organism reacts to the environment, such as a plant leaning towards a window or a rabbit running from a fox.

Characteristics of Life: Obtain Nutrients

The process of taking in materials like $H_2O$ and minerals through roots.

Characteristics of Life: Use Energy

The ability of cells, such as muscle cells, to break down sugar for movement.

Characteristics of Life: Produce Waste

The elimination of materials, like a bird dropping goo on a car windshield.

Cell Theory

The scientific theory stating that cells are the most basic unit of life, all living things are made of 1 or more cells, and cells only arise from pre-existing cells.

Prokaryotes

The simplest independently living things in the world, including Bacteria and Archaea.

Archaea

Also called Extremophiles because they can live in areas that are very hot, very salty, or very acidic.

Cocci

Bacteria that are identified by their Circle/round shape.

Unicellular

An organism composed of only 1 cell, including bacteria and some eukaryotes like yeast.

Multicellular

Organisms composed of many cells, such as a sunflower, mouse, oak tree, or tree fungus.

Microbes

Organisms that are too tiny to be seen with only our eyes; most are not harmful to humans.

Pathogens

Microbes that can cause disease to humans.

Microscope Magnification Calculation

If an Eyepiece lens has a power of $10\times$ and the objective lens is $10\times$, the object appears $100\times$ larger.

Mitochondria

The cell’s power plant that releases energy from food.

Vacuole

An organelle that stores extra water and nutrients.

Cell membrane

A thin lining with pores that monitors what molecules go in and out of the cell.

Smooth ER

A roadway/transportation system through the cell without ribosomes attached to it.

Rough ER

A roadway/transportation system through the cell that has ribosomes attached to it.

Ribosomes

The factories of the cell that make the products of the cell.

Cytoplasm

A watery goo or jello-like substance in which other organelles float inside the cell.

Nucleus

The cell’s control center that holds the genetic material- DNA.

Lysosome

The cell's garbage and recycling center.

Cell Wall

A rough, outer barrier found only in plant cells, compared to a protective rocky reef.

Chloroplasts

Little green disks that capture Sunlight energy and contain the green pigment chlorophyll.

Large, Central Vacuole

A huge water-filled organelle in plant cells that acts like a water tower and helps the plant grow taller by inflating the cell.

Photosynthesis

The process where sunlight energy is captured to produce food (glucose) and oxygen; defined by the equation: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{Sunlight} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$.

Respiration

The reverse of photosynthesis where food and oxygen react to unleash stored energy, releasing $H_2O$ and $CO_2$; defined by the equation: $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{Energy}$.

Chlorophyll

A pigment that absorbs red and blue wavelengths of light to transform molecules but reflects green wavelengths.