Online Biology & MAT Series Exam #1 Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core biological concepts, human physiology, plant anatomy, and genetics based on the Online Biology & MAT Series Exam #1 notes.

Miller-Urey experiment

An experiment that used electric discharge to simulate lightning in primitive Earth conditions to synthesize simple organic compounds like amino acids.

Inheritance of Acquired Characters

A concept proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck suggesting that physical changes acquired by an organism during its lifetime through use or disuse could be passed to offspring.

Homo erectus

The first hominid species known as the "First man who stood erect," exhibiting a fully upright posture and bipedal locomotion.

Cnidoblasts

Specialized stinging cells found in Cnidarians that contain a capsule called a nematocyst used for capturing prey and providing defense.

Open circulatory system

A type of circulatory system found in prawns where blood flows freely through body cavities called hemocoels rather than being confined to vessels.

Water Vascular System

A unique hydraulic system in Echinodermata used for locomotion, food capture, and gaseous exchange by regulating water pressure within tube feet.

Pisces

A class of vertebrates that possesses a two-chambered heart consisting of a single atrium and a single ventricle.

Transitional epithelium

A specialized lining found in the urinary bladder that can stretch and expand as the organ fills with urine.

Collagen

The most abundant protein in the human body, forming a fibrous network that provides structural support and strength to connective tissues.

Erythropoiesis

The process of red blood cell formation, which occurs primarily in the red bone marrow and is stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin.

Calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$)

Ions essential for muscle contraction that bind to troponin to uncover active binding sites on actin filaments for myosin heads.

Ex-erythrocytic schizogony

A stage in the life cycle of Plasmodium that occurs in liver cells before the parasite invades the general circulation.

Sporozoite

The stage of Plasmodium that is transferred from a mosquito to a human host during a bite to initiate infection.

Blood glands

Small structures in earthworms found in segments $4$, $5$, and $6$ that synthesize hemoglobin and blood cells.

Hermaphrodites

Organisms, such as earthworms, that possess both male and female reproductive organs and typically practice cross-fertilization.

Tadpole respiratory organ

External gills used by fully aquatic tadpoles to extract dissolved oxygen from water before undergoing metamorphosis into lung-breathing frogs.

Urinogenital ducts

Ducts in male frogs that serve the dual purpose of passing sperm from the testes and urine from the kidneys.

Alveoli

Thin-walled sacs surrounded by capillaries that serve as the actual site of gas diffusion between blood and atmospheric air.

Urochrome

A pigment produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin in the liver that gives human urine its yellow color.

Organ of Corti

The part of the internal ear containing hair cells that convert mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses for hearing.

Blind spot

The area of the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye and photoreceptors are absent, preventing the formation of a visual image.

Enamel

The hardest substance in the human body, consisting of highly mineralized calcium phosphate to protect the inner layers of teeth.

Bile juice

A substance produced by the liver that carries out the emulsification of fats by breaking large globules into smaller droplets.

SA node

The Sinoatrial node, known as the pacemaker of the heart, which generates regular electrical impulses to trigger muscle contraction.

Hypertension

A medical condition where blood pressure is consistently higher than $140/90\,mmHg$.

Progesterone

A hormone secreted by the Corpus Luteum to thicken the uterine lining and maintain pregnancy.

Myometrium

The middle thick muscular layer of the uterus composed of smooth muscle fibers that undergo powerful contractions during labor.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the human brain, responsible for thinking, memory, language, and voluntary motor control.

Olfactory nerve

The first of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves, responsible for carrying sensory information about smell from the nose to the brain.

Sympathetic system

The part of the nervous system that mediates the "Fight or Flight" response by increasing heart rate and alerting the body to stress.

Goitre

A physical swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck caused by a deficiency of iodine in the diet.

Adrenaline

The "Emergency Hormone" or "Stress Hormone" released by the adrenal medulla during sudden danger.

Elephantiasis

A disease also known as Filariasis, transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which leads to severe swelling of limbs due to blocked lymph drainage.

Scurvy

A disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency, characterized by bleeding gums and poor wound healing due to impaired collagen synthesis.

Nicotine

A highly addictive alkaloid found in tobacco that acts as a stimulant in the brain.

Active immunity

The long-lasting protection acquired when an individual's body produces memory B and T cells after recovering from an infection.

ELISA

The "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay," a sensitive laboratory technique used to screen for HIV antibodies and other infections.

Sphygmomanometer

An instrument with an inflatable cuff and pressure gauge used in clinical settings to measure blood pressure.

Red Data Book

A document published by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) that tracks the extinction risk of endangered species.

Ex-situ conservation

A preservation method involving protecting endangered species outside their natural habitat, such as in a Zoological Park or seed bank.

Proteins

Long chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that fold into specific three-dimensional shapes to perform biological functions.

Fructose

A simple monosaccharide naturally found in fruits and honey, known as "Fruit Sugar."

Lophotrichous

A term describing bacteria that have a cluster or bundle of flagella at one end for rapid propulsion.

Chlorophyceae

Green algae that share an evolutionary relationship with land plants and store energy as starch within chloroplasts.

Chitin

A tough, nitrogen-containing polysaccharide that makes up the cell wall of fungi.

Prothallus

A heart-shaped, independent structure that serves as the gametophyte of a fern, producing both male and female gametes.

Equisetum

A Pteridophyte known as "Horse-tail" with jointed, ribbed stems that are rich in silica.

Winged Pollen Grains

Pollen structures found in Pinus that possess two air-filled sacs to facilitate dispersal by wind.

Rhizome

A modified Underground stem used for food storage in plants like ginger, growing horizontally and producing roots and shoots.

Bisexual flower

A flower that possesses both male (androecium) and female (gynoecium) reproductive structures.

Carolus Linnaeus

The "Father of Taxonomy" who developed the binomial nomenclature system and the hierarchical structure of biological classification.

Ecotone

A transition zone between two distinct ecosystems, such as a marsh, which often features high species richness.

Nitrogen fixation

The process, performed by specialized bacteria using the nitrogenase enzyme, of converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Xerophytes

Plants adapted to arid environments, possessing features like thick waxy cuticles and sunken stomata to reduce water loss.

Greenhouse Effect

A phenomenon where gases like Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a rise in average temperatures.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A model of the cell membrane proposed by Singer and Nicolson, describing it as a flexible lipid layer with embedded proteins.

Ribosome

An organelle that translates genetic code from mRNA into specific sequences of amino acids to synthesize proteins.

Mitochondria

The cell's "Powerhouse" responsible for performing aerobic respiration to generate ATP, the cell's energy currency.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm during cell division which physically separates the parent cell into two daughter cells.

Pachytene

The stage of meiosis during which crossing over occurs, leading to genetic recombination and variation.

Test cross

A breeding experiment involving a cross between an $F_1$ individual and its recessive parent to determine the individual's genotype.

Centimorgan

The unit of distance between genes on a chromosome, where one unit corresponds to a $1\%$ frequency of recombination.

Ribose

The pentose sugar found in RNA that contains an additional oxygen atom compared to the sugar in DNA.

Casparian strips

Waxy, water-impermeable bands in endodermal cells that regulate the selective entry of water and minerals into the plant's vascular system.

Phloem

The plant tissue that performs translocation, moving sugars and organic nutrients from leaves to roots and fruits.

Photolysis

The light-reliant splitting of water in the thylakoid lumen that releases oxygen and provides electrons for photosynthesis.

Glycolysis

A universal metabolic pathway that takes place in the cytoplasm, breaking down one glucose molecule into two molecules of pyruvic acid.

Ethylene

A gaseous plant hormone used for the artificial ripening of green harvested fruits like bananas and tomatoes.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower, which is a prerequisite for fertilization.

Double fertilization

A process unique to Angiosperms that results in the formation of both a zygote and a triploid endosperm for nourishment.

Golden Rice

A genetically modified variety of rice engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A.

Mushroom culture

The technical process involving the controlled cultivation of fungi on organic substrates like straw or compost.

Green Revolution

An agricultural transformation in India during the 1960s and 70s that significantly increased the production of wheat and rice.