Unit 4 Cellular Processes Vocab #1

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

chlorophyll

Green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used to carry out photosynthesis

photosynthesis

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

glycolysis

first step in releasing the energy of glucose, in which a molecule of glucose is broken into two molecules of pyruvic acid (aka pyruvate)

Aerobic Respiration

requires oxygen

alcoholic fermentation

anaerobic process in which cells convert pyruvate into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol; carried out by many bacteria and fungi such as yeasts

lactic acid fermentation

The conversion of pyruvate to lactate with no release of carbon dioxide.

anaerobic respiration

Does not use oxygen

chromosome

A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of one very long DNA molecule and associated proteins.

cell cycle

series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide