Living Environment Regents Review: Key Topics and Concepts

Active Transport

molecules move from a low concentration to a high concentration ENERGY is REQUIRED.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins.

Cell

Smallest unit of life.

Cell Membrane

Controls what goes in (nutrients and O₂) or out (CO₂ and wastes) of the cell.

Cell Respiration

Process of converting glucose and oxygen into energy.

Chloroplast

Site of photosynthesis in plant cells.

Cytoplasm

Fluid (mostly water) where many chemical reactions take place.

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a disease affecting the immune system.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens.

Antigen

Substance that triggers an immune response.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, energy currency of the cell.

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms that can be beneficial or harmful.

Biotechnology

Use of living systems and organisms to develop products.

Chromosome

Structure containing DNA that carries genetic information.

Clone

An organism that is genetically identical to another.

Differentiation

Process by which cells become specialized.

Fossil Record

Historical sequence of life as documented by fossils.

Genetic Variation

Differences in DNA among individuals.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence that can lead to variations.

Natural Selection

Process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.

Respiration

Process of breaking down glucose to release energy.

Vaccine

Substance that stimulates an immune response to provide immunity.

Virus

Infectious agent that replicates only inside living cells.

Receptor Molecules

On the cell membrane; the shape determines what substances it can attach to and bring into the cell.

Chloroplasts

Site of Photosynthesis contains a green pigment called Chlorophyll.

Super Large Vacuole

Store water and sugar.

Nutrition

Nutrients are needed for energy (ATP), repair and growth.

Autotrophic Organisms

Take in inorganic molecules (CO₂ and H₂O) to form complex organic compounds (like glucose C6 H₁₂ O₆).

Heterotrophic Organisms

Cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms for food.

Starches

Convert to simple sugars (glucose is an example).

Proteins

Convert to amino acids.

Lipids

Convert to fatty acids and glycerol.

Transport

Materials must be distributed throughout the cell or body (nutrients, wastes, hormones, oxygen, antibodies...).

Respiration

Energy (ATP) is released from the bonds of glucose; happens in the mitochondria of the cells.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions in an organism.

Synthesis

The process of making materials in the body such as using nutrients to make proteins needed by the organism.

Regulation and Coordination

To maintain Homeostasis cells must be able to communicate (coordinate actions).

Excretion

Gets rid of toxic waste products from cellular processes.

Cell Walls and Chloroplasts

Structures that could most likely be observed in cells in the low-power field of a compound light microscope.

Mitochondrion and Chloroplast

Organelles that must be present within a cell of a geranium leaf for respiration and photosynthesis to occur.

Ribosomes

If destroyed, the cell would be unable to synthesize proteins.

Structures Carrying Out Life Functions

Organelles.

Toxic Poisons

Interfere with the function of enzymes in mitochondria, resulting in the inability of the cell to release energy from nutrients.

Sequence of Complexity

Cells → tissues → organs → organism.

ATP

The synthesis of ATP occurs within structure B.

Hereditary Information

Stored inside the nucleus, which has chromosomes that contain many genes.

Homeostasis

The internal stability that all organisms maintain.

Photosynthesis

The energy-storing process that converts light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis Equation (words)

Water + Carbon Dioxide → Glucose + Oxygen

Photosynthesis Equation (chemical symbols)

H₂O + CO₂ → C6H12O6 + O₂

Chloroplasts

Cell organelles where photosynthesis occurs.

Stomates

Holes on the bottoms of leaves that open and close to let CO₂ in and conserve water.

Guard Cells

Special cells that control the opening or closing of stomates.

Cellular Respiration

The energy-releasing process that converts chemical energy from glucose into ATP.

Cellular Respiration Equation (words)

Glucose + Oxygen → Water + Carbon Dioxide + ATP

Cellular Respiration Equation (chemical symbols)

C6H12O6 + O₂ → H₂O + CO₂ + ATP

Mitochondria

Cell organelles where cellular respiration occurs.

Organism

All systems working together to maintain life and homeostasis.

Digestive System

System responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients.

Respiratory System

System responsible for gas exchange (oxygen & carbon dioxide).

Immune System

System that protects the body from viruses and bacteria (pathogens/antigens).

Pathogens

Disease-causing organisms (virus, bacteria, fungus, microorganisms, protists).

Antigens

Protein name tags that have a special shape recognized by white blood cells.

White Blood Cells

Cells that produce antibodies to recognize and destroy pathogens.

Vaccines

Dead or weakened pathogens injected into the body to stimulate an immune response.

Antibiotics

Medications given to fight bacterial infections.

Allergy

An immune response where the body makes antibodies to harmless antigens.

AIDS

A condition where H.I.V. destroys white blood cells, leading to no immunity.

Nervous System

System used for fast communication between cells to maintain homeostasis.

Endocrine System

System where hormones are sent through the blood to target cells with specific receptors.

Feedback Mechanisms

Processes that maintain homeostasis by regulating substances in the body.

Dynamic Equilibrium

The constant small corrections that must occur to maintain homeostasis.

Enzymes

Specially shaped proteins that digest or synthesize large molecules.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that increase the rate of reactions.

Substrate

The substance that fits into an enzyme and is acted upon.

Protease

An enzyme that digests proteins.

Lactase

An enzyme that digests lactose.

Lipase

An enzyme that digests lipids.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The intermediate formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Denature

The process of changing the shape of an enzyme, affecting its function.

Factors affecting Enzyme Activity

Temperature, pH, and concentration of enzyme or substrate that influence enzyme function.

Optimal Temperature

The temperature at which an enzyme works the fastest.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical bond energy.

Chlorophyll

A pigment that allows plants to convert light energy to chemical bond energy.

Bromthymol Blue

A pH indicator that turns yellow in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Anaerobic Respiration

A type of respiration that occurs without oxygen, producing less ATP.

Aerobic Respiration

A type of respiration that requires oxygen and produces more ATP.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the energy currency of the cell.

Carbohydrate

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, produced during photosynthesis.

Light Intensity

The amount of light received by a plant, affecting the rate of photosynthesis.

Absorption Spectrum of Chlorophyll

The range of wavelengths of light that chlorophyll can absorb.

Lactic Acid

A product of anaerobic respiration in muscle cells.

Carbon Dioxide

A gas produced during respiration and used in photosynthesis.

Oxygen

A gas produced during photosynthesis and used in aerobic respiration.

Energy Stored in Food

The potential energy contained in the chemical bonds of food molecules.

Regulation

The process of maintaining homeostasis in living organisms.

Excretion

The process of removing waste products from the body.