What is the function of a peptide bond?
It holds amino acids together in proteins.
What does an anabolic reaction do?
It builds larger molecules from smaller units.
What are introns?
Non-coding segments of a gene removed during mRNA processing.
What are exons?
Coding segments of a gene that are retained and expressed in mRNA.
What is the purpose of the 5' cap in mRNA?
It aids in mRNA stability and ribosome attachment.
What is a poly-A tail?
A sequence of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of mRNA for protection against degradation.
What type of molecule is a triglyceride?
A lipid made up of three fatty acids attached to glycerol.
What is a phospholipid?
A major component of cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids, a glycerol unit, and a phosphate group.
What function does glycogen serve in animals?
It acts as a form of energy storage.
What role does cellulose play in plants?
It serves as a structural component in plant cell walls.
The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy is called __________.
Photosynthesis.
The basic unit of life is the __________.
Cell.
A __________ is an organism that can make its own food using sunlight or chemicals.
Autotroph.
The smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element is called an __________.
Atom.
The __________ is the part of the cell responsible for controlling what enters and exits the cell.
Cell membrane.
In eukaryotic cells, the __________ contains the genetic material.
Nucleus.
The energy currency of the cell is __________.
ATP.
During cellular respiration, glucose is broken down into __________ to release energy.
Carbon dioxide and water.
The __________ structure is responsible for synthesizing proteins within the cell.
Ribosome.
In a chemical reaction, the substances that are changed are called __________.
Reactants.
Cell Theory
The theory that all living things are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life.
Mitosis
The process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells.
Meiosis
A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse gametes.
Chromosome
A structure made of DNA and protein that contains genetic information.
Gene
A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a protein.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
A single-stranded nucleic acid that plays a role in protein synthesis and gene expression.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
The primary energy carrier in cells.
Fermentation
A metabolic process that converts sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.
Enzyme
A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in the body.
Substrate
The reactant on which an enzyme works.
Homeostasis
The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism.
Diffusion
The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Active Transport
The movement of molecules across a cell membrane using energy, typically against their concentration gradient.
Phagocytosis
A type of endocytosis where large particles or cells are engulfed by a cell.
Antigen
A molecule that is recognized by the immune system as foreign, prompting an immune response.
Amino Acid
The building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain.
Vesicle
A small membrane-bound sac that transports materials within a cell.
Signal Transduction
The process by which a cell responds to external signals through a series of molecular events.
Mutation
A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in protein function.
Feedback Mechanism
A regulatory system in which the output of a process influences its operation.
Biomolecule
A molecule that is produced by living organisms, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.