BIOL 200 Final

What are the seven characteristics of life?

Cellular organization, ordered complexity, sensitivity, growth and development, energy utilization, homeostasis, and evolutionary adaptation.

What is the definition of matter?

Matter is defined as "stuff" that has mass and occupies space.

What defines an atom?

An atom is the fundamental unit of matter composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What is electronegativity?

Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons.

What are the properties of water that are critical for life?

Polarity, hydrogen bonds, solvent properties, cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, and heat of vaporization.

What are the four main macromolecules essential for life?

Nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

What is the function of proteins?

Proteins perform functions such as enzyme catalysis, defense, transport, support, motion, and regulation.

What are the phases of the cell cycle?

G1 phase, S phase, G2 phase, and M phase (mitosis).

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to proteins.

What is a codon?

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies an amino acid.

What is the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

Ribosomes decode mRNA and facilitate the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids.

What are point mutations?

Alterations of a single base pair in the DNA sequence, which can lead to silent, missense, or nonsense mutations.

What distinguishes mitosis from meiosis?

Mitosis consists of one division producing two identical cells, while meiosis consists of two divisions resulting in four non-identical haploid cells.

What is the role of ATP in cellular metabolism?

ATP serves as the primary energy currency of the cell, providing energy for cellular processes.

What is meant by genetic variation?

Genetic variation refers to the diversity in gene frequencies in a population, resulting from mutations, gene flow, and sexual reproduction.

What are the stages of glycolysis?

Investment phase (using ATP), cleavage phase (splitting glucose), and payoff phase (producing ATP and NADH).

What are the products of the citric acid cycle?

ATP, NADH, FADH2, and carbon dioxide.

What is the significance of chaperone proteins?

Chaperone proteins assist in the correct folding of newly synthesized proteins.

What process describes the conversion of glucose to ATP?

Cellular respiration.

What is a mutation?

A mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that can lead to changes in protein function.

What is the importance of photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, providing oxygen and organic compounds vital for life.

What is a silent mutation?

A silent mutation is a genetic change that does not alter the amino acid sequence of a protein.

What are the key components of cell communication?

Ligands (signaling molecules), receptor proteins (binding sites), and signal transduction pathways.

What is an amplifier in signal transduction?

An amplifier is a component of a signaling pathway that increases the strength of the signal after it has been received.

What is the function of G-proteins in cell signaling?

G-proteins act as molecular switches that relay signals from activated receptors to target proteins inside the cell.

What is a second messenger?

Second messengers are intracellular signaling molecules released in response to the binding of a ligand to a receptor.

What is endocrine signaling?

Endocrine signaling refers to the release of hormones into the bloodstream to target distant cells.

What is juxtacrine signaling?

Juxtacrine signaling occurs when cells are physically close together and signal through direct contact.

What is autocrine signaling?

when a cell secretes a signaling molecule that binds to its own receptor

What is signal transduction?

Signal transduction is the process by which a cell responds to external signals through a series of molecular events

What are receptor proteins?

Receptor proteins are proteins located on the cell surface or inside cells that bind ligands to trigger a cellular response

What is the role of ligands in cell communication?

act as signaling molecules that bind to receptor proteins to initiate a response within a cell

What are mutations and how are they caused?

changes in the DNA sequence that can occur due to errors in DNA replication, exposure to radiation, chemicals, or viral infections.

Why do not all mutations affect the phenotype?