Intro to Biology and Chemistry of Life

Ionic bond

Atoms gain/lose electrons to form charged bonds

Covalent bond

Atoms share electrons to fill outer energy level

Organic

Molecule containing carbon

Functional group

Set of atoms bonded to carbon, giving molecules different properties

Acid

Increases hydrogen ions in a solution

Base

Decreases hydrogen or increases hydroxide in a solution

pH scale

Measures hydrogen ion concentration in a solution

Buffer

Absorbs excess H+ or OH- to maintain constant concentration

Anabolic pathway

Uses energy to build larger molecules from smaller ones

Catabolic pathway

Breaks down large molecules into smaller, releasing energy

Substrate

Starting material for an enzyme-catalyzed reaction

Inhibitor

Substance decreasing enzyme activity by binding to it

Activator

Molecule binding to enzyme, increasing its activity

Feedback inhibition

Final product inhibits first reaction in a series at the allosteric site

photosynthesis

the use of sunlight to manufacture nutrients carried out by producers/autotrophs

cellular respiration

obtaining chemical energy from food through eating carried out by consumers/heterotrophs

population

all members of a species that can interact with one another

community

contains all different species living together in the same location

Eukaryotes domain

protists - fungi, animals; plants

phylogeny

brings together the three domains of life and shows relationships

competitive inhibitor

fits in the active site of an enzyme, blocking the substrate from binding

noncompetitive inhibitor

binds to an enzyme at an allosteric site separate from the active site

R group

refers to any carbon molecule

open system

where the energy can be transferred to the surroundings and the system

closed system

where energy cannot be transferred to the surroundings