Comprehensive Biology and Cancer Cell Biology Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the provided lecture notes covering basic cellular biology, molecular biology, physiology, genetics, epigenetics, and oncology concepts.

Atom

The smallest unit possible in which chemical properties are maintained.

Element

A substance made up entirely of all the same types of atoms.

Protons

Positively charged particles located in the nucleus of an atom that define its element.

Neutrons

Neutral particles located in the nucleus that add to the mass number, atomic mass, or atomic weight of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles with negligible mass located outside the nucleus of an atom.

Covalent bonds

Chemical bonds formed when atoms share electrons to construct molecules.

Introns

Sections of noncoding DNA located between coding sections within a gene sequence.

Exons

Coding sections of DNA within a gene sequence that are spliced together after introns are removed.

Transcription

The step of gene expression where information in DNA is converted into RNA language.

Translation

The step of gene expression where information in RNA is converted into the specific order of amino acids in a protein.

Semi-conservative replication

DNA replication process resulting in two double helices, each containing one old original strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Point Mutation

A DNA mutation involving a change in a single nucleotide base.

Substitution

A mutation where a correct base in a DNA sequence is replaced by an incorrect base.

Insertion

A mutation where one or more bases are added into a DNA sequence, altering how the sequence is read.

Deletion

A mutation where one or more bases are removed from a DNA sequence, altering how the sequence is read.

Alleles

Different versions or alternative forms of a gene arising by mutation.

Somatic Cells

All body cells in an organism excluding egg and sperm cells.

Heterozygous Pairs

Homologous chromosomes containing the same gene at corresponding loci, but with different alleles.

Homologous Pairs

Chromosomes containing the same gene and same allele on both unduplicated chromosomes.

Hydrophobic

'Water-fearing' molecular structures, such as lipid tails, that do not interact with water.

Hydrophilic

'Water-loving' molecular structures, such as lipid heads, that interact with water.

Hypertrophy

An increase in cell size categorized as a benign, pre-cancerous condition.

Atrophy

A decrease in cell size categorized as a benign, pre-cancerous condition.

Metaplasia

A benign, pre-cancerous condition characterized by both small and large cells and a mixture of cell types.

Hyperplasia

A benign, pre-cancerous condition where cells proliferate and grow on top of each other.

Dysplasia

An advanced pre-cancerous state characterized by disorganized cell arrangement.

Neoplasia

A malignant condition where cancerous cells invade through the basement membrane.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

A process in malignant cells where they become elongated and narrower to move easily through tight spaces.

Apoptosis

A form of programmed cell death that malignant cells successfully evade.

Autophagy

A cellular process where malignant cells consume their own organelles to generate energy.

Angiogenesis

The process by which cancer cells induce new blood vessel formation to supply nutrients to the tumor.

Metastasis

The process where cancer cells enter the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels to migrate to distant areas of the body.

Histone Acetylation

The addition of acetyl groups to histones, which loosens chromatin and increases gene expression.

DNA Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to promoter regions where RNA polymerase binds, blocking transcription and decreasing gene expression.

Proto-oncogenes

Genes that act like a 'gas pedal' to advance the cell cycle, leading to cancer when mutated or overexpressed.

Tumor Suppressors

Genes that act like 'brakes' to slow down the cell cycle, leading to increased cell division when mutated or down-regulated.

Warburg Effect

A metabolic alteration where cancer cells preferentially undergo lactic acid fermentation even when oxygen is present.

Philadelphia Chromosome

An abnormal chromosome created by a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and chromosome 22, creating a BCR-ABL fusion protein that drives Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).

External Respiration

The gas exchange of oxygen and $CO_2$ taking place between pulmonary alveoli and pulmonary capillaries in the lungs.

Internal Respiration

The gas exchange of oxygen and $CO_2$ taking place between systematic blood vessels and body tissues.

Differential Gene Expression

The expression of specific genes only at particular developmental stages, under specific conditions, or in designated tissues.

cDNA

Complementary DNA synthesized directly from mRNA templates, used in microarrays to evaluate gene expression levels.

CA-125

A tumor biomarker measured in the blood using ELISA testing to determine the success of ovarian cancer treatment.

The Cell Cycle

G1, S Phase, G2, M Phase

G1 - Phase 1

The cell grows and uses energy (metabolizes) to prep for the S Phase

“S” - Phase 2

The part of the cell cycle where DNA is replicated, resulting in two copies of each chromosome to prepare for cell division.

G2 - Phase 3

The cell continues to grow and produce proteins while preparing for mitosis. It also checks for errors in DNA replication.

“M” Phase - The Last Phase

Mitosis occurs, the cells divide, and chromosomes go into daughter cells.

Atomic Mass

Protons + Neutrons

Atomic #

The # of protons

Macromolecules

Molecules that control the speed of cells going through the cell cycle.

4 Types of Macromolecules

Lipids

Protein

Carbohydrates

Nucleic Acids

What is inside of a cell?

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Ribosomes

Nucleus

Golgi Complex

Plasma Membrane

What is the function of the nucleus?

The nucleus contains the genetic information and instructions for the cell, the overall “masterplan” of its life.

What is the R.E.R?

The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum uses the instructions of the nucleus to make proteins. So, the cell can go through the cell cycle.

What is the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum?

It is responsible for the detoxification of the cell.

What is the Golgi Complex?

The Golgi Complex receives proteins that were sent from the RER and send them to their destination.

packages of protein

vesicles