Biol 103: Introductory Biology I

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the introductory biology lecture, focusing on life and its origins.

Note-taking

The practice of recording information from lectures or readings.

Habitable Zone

The region around a star where conditions may be suitable for life.

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Abiotic

Not resulting from the activity of living organisms.

Eukaryotic cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and organelles enclosed within membranes.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule involved in protein synthesis.

Protobiont

An abiotically produced organic molecule that can perform some life-like functions.

Polymerization

The process of linking monomers together to form a polymer.

Viruses

Microscopic infectious agents that can replicate only inside the living cells of an organism.

Self-replication

The ability of an organism or molecule to reproduce independently.

Natural Selection

The process through which organisms evolve to become better adapted to their environment.

Evolution

Change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, used as a basis for further investigation.

Energy Harvesting Pathways

Processes through which organisms obtain and utilize energy from their environment.

Abiotic Production

Formation of complex organic molecules from simple inorganic compounds without biological activity.

Nucleotides

The basic building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membranes involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that involves the loss of water to form a new bond.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain carbon and are the basis for all life on Earth.

Amino Acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Hydrothermal Vents

Underwater hot springs that release heated water, nutrients, and minerals.

Hypothesized Evolutionary Order

The proposed sequence of evolutionary development of biological systems.

Hydrogen Sulfide

A chemical compound that can be found in nutrient-rich waters, considered vital for life in certain ecosystems.

Central Dogma

The framework that describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Spike Protein

A protein on the surface of a virus that facilitates entry into host cells.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A double layer of phospholipids that make up the cell membrane.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Order of Life

The arrangement of biological structures and functions necessary for an organism to be classified as living.

Murchison Meteorite

A meteorite that contains organic molecules, supporting theories of extraterrestrial origins of life.

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement to protect endangered species.