Living Environment Boot Camp Survival Guide Flashcards

Flashcards for Living Environment Regents Exam Review

Homeostasis

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

Metabolism

The sum of all the chemical reactions that occur within the cells of an organism.

Organic Molecules

Molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Organelles

Small parts that make up a cell, each with a specific function.

Vacuoles

Store waste and water; large in plant cells, small in animal cells.

Ribosome

Site of protein synthesis (where proteins are made).

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cell where energy is made; site of cellular respiration.

Chloroplasts

Only in plant cells; where the process of photosynthesis occurs.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell and contains DNA.

Cytoplasm

The liquid media that fills the cell.

Cell Membrane

Separates cell contents from the outside environment and controls the transport of materials.

Passive Transport/Diffusion

Movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration (no energy used).

Active Transport

Moving a molecule from low concentration to high concentration (uses energy in the form of ATP).

Control

Chemicals produced in the endocrine glands (hormones) and by nerve cells, responsible for communication between cells.

Respiration

Process used by all organisms to produce energy by using oxygen to burn sugar.

Digestion

Breaking large molecules down into smaller molecules.

Transport

Involves the movement of materials inside the cell and between parts of a multicellular organism.

Excretion

The removal of all waste produced by the cells of the body.

Synthesis

The making or building of large molecules from smaller ones.

Photosynthesis

The process of storing the energy from the sun in the chemical bonds of glucose (sugar).

Cellular Respiration

Occurs in the mitochondria of all organisms to create energy.

Enzymes

Special proteins that affect the rate of chemical reactions; catalysts used in digestion and synthesis.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A steady state-balance.

Negative Feedback

Controls hormone levels to maintain homeostasis.

Surface Receptor Protein

Molecule on the cell membrane that the immune system recognizes.

Antigens

Receptor proteins on the membrane of pathogens (germs).

Antibodies

Special proteins produced by white blood cells to fight diseases.

Immunity

Our body’s ability to fight disease.

Vaccination

Composed of a weakened or dead virus that triggers our white blood cells to produce antibodies.

Diseases

Caused by pathogens (virus, bacterium, and fungus).

Meiotic Division

Type of cell division that is sexual reproduction. Parent cell divides twice to produce either 4 sperm cells or (female) 3 polar bodies + 1 Egg (ovum)

Gonads

Sex glands (ovaries and testis).

Gametes

Sex cells that unite in fertilization to form a zygote.

Zygote

A fertilized egg.

Fertilization

When a male and female gamete unite.

Differentiation

Process that transforms developing cells into specialized cells with different structures and functions.

Placenta

Organ that is attached to the baby via the umbilical chord and provides nutrients, oxygen to the fetus and removes waste through the process of diffusion.

Karyotype

Visual map of chromosomes.

Cancer

Occurs when certain genetic mutations in a cell result in uncontrolled cell division.

Heredity

The passing of genetic information from one generation to the next through reproduction.

DNA

A double stranded helix polymer of nucleotides that contains the genetic code of the individual.

Nucleotide

The basic unit of DNA which is made of a Phosphate, a Sugar and a Base.

RNA

A single stranded polymer that is produced by DNA.

Mutation

Any alteration of the DNA sequence which changes the normal message carried by the gene.

Genetic Engineering

A technology that humans use to alter the genetic instructions in organisms.

Gene Splicing

Cutting DNA and placing it into another organism.

Restriction Enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA in specific places and is an essential tool in gene splicing as well as in Gel-electro phoresis.

Selective Breeding

A process of picking parents with favorable traits to produce those traits in the offspring.

Species

A group of closely related organisms that share certain characteristics and can produce offspring capable of reproduction.

Evolution

The process by which organisms have changed over time from simple, single- celled: complex-single-celled: complex, multicellular to complex organisms.

Natural Selection

nature selects those individuals who are best fit for the environment.

Extinction

The disappearance of an entire species caused by a failure to adapt to a changing environment.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with the living and nonliving things.

Biotic Factors

Living parts of the ecosystem ex. Plants and animals.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living parts of the environment (rocks, air, ph, sunlight)

Niche

A species’ role in it’s environment (it’s JOB and what it EATS)

Population

All the organisms of a species that live in the same area.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population (number or organisms of any species) that an ecosystem can support.

Food Chain

Diagram of the linear feeding relationship of organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Web

Diagram composed of many interlocking food chains.

Energy Pyramid

Diagram showing the energy available at each trophic level.

Ecological Succession

The orderly sequence of changes in the communities living in a given ecosystem over time.

Biodiversity

Measurement of the degree to which species vary within an ecosystem.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can replenish themselves if not abused.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that take a long time to replace or form.

Pollution

A harmful change in the chemical makeup of the air, water, or soil.

Direct Harvesting

The destruction or loss of a species by over hunting.

Deforestation

Removing forests for wood or clearing trees for farms.

Independent Variable

The one thing that “I change” to test my hypothesis.

Dependant Variable

The thing that changes because of the IV (DATA collected)

Control Group

The group that is studied under the normal conditions.

Objective Lens

The magnifying part closest to the slide.

Paper Chromatography

Laboratory technique that is used to separate different molecules from one another.

Gel electrophoresis

Separation of DNA using electrical current by size

Dichotomous Keys

Tools to help in the classification of organisms.