BIO1011 Week 6: Powering Life - Harnessing Chemical Energy

A collection of vocabulary flashcards from BIO1011 Week 6 lecture notes focusing on chemical energy and cellular respiration.

Chemoautotroph

An organism that derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds and uses carbon dioxide as a carbon source.

Heterotroph

An organism that obtains its carbon and energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter.

Photoautotroph

An organism that utilizes sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Cellular respiration

The metabolic process in which cells convert biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP, and release waste products.

Glycolysis

The first step in cellular respiration that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP.

Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle)

A series of enzymatic reactions that occur in the mitochondria, producing ATP, NADH, and FADH2 from acetyl-CoA.

Electron transport chain

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions.

Anaerobic respiration

The process of producing cellular energy without oxygen, resulting in less ATP production compared to aerobic respiration.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms, providing energy for cellular processes.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate using a proton gradient.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The final stage of cellular respiration where ATP is produced using energy derived from the electron transport chain.

Proton gradient

A difference in proton concentration across a membrane, used by ATP synthase to generate ATP.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that include catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, using energy.

Lactate

A byproduct of anaerobic respiration, formed from the reduction of pyruvate.

Pyruvate

The end product of glycolysis, which can be further oxidized or reduced depending on the presence of oxygen.

FADH2

A reduced form of FAD that acts as an electron carrier in the electron transport chain.

NADH

A reduced form of NAD+ that carries electrons to the electron transport chain.

Oxygen availability

A key factor affecting the efficiency of cellular respiration and organ function in multicellular organisms.