BIO1011 Flash Cards Review

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to the scientific method, characteristics of life, chemical bonds, and key processes in biology.

Scientific Method

A systematic process used in biology to investigate phenomena, acquire new knowledge, and correct previous findings.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an observation that can be verified through experimentation.

Control Group

A baseline for comparison with the experimental group(s) in an experiment.

Extraneous Variables

Factors other than the independent variable that could affect the dependent variable and confound experimental results.

Characteristics of Life

Include cellular organization, reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, response to stimuli, growth and development, and the ability to evolve.

Covalent Bond

Forms when atoms share electrons.

Polar Bond

A covalent bond where there is uneven sharing of electrons between atoms with different electronegativities.

Nonpolar Bond

A covalent bond where electrons are shared equally between atoms with similar electronegativities.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules that serve as energy sources for cells and can provide structural support.

Proteins

Biological molecules composed of amino acids that perform various functions within organisms.

Lipids

Organic molecules that serve functions including energy storage, cell membrane structure, and signaling.

Nucleic Acids

Biological molecules composed of nucleotides; examples include DNA and RNA.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy currency of cells, storing and transferring energy for cellular processes.

Cell Membrane

A phospholipid bilayer that regulates what enters and exits the cell.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Explains the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts as prokaryotic cells engulfed by larger cells.

Redox Reaction

Involves the transfer of electrons, with oxidation being the loss and reduction being the gain of electrons.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration occurring in the cytoplasm, yielding ATP, NADH, and pyruvate.

Krebs Cycle

A stage of cellular respiration that produces ATP, NADH, FADH₂, and CO₂, occurring in the mitochondrial matrix.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The final stage of cellular respiration that produces ATP through electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.