Biology Lab Review: Cell Biology, Enzymes, Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Cell Division

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering biology lab concepts including membrane integrity, enzyme activity, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, fermentation, mitosis, and meiosis.

Control tube (Beet experiment)

The test tube containing beet and water, used as the baseline comparison to evaluate membrane disruption.

Anthocyanin

The red pigment located in beet vacuoles that is released when vacuole and plasma membranes are destroyed.

Membrane disruption methods (Beet lab)

Physical and chemical treatments—including freezing, boiling, and alcohol exposure—that rupture beet cell membranes and release pigment.

Hypertonic plant cells

Plant cells placed in a hypertonic environment, resulting in plasmolysis where the protoplast shrinks and pulls away from the cell wall.

Enzyme

A catalyst that speeds up a reaction without the enzyme being changed.

Control group (Enzyme lab)

The test tube containing gelatin only, demonstrating normal solidification in the absence of an added enzyme source.

Active enzyme (Gelatin experiment)

The functional state of the enzyme indicated when the gelatin in the test tube remains liquid.

Denatured enzyme (Gelatin experiment)

The nonfunctional state of the enzyme indicated when the gelatin in the test tube becomes solid.

Enzyme denaturants

Conditions that disrupt enzyme structure and prevent gelatin digestion, including high temperature, low temperature, pH of $2$, pH of $13$, and heavy metals.

Control group (Photosynthesis lab)

The tube containing sodium bicarbonate without the plant, establishing a baseline to verify that changes depend on the presence of the plant.

Experimental group (Photosynthesis lab)

The tube containing sodium bicarbonate with the plant, used to measure photosynthetic activity.

Photosynthesis equation

$$6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{Sunlight Energy} \rightarrow \text{Glucose } (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6) + 6\text{O}_2$$

Rate of photosynthesis measurement

Determined by measuring the dye movement caused by the production of oxygen ($\text{O}_2$).

Distance of the light source

The variable manipulated in the photosynthesis experiment that directly altered the rate of photosynthesis.

Aerobic cellular respiration equation

$$\text{Glucose } (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6) + 6\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + 32\text{ ATP Energy} + \text{heat}$$

Anaerobic fermentation equation

$$\text{Glucose } (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6) \rightarrow 2\text{CO}_2 + 2\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH} + 2\text{ ATP Energy} + \text{heat}$$

Thermos reaction indicator

The rise and fall in temperature that demonstrated a chemical reaction was taking place inside the thermos.

Flask reaction indicator

The accumulation of a white precipitate that confirmed a chemical reaction was occurring in the flask.

Carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$)

The gas produced by anaerobic fermentation inside the thermos that bubbles out into the flask.

Anaerobic trigger (Thermos)

The complete absence of oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) remaining in the thermos, which initiates fermentation.

Chromosomes

Condensed ($1400\text{ nm}$) DNA structures formed during cell division.

Chromatin

Uncondensed ($30\text{ nm}$) DNA dispersed within the nucleus during interphase.

Telophase

The mitotic stage during which chromosomes reach opposite poles, nuclear envelopes reform, and cytokinesis takes place.

Cleavage furrow

A groove or constriction formed in dividing animal cells that pinches the cell into two daughter cells during cytokinesis.

Cell plate

The partition that forms across the equatorial plane of a dividing plant cell during cytokinesis, leading to the formation of a new cell wall.

Interphase

The stage of the cell cycle preceding division where the cell performs routine functions and contains an intact nucleus with uncondensed chromatin.

Nucleolus

A prominent, dense spherical body visible within the non-dividing nucleus involved in ribosome production.

Anaphase

The mitotic stage marked by the separation and movement of sister chromatids toward opposite poles of the cell.

Diploid number

The total number of chromosomes in somatic cells, which equals $48$ in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Haploid number

The number of chromosomes found in gametes, which equals $24$ in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Somatic cell chromosome count (Chelonia mydas)

The diploid count of $56$ chromosomes in green sea turtle somatic cells, derived from $28$ chromosomes present in its sperm cells.

Independent assortment stage

Metaphase I of meiosis, during which homologous pairs align randomly across the metaphase plate.

Sperm parent cell yield

The production of $4$ daughter cells from a single parent cell at the completion of meiosis.

Egg parent cell yield

The production of $1$ functional daughter egg cell from a single parent cell at the completion of meiosis.