TEAS Life Science Practice Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering macromolecules, cellular biology, genetics, and microbiology based on the TEAS Life Science lecture transcript.

Macromolecule

A very large molecule in biology formed by many smaller units called monomers coming together to form a polymer.

Monomer

A small molecule that can join with others of its kind to form a long chain polymer.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating structural units called monomers.

Glucose

A simple sugar and monomer that can be put together in long strings to create macromolecules like starch, glycogen, or cellulose.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts, usually made of protein, that accelerate or speed up chemical reactions.

Metabolism

The collective set of chemical reactions in the body used to build things up or break things down.

Anabolism

A type of metabolism that involves building large molecules from smaller pieces, a process that typically requires energy.

Catabolism

A type of metabolism where large molecules are broken down into smaller pieces, releasing energy.

Denaturing

The process where a protein's 3D shape falls apart and it loses functionality, often caused by high temperatures or extreme pH levels.

Phospholipid

The major component of cell membranes, consisting of a hydrophilic phosphate head and two hydrophobic fatty acid tails.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, composed of a phosphate group, a sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base.

Deoxyribose

The specific sugar found in the nucleotides that make up DNA ($\text{deoxyribonucleic acid}$).

Ribose

The specific sugar found in the nucleotides that make up RNA ($\text{ribonucleic acid}$).

Prokaryotes

Simple cells, primarily bacteria, that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum.

Eukaryotes

Complex cells, such as those found in plants and animals, that contain a nucleus and various specialized organelles.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A system of tube-like structures or folded sheets that synthesize proteins (rough) or lipids (smooth).

Ribosome

A cellular structure responsible for protein synthesis by connecting amino acids using peptide bonds.

Lysosome

A cellular organelle that acts like a "garbage truck" by digesting cellular waste and pathogens.

Mitochondria

The organelle responsible for breaking down food to release energy for the cell.

Chloroplast

A green organelle found in plant cells that performs photosynthesis to create food using light energy, water, and $CO_2$.

Photosynthesis

The biological process where plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen gas.

Differentiation

The process by which stem cells turn into specialized types of cells, such as nerve, muscle, or blood cells.

Totipotent

A type of stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into any type of human cell, including the placenta and amniotic sac.

Pluripotent

A stem cell that can differentiate into almost most types of body cells but cannot form the placenta or amniotic sac.

Transcription

The process of copying a gene from DNA to create an RNA messenger for protein synthesis.

Chromatin

DNA that is wrapped around histone proteins to help organize and store genetic material within the nucleus.

Peptide Bond

The specific chemical bond formed between amino acids during the synthesis of proteins.

Gene

A specific section of DNA that contains the instructions necessary to manufacture a specific protein.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that results in four genetically unique daughter cells (gametes or sex cells) with half the original chromosome count.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two genetically identical somatic (body) cells.

Crossing Over

An event during meiosis where homologous chromosomes swap pieces of DNA, creating genetic diversity in offspring.

Phenotype

The observable, measurable, or detectable trait of an organism, such as blood type or physical appearance.

Genotype

The description of an organism's specific genetic makeup or alleles for a trait (e.g., $Bb$).

Anaphase

The specific phase of mitosis where sister chromatids move away from each other toward opposite poles of the cell.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane from an area of low concentration to high concentration using energy.

Osmosis

The net movement of water across a membrane toward an area with a higher concentration of solute.

Gram-Staining

A method used to differentiate bacteria based on cell wall thickness; thick walls stain purple ($\text{Gram-positive}$) and thin walls stain red ($\text{Gram-negative}$).