ch 1, 2, 3 bio

Biology

The scientific study of life, exploring structure, function, growth, evolution, and interactions of living organisms.

Properties of Life

Order, reproduction, growth & development, energy processing, response to environment, regulation (homeostasis), and evolutionary adaptation.

Order

Organized structures such as cells and tissues that make up living organisms.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur within a living organism; includes cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Homeostasis

The regulation of stable internal conditions in an organism.

Hierarchy of Organization

The biological levels of organization from molecules to the biosphere: Molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

Emergent Properties

New traits that arise at each level of biological organization due to complex interactions.

Prokaryotic

Cells that lack a nucleus; includes bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotic

Cells that contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons; can be radioactive.

Covalent Bonds

Chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic Bonds

Chemical bonds formed through the transfer of electrons, leading to the formation of ions.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak interactions between polar molecules, significant in the properties of water.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules sticking together, contributing to surface tension.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules sticking to other surfaces, important in capillary action.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides; examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Triglycerides

Fats composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.

Phospholipids

Molecules that form the major part of cell membranes, with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

Protein Structure

Levels of organization of proteins: primary (amino acid sequence), secondary (alpha-helix and beta-sheet), tertiary (3D folding), quaternary (multiple polypeptides).

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA: A-T and G-C in DNA; A-U and G-C in RNA.