Topics for Biology Final

Biology

The study of life.

Six characteristics of living things

Growth, development, reproduction, homeostasis, response to stimuli, metabolism.

Homeostasis

Maintaining internal stability.

Stimulus

Something that evokes a response.

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction involving one parent.

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction involving two parents.

Macromolecules

Four main types: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.

Osmosis

Movement of water across a membrane.

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from high to low concentration.

Active Transport

Requires energy to move molecules.

Passive Transport

Does not require energy to move molecules.

Endocytosis

The process of taking materials into the cell.

Exocytosis

The process of expelling materials from the cell.

Cell Theory

States that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and all cells come from other cells.

Animal Cell vs. Plant Cell

Animal cells lack cell walls and chloroplasts which are present in plant cells.

Robert Hooke

Scientist who coined the term 'cell'.

Nucleus

Control center of the cell.

Nucleolus

Makes ribosomes.

Cell Membrane

Outer boundary of the cell.

Cell Wall

Provides support and protection in plant cells.

Chloroplast

Site of photosynthesis.

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell.

Golgi Body

Processes and packages proteins.

Vesicle

Transports materials within the cell.

Vacuole

Stores materials.

Rough ER

Transports and synthesizes proteins.

Smooth ER

Synthesizes lipids.

Ribosomes

Makes proteins.

Lysosomes

Breaks down waste.

Cytoplasm

Jelly-like substance in the cell.

Mitosis

Process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

Process of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Chlorophyll

Pigment for photosynthesis.

Calvin Cycle

Light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.

Fermentation

Anaerobic process for energy.

Homeostasis

Maintaining balance within the body.

Tissue

Group of similar cells that perform a specific function.

Organ

Group of tissues that work together.

Organ System

Group of organs that perform complex functions.

Organism

A complete living being.

Gene

Unit of heredity.

Allele

A version of a gene.

Trait

A characteristic that can be passed from one generation to another.

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring.

Chromosomes

Structures that carry genes.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The physical traits of an organism.

Codominance

A genetic situation where both alleles are expressed.

Incomplete Dominance

A genetic situation where a blend of both alleles is expressed.

Punnett Square

A grid used to predict genetic outcomes.

Pedigree

A family tree that traces traits through generations.

Karyotype

A chromosome map.

Evolution

Change over time.

Fossil

Preserved remains of ancient organisms.

Artificial Selection

Selective breeding to enhance desired traits.

Adaptation

An inherited trait that enhances survival.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Bottleneck Effect

A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events.

Founder Effect

A new population is established from a small group of individuals.

Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species.