Biology: Organic Compounds, Cell Processes, and Taxonomy Overview

What are organic compounds?

Carbon-based molecules essential to life.

What is metabolism?

Chemical reactions inside cells that maintain life.

What is homeostasis?

The ability to maintain stable internal conditions.

What elements are in carbohydrates?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

How do organisms use carbohydrates?

Fast energy, energy storage, structural support.

What are proteins made of?

Chains of amino acids.

What are the functions of proteins?

Build structures, enzymes, hormones, movement, regulation.

What are lipids used for in marine animals?

Energy storage, insulation, buoyancy, waterproofing.

What do nucleic acids store?

Genetic information (DNA, RNA).

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA stores genetic info; RNA helps run biochemical processes.

What is aerobic respiration?

Respiration using oxygen to produce ATP.

What is anaerobic respiration?

Respiration without oxygen.

What does respiration produce?

Carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

What is primary production?

Autotrophs converting CO₂ into organic compounds.

What factors influence primary production?

Sunlight, nutrients, temperature, water availability.

Why is nitrogen important?

Needed for proteins and nucleic acids.

Why is phosphorus important?

Essential for ATP and nucleic acids.

How do prokaryotes reproduce?

Cell fission that produces identical cells.

What is mitosis?

Eukaryotic cell division producing identical daughter cells.

What is an advantage of asexual reproduction?

Fast population growth.

What is a disadvantage of asexual reproduction?

Little genetic variation.

What is fission?

Organism splits in half to make two individuals.

What is budding?

New organism grows from parent's body.

What is sexual reproduction?

Fusion of gametes to form offspring.

What are gametes?

Egg and sperm cells.

What is fertilization?

Sperm fuses with egg.

What is a hermaphrodite?

Organism with both male and female reproductive systems.

What is broadcast spawning?

Release of eggs and sperm into water for external fertilization.

What are the three domains of life?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

What are the kingdoms in Eukarya?

Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.

What is a species?

Organisms that are reproductively isolated.

What is binomial nomenclature?

Two-name scientific naming system.

What is a taxon?

A classification group.

What is the taxonomic hierarchy?

Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.

What is phylogeny?

Evolutionary relationships among organisms.

What is natural selection?

Best-adapted organisms survive and pass on traits.

What is osmosis?

Movement of water across a membrane.

What is an osmoconformer?

Organism that cannot regulate internal salt concentration.

What is osmoregulation?

Active control of internal water/salt balance.

What are ectotherms?

Depend on external temperature.

What are endotherms?

Generate internal heat.

What are homeotherms?

Maintain stable internal temperature.

What are poikilotherms?

Body temperature changes with environment.

What is surface-to-volume ratio?

Determines rate of heat/material exchange.

Are viruses living or nonliving?

Nonliving; only reproduce in host cells.

What is a capsid?

Protein shell protecting viral genetic material.

What is a retrovirus?

Virus that inserts DNA copy of its RNA into host DNA.

What is a lysogenic virus?

Virus that integrates genetic material into host DNA.

What is a bacteriophage?

Virus that infects bacteria.

What is the Ripple Effect?

Farmed salmon diseases spreading to wild salmon.

What organisms are single-celled eukaryotes?

Algae, protozoans, fungi.

What are diatoms?

Photosynthetic algae with glass-like shells.

What are dinoflagellates?

Photosynthetic algae that glow or cause red tides.

How do amoebas move?

Pseudopodia.

How do ciliates move?

Cilia.

How do flagellates move?

Flagella.

What are cysts?

Protective shells formed in harsh conditions.

What are the basic structures of eukaryotic cells?

Nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, membrane, ribosomes.

What are prokaryotes?

Simple organisms lacking a nucleus.

How do prokaryotes help ecosystems?

Photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, sulfur oxidation, anaerobic respiration.

What is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes lack a nucleus.

What structures are found in prokaryotes?

Chromosome, cell wall, ribosomes, nucleoid, flagella.

What are the two types of prokaryotes?

Bacteria and Archaea.

What is the difference between bacteria and archaea?

Bacteria resemble typical prokaryotes; archaea share similarities with eukaryotes.