Introduction to Biology (PKBC) Practice Flashcards

This set of 70 flashcards covers key concepts from the Introduction to Biology preassessment, including evolution, cell biology, genetics, and ecology.

Biotic

A classification for living or once-living components of an ecosystem, such as a fungus.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element, such as Nitrogen, as opposed to molecules like carbon dioxide or methane.

Predation Adaptation

An evolved trait, such as faster average swim speed, that helps a prey species avoid being caught by a predator.

Spadefoot Toad Tadpoles

Larval amphibians capable of undergoing a dramatic change in body form from herbivorous to carnivorous in response to drying pond conditions.

Sexual Selection

An evolutionary process where individuals with certain inherited characteristics, such as colorful tail feathers in male peacocks, are more likely to obtain mates.

Mutation

A change in the gene pool resulting in a new phenotype, such as a single orange flower produced by two yellow rose bushes.

Lungs and Dry Skin

Two characteristics shared by Organism C according to the provided cladogram relationships.

Common Ancestor of Wolves and Gorillas

Located between points C and D on the cladogram, excluding frogs.

Lamprey

A specific organism identified on a cladogram as having neither bones nor a jaw.

Eggs with Shells

A characteristic found in both crocodilians and birds.

Shell-less Amniotic Eggs

Produced by four-limbed organisms such as primates, rodents, and rabbits.

DNA Sequence Similarity

On a cladogram, the proximity of species (such as Species D and Species E) indicates more closely related genetic information.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge found in the shell of an atom.

Proton Charge

The positive electrical charge of a proton, valued at $+1$.

Ionic Bond

A type of molecular bond that results from an electron being transferred from one atom to another.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond characterized by an atom sharing an electron with another atom.

Cohesion

The property of water responsible for the formation of small droplets on a leaf's surface after rain.

Water Density

The characteristic of water that causes it to expand upon freezing, potentially rupturing containers.

Protein

A biological polymer consisting of amino acids (e.g., 358 units) linked together covalently.

Glucose Polymer

A chain of glucose monomers used within a cell primarily to store energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A molecule containing a nitrogenous base that serves as the primary energy carrier in cells.

Calvin Cycle Energy Transformation

The process where energy is released from ATP to power the conversion of a sugar molecule as ATP becomes ADP.

Light-Dependent Reaction Output

The stage of photosynthesis that produces ATP as one of its primary outputs.

Calvin-Benson Cycle Input

The specific molecule, $CO_2$, required as an input for this stage of photosynthesis.

Krebs Cycle

The stage of cellular respiration that releases carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) as a product.

Electron Transport Chain

The stage of cellular respiration that produces the highest number of ATP molecules.

Fermentation

An anaerobic metabolic process carried out by fast-twitch muscle fibers to produce energy from sugar without oxygen.

Anaerobic Condition

Operating in the absence of oxygen ($O_2$), which is required for fermentation to occur.

Flagellum

A cellular structure used for locomotion and sensing.

Eukaryotic Cell

A type of cell characterized by the presence of membrane-bound organelles, such as a mitochondrion.

Cell Membrane Components

The two main substances that form the eukaryotic cell membrane are lipids and proteins.

Active Transport

The movement of ions, like $Na^+$ and $K^+$, against their concentration gradient using a pump (e.g., Na/K pump).

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The organic molecule present in chromosomes that contains hereditary material.

Cytokinesis

The stage of the cell cycle where the cytoskeleton pinches the cell to form two new daughter cells.

Histones

Proteins that organize and help unwind DNA during the S phase so replication enzymes can access it.

Metaphase (Mitosis)

The stage where the centromere keeps DNA lined up at the cell's equator.

Metaphase to Anaphase Transition

The point in mitosis when sister chromatids are aligned at the center and then pulled apart.

Anaphase (Mitosis)

The phase in which sister chromatids are separated and move toward opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase I (Meiosis)

The stage where homologous chromosomes have separated into two haploid daughter cells containing replicated DNA.

Prophase II (Meiosis)

The stage where homologous pairs have separated into two cells, but sister chromatids have not yet lined up in the middle.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that specifically results in the production of sex cells.

Shared Characteristic of Cell Division

A feature describing both meiosis and mitosis is that sister chromatids separate.

DNA Organization

Distinct from RNA, this molecule is intertwined with histone proteins.

Heterozygous Gamete Probability

$50\%$ of a fly's gametes will carry the recessive short-winged allele if the parent is heterozygous.

Monohybrid Cross Ratio

Crossing two beetles with Genotype Bb results in a $25\%$ chance of offspring being red (bb).

Dihybrid Gamete Genotypes

The four possible allele combinations produced by a parent heterozygous for two traits: RL, Rl, rL, and rl.

Dihybrid Phenotype Result

In a fur color cross between YySs parents, 4 out of 16 offspring will have the recessive white fur (yy) phenotype.

Polygenic Inheritance

A pattern of inheritance where a phenotype results from the interaction of many genes, such as various coat colors in Labrador retrievers.

Gene-Environment Interaction

When external factors, like acidic soil, affect the expression of genes, such as flower color in hydrangeas.

X-Linked Inheritance

The inheritance of a gene for a disorder, like DFN3 deafness, passed from a mother to her sons on the X chromosome.

Karyotype Abnormality

Commonly observed at chromosome set 21, indicating a disorder such as Trisomy 21.

DNA Replication Step 1

The initial step where the DNA molecule unwinds.

DNA Replication Step 2

The stage where the DNA molecule separates into two template strands.

DNA Replication Step 3

The stage when complementary nucleotides are added to each template strand.

DNA Replication Step 4

The final stage where two DNA molecules are formed, each with one template strand and one new strand.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

The molecule that carries the information determining which amino acids are used to build a protein.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

The eukaryotic organelle where protein assembly and modification occur.

Silent Mutation

A mutation that results in the same amino acid sequence and phenotype despite a change in the DNA sequence.

Community

The level of ecological organization studying how different species, such as 1000 types of stomach bacteria, interact with each other.

Woodpecker Relationship

An ecological community describing the interactions between four species of woodpeckers sharing the same forest resources.

Competition

The interaction between two species, such as woodpeckers, vying for limited resources like dead pine trees for nesting.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism, like a tapeworm, absorbs nutrients from a host traveler, causing harm.

Mutualism

An interaction where both species benefit, such as an arctic bumblebee receiving nectar while pollinating a poppy.

Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected, such as a remora eating a shark's leftovers.

Producer

An organism at the base of the food web, such as diatoms, that creates its own energy.

Primary Consumer

An organism like a copepod that feeds directly on producers in a marine food web.

Detritivore

An organism, such as a lobster, that feeds on dead organic material within an ecosystem.

Biogeochemical Cycle Activities

Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are the two activities in living things that assist water movement through its cycle.

Prairie Biodiversity Threat

An activity with a negative impact on the ecosystem involving the collection and sale of nutrient-rich topsoil.

Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuels

The use of fossil-fuel dependent electrical power increases rain acidity and negatively impacts aquatic biodiversity.