Biology Flashcards - Expanded Set (Video)

This set covers the full range of topics from the lecture notes, organized as question-and-answer flashcards for study.

What are the 7 characteristics of life?

Order/Organization; Reproduction & Growth; Cells & Metabolism; Energy Use; Unity & Diversity; Adaptation & Evolution; Homeostasis.

What is homeostasis?

Ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

What are the fundamental biological theories?

Cell Theory; Evolutionary Theory; Gene Theory; Homeostasis; Ecosystem Theory; Germ Theory.

What is adaptation?

Traits that increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.

What is evolution?

Change in populations over time in response to environmental changes.

What is cell theory?

All organisms are composed of one or more cells, and cells arise from preexisting cells.

What is gene theory?

Organisms contain hereditary information in DNA that determines form, function, and behavior.

What is ecosystem theory?

Organisms belong to populations that interact with each other and their environment.

What is germ theory?

Infectious diseases are caused by specific microorganisms.

What is matter?

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

What is a chemical element?

Substance that cannot be broken into simpler substances; represented on periodic table.

What is an atom?

Smallest unit of matter; composed of protons, neutrons, electrons.

What are protons?

Positively charged particles in the nucleus.

What are neutrons?

Neutral particles in the nucleus.

What are electrons?

Negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.

What is the atomic number?

Number of protons in an element.

What is atomic mass?

Sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

What are isotopes?

Atoms of same element with different numbers of neutrons.

What are radioisotopes?

Unstable isotopes that decay and emit radiation.

What are ions?

Atoms with positive or negative charge due to loss/gain of electrons.

What is electronegativity?

Ability of an atom to attract electrons.

What is a molecule?

Two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

What is a compound?

Molecule containing two or more different elements.

What is an ionic bond?

One atom transfers electrons to another; forms ions.

What is a covalent bond?

Two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

What is a hydrogen bond?

Weak attraction between partially positive hydrogen and electronegative atom (O or N).

What is a polar molecule?

Unequal sharing of electrons; has positive and negative ends.

What is a nonpolar molecule?

Equal sharing of electrons; no charge separation.

What are reactants?

Starting substances in a chemical reaction.

What are products?

New substances formed in a reaction.

What is an exothermic reaction?

Reaction that releases heat.

What are organic molecules?

Contain carbon and hydrogen.

What are inorganic molecules?

Do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds.

What are hydrocarbons?

Molecules made only of carbon and hydrogen.

What are functional groups?

Common bonding patterns in molecules; give specific properties.

What is water as solvent of life?

Most biological reactions occur in water; dissolves polar and ionic substances.

What is cohesion?

Attraction between water molecules; responsible for surface tension.

What is surface tension?

Elastic 'film' at water's surface due to cohesion.

What is adhesion?

Attraction of water molecules to other polar molecules.

What are hydrophilic substances?

Substances attracted to water (polar).

What are hydrophobic substances?

Substances repelled by water (nonpolar).

What is capillarity?

Water moves up narrow tubes due to cohesion + adhesion.

What is imbibition?

Water absorbed into porous substances causing swelling.

What is the specific heat of water?

High; resists temperature changes.

What is the density of water?

Ice is less dense than liquid water due to hydrogen bonding lattice.

What is ionization of water?

Water dissociates into H+ and OH- ions slightly.

What is the pH scale?

0-14; 7 neutral,

What is an acid?

Solution with more H+ than OH-.

What is a base?

Solution with more OH- than H+..

What is a buffer?

Substance that maintains constant pH by neutralizing acids/bases.

What is a macromolecule?

Large molecule made of smaller subunits (polymers).

What is a polymer?

Large molecule made of repeating subunits (monomers).

What is a monomer?

Single subunit that forms polymers.

What is a dehydration reaction?

Joins monomers by removing water; builds polymers.

What is a hydrolysis reaction?

Breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

What are the four macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids.

What are carbohydrates?

Macromolecules made of sugar monomers; provide energy.

What are monosaccharides?

Single sugar monomers (glucose, fructose, galactose, ribose).

What are disaccharides?

Two monosaccharides bonded (sucrose, lactose).

What are polysaccharides?

Many monosaccharides linked; storage and structure.

What is glycogen?

Storage form of glucose in animals.

What is cellulose?

Structural carbohydrate in plant cell walls.

What is chitin?

Structural carbohydrate in fungi and exoskeletons.

What is peptidoglycan?

Structural carbohydrate in bacterial cell walls.

What are lipids?

Diverse group; hydrophobic; energy storage, insulation, membranes.

What is glycerol?

3-carbon alcohol; backbone of triglycerides.

What is a fatty acid?

Hydrocarbon chain with carboxyl group; monomer of lipids.

What is a triglyceride?

One glycerol + three fatty acids; fats and oils.

What is a saturated fat?

No double bonds; solid at room temperature.

What is an unsaturated fat?

One double bond; liquid at room temperature.

What is a polyunsaturated fat?

Two or more double bonds.

What is a phospholipid?

Diglyceride with phosphate head + 2 fatty acid tails; forms membranes.

What is a sterol?

Lipid with four-ring structure (cholesterol, steroids, waxes).

What are proteins?

Macromolecules made of amino acids; diverse functions.

What is an amino acid?

Monomer of proteins; has amino group, carboxyl group, R-group.

What is a peptide bond?

Covalent bond linking amino acids.

What is a polypeptide?

Chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

What is a globular protein?

Compact, folded proteins; often enzymes.

What is a fibrous protein?

Linear or zig-zag shaped; structural roles.

What is an enzyme?

Protein catalyst that speeds chemical reactions.

What is a catalyst?

Substance that increases rate of reaction without being consumed.

What is the primary protein structure?

Sequence of amino acids.

What is the secondary protein structure?

Alpha helices and beta sheets.

What is the tertiary protein structure?

Irregular folding of secondary structures.

What is the quaternary protein structure?

Multiple polypeptides joined together.

What is a conjugated protein?

Protein with non-protein side groups attached.

What are functions of proteins?

Catalysis, signaling, antibodies, transport, structure, regulation, movement, energy supply.

What are nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA; store and transmit genetic information.

What is a nucleotide?

Monomer of nucleic acids; sugar + phosphate + base.

What are purines?

Double-ring bases (Adenine, Guanine).

What are pyrimidines?

Single-ring bases (Cytosine, Thymine, Uracil).

What are DNA bases?

A-T, C-G.

What are RNA bases?

A-U, C-G.

What is the double helix?

Structure of DNA; two strands connected by hydrogen bonds.

What is a gene?

Functional portion of DNA coding for proteins.

What are the functions of nucleic acids?

Store genetic info, determine proteins, direct activity, regulate metabolism.

What is Order and Organization (Life Characteristic)?

Living things have complex structures with highly ordered systems.

What is Reproduction (Life Characteristic)?

All organisms reproduce to pass on genetic information.

What is Growth and Development (Life Characteristic)?

Organisms grow in size and complexity following inherited instructions.

What is Energy Use (Life Characteristic)?

Organisms acquire and use energy for metabolism and activities.