Unit 3 - 6 Science Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic chemistry of life, DNA, genetics, muscle structure, human reproduction, and ecology as outlined in the lecture notes.

Four classes of organic macromolecules

The four main groups of organic molecules found in living organisms: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Hydrogen bond

The type of bond found between two water molecules.

Polar nature of water

Created by the attraction of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen, where oxygen attracts electrons more strongly than hydrogen.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst and is essential for living organisms to speed up chemical reactions.

Denaturation

The term for when an enzyme loses its structure, making it unable to function.

Nucleotide

The unit that makes up the long molecule of DNA, consisting of three parts: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Base pairing rules

The rules in DNA where Adenine pairs with Thymine, and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.

DNA polymerase

An enzyme that plays a key role in building a new DNA strand during the process of DNA replication.

Transcription

The process in protein synthesis where a segment of DNA is copied into mRNA in the nucleus.

Translation

The process in protein synthesis where ribosomes use mRNA, tRNA, codons, and anticodons to assemble amino acids into a protein.

Myofibril

A basic rod-like unit of a muscle cell.

Sarcomere

The functional unit of muscle contraction, containing actin and myosin.

Actin and Myosin

The proteins involved in muscle contraction where they slide past each other to shorten the muscle.

DMD

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; a condition that impacts the muscles of those who are affected.

Gene

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

Trait

A specific characteristic of an individual.

Allele

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.

Genetics

The scientific study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

True-breeding

Organisms that, when allowed to self-pollinate, produce offspring identical to themselves.

Hybrid

The offspring of crosses between parents with different traits.

Phenotype

The physical characteristics or observable traits of an organism.

Genotype

The genetic makeup or allele combination of an organism.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene (e.g., $TT$ or $tt$).

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene (e.g., $Tt$).

Carrier

An individual who has one recessive allele for a disease but does not express the symptoms.

Sex-linked gene

A gene located on a sex chromosome (usually the X chromosome).

Polygenic trait

A trait controlled by two or more genes, leading to a wide range of phenotypes.

Pedigree

A chart that shows the presence or absence of a trait according to the relationships within a family across several generations.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biosphere

The regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Abiotic factors

Non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem, such as water, sunlight, and soil.

Biotic factors

Living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

Keystone species

A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Autotroph

An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide (also known as a producer).

Heterotroph

An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances; a consumer.

10% rule

Only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, while the other 90% is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.

Balanced equation for photosynthesis

$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$$

Balanced equation for cellular respiration

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{ATP}$$

Climate change

The long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, often caused by the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and human impacts.