Biology Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering DNA replication, genetics, cell reproduction, plant biology, and metabolism based on the provided lecture notes.

Semi-conservative

The description of DNA replication where each old strand is paired with a new strand.

DNA Helicase

The enzyme that opens and unzips DNA strands by breaking $H$ bonds between nucleotides.

Topoisomerase

An enzyme that prevents super coiling at the replication fork.

Sliding Clamp

The part that acts as a seatbelt holding DNA polymerase in place during replication.

RNA Primase

The enzyme that primes the templates with RNA to mark the starting point for DNA polymerase.

DNA Polymerase I

The enzyme that proofreads the templates and replaces RNA primers with DNA.

DNA Polymerase III

The enzyme that lays out nucleotides in the $5'$ to $3'$ direction.

Okazaki fragments

The sections in which the lagging strand is replicated.

Antiparallel

A term describing the structure of DNA where complementary strands run in opposite directions.

Chargaff's Rule

A rule stating there are an equal number of purines ($A$ and $G$) and pyrimidines ($C$ and $T$).

Inversion

A chromosomal mutation where a piece of a chromosome breaks off and is reattached in reverse or backwards.

Allele

An alternate form of a gene found on the same site on a chromosome.

Autosomal chromosome

Non-sex chromosomes.

Cell Theory

States that cells are the smallest unit of life, cells come from preexisting cells, and cells make up all living things.

Genome

The complete set of genetic information of an organism.

Homologous

In somatic cells, the chromosomes that make up a pair, one from each parent.

Haploid

Having one complete set ($n$) of chromosomes.

Diploid

Having two complete sets ($2n$) of chromosomes, one set from each parent.

Gymnosperms

Vascular plants with seeds that have both male and female structures on one plant.

Angiosperms

Plants that produce flowers, fruit, and seeds, such as roses and sunflowers.

Biome

A particular community of plants and animals that exist in a specific location due to the environment and climate of that region.

Ecosystem

All the living things in a given environment and the non-living world with which they interact.

Biosphere

All ecosystems of the world.

Habitat

The natural environment in which a specific organism lives.

Xylem

Hollow tubes that conduct water and minerals from roots to the rest of a plant.

Phloem

Tubules running throughout a plant to transport nutrients.

Sessile

Remaining in one place, not moving.

Phototropism

The phenomenon where plants grow towards the light.

Metabolism

All processes in an organism that convert energy and matter from outside sources and use it to sustain the organism's life functions.

Catabolism

Processes that break down chemicals to produce energy and simple building blocks.

Anabolism

All chemical processes that use energy and simple building blocks to produce larger structures.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food using energy from sunlight.

Heterotroph

An organism that obtains energy by consuming other living things as food.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; a chemical molecule that stores energy in a bond between phosphate groups.