Gen Bio Unit I

Neural Plasticity

ability to add or remove synapses

Synapses

connections between neurons

Short Term Memory (STM)

info stored for a short period of time 

Long Term Memory (LTM)

activated when info needs to be retained

Learning

the effective use of memory to decrease negative outcomes

Long Term Potentiation (LTP)

increases the strength of a synapse (connections between neurons)

Emergent Properties

emerge from arrangement and interaction of parts within a system

The Scientific Method

finds natural explanations for natural phenomena

Hypothesis

testable proposed explanation

Prediction

expected outcome for a hypothesis

Electrons

negatively charged subatomic particles

Valance Shell

outermost shell of an atom

Chemical Bonds

result of how atoms share electrons

Electronegativity

measure of an atoms need for electrons

Covalent bond

sharing of electrons between atoms

Non-Polar Covalent Bond

electrons are equally shared between atoms due to the same electronegativity

Polar Covalent Bond

electrons are un equally shared between atoms due to the difference in electronegativity

Ionic Bond

transferring of electrons between atoms

Vand Der Waals Interactions

short and weak interactions due to electron position

Hydrogen Bond (a type of vand der waals interaction)

interactions between partial charges due to hydrogen bonding with a highly electronegative atom

Cohesion

attraction between water molecules

Adhesion

attraction between water molecules and other substances

Hydrophilic

dissolves in water (polar)

Hydrophobic

will not dissolve in water (non-polar)

Hydrocarbons

Compounds made only of hydrogen and carbon

Functional Groups

groups of atoms attached to carbon that replaces H in hydrocarbons

6 Functional Groups (PHMACC)

1. Hydroxyl

2. carbonyl 

3. carboxyl

4. amino

5. phosphate

6. methyl 

Hydroxyl (OH)

polar + hydrophilic

found in alcohol 

Carbonyl (C=O)

polar + hydrophilic

found in sugars  

Carboxyl (COOH)

polar + hydrophilic 

fatty acids + amino acids

Amino (NH2)

basic + hydrophilic

amino acids 

Phosphate (PO4H2)

acidic + hydrophilic 

phospholipids + ATP

Methyl (CH3)

non-polar + hydrophobic

DNA methylation 

Polymers

macromolecules (large molecules) made of chains of monomers (small molecules)

Monomers

repeating building blocks of polymers (made of small molecules)

Dehydration Synthesis

removes H2O from two small molecules to create a large molecule

Hydrolysis

adds H2O into the bonds of a large molecule to break it into smaller molecules (catabolic)

Carbohydrates

polymers of sugars made of CH2O

Glycosidic linkage

connects carbohydrates

Monosaccharide

monomer of carbohydrates

Polysaccharide

polymer of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides

Lipids

diverse hydrophobic macromolecules

Ester linkage 

connects lipids 

3 Main Lipids

fats

phospholipids

steroids 

Fats (lipid) 

store E 

steroids main function

signal

Peptide bonds 

connect proteins 

Proteins

polymers of amino acids

Protein Structure

1. primary

2. secondary

3. tertiary

4. quaternary

Primary protein structure

polypeptide link

Secondary protein structure

localized folding

Tertiary protein structure

long distance folding

Quaternary protein structure

long distance folding between two or more polypeptides

4 Major macromolecules 

(only need to know 3) (CLP)

1. Nucleic acids: DNA+ RNA

2. Carbohydrates

3. Lipids

4. Proteins  

4 Steps of Abiogenesis

1. abiotic synthesis

2. formation of macromolecules

3. formation of proto-cells

4. self-replication

Abiotic Synthesis

the spontaneous formation of molecules

Formation of Organic Macromolecules

catalyzed by metal ions and form on mineral surfaces (clay/rocks) 

Formation of Protocells

vesicles spontaneously form from lipids in water

Vesicle

fluid-filled compartment surrounded by lipid membrane

RNA-Peptide World Hypothesis

the first replicating systems used RNA to store + copy genetic info

Ribozymes

RNA molecule with enzymatic proteins

Prokaryotes

heterotrophic and anerobic cells

Anaerobic

does not use oxygen in metabolism 

Heterotrophs

obtain organic molecules (food) from the environment

Autotrophs

use E from sunlight to make food

(carbon fixation) 

Oxygen Revolution

rise of oxygen in the atmosphere and ocean due to oxygenic photosynthesis

Eukaryotes

cells with nuclei and membrane-bound organelles (generated by endosymbiosis) 

Endosymbiosis

occurs when a big cell eats a small cell but it does not digest the small cell so the small cell becomes apart of the big cell 

Cell

smallest unit that carries out all activities associated with life

Plasma Membrane

selectively-permeable barrier materials must pass to enter cell

Nucleus

compartment that contains most DNA

Nuclear Envelope

double membrane passage via nuclear pores (2 bilayers)

Mitochondria

carry out aerobic respiration (found in all eukaryotic lineages)

Chloroplasts

carry out photosynthesis (only found in photosynthetic lineages)

Ribosomes

responsible for protein synthesis

Endomembrane system

divides cell into membrane bound organelles

Endoplasmic Reticulum

modifies proteins and synthesizes lipids

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

surface covered in ribosomes which makes and transports proteins

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticiulm (ER)

makes lipids

Golgi Apparatus

modifies proteins sent from vesicles then transports them

Vacuoles

large vesicles in the ER that store things

Lysosomes

digestive compartment

Phospholipids

main structural component of membranes

fatty acid tails (hydrophobic) 

phosphate group heads (hydrophilic) 

Amphipathic

hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions

Carbohydrates in the membrane

attached to a glycoprotein or a glycolipid

Membrane proteins in the memrane

provide structure, transportation, and enzymatic activity

Passive Transport

moves substance across the cell membrane (high to low) without the use of energy (ATP)

Dynamic Equilibrium

balance which occurs from substances diffusing independently (no net movement at equilibrium) 

Simple diffusion

spontaneously moves molecules past the bilayer

Osmosis

diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane (low solute to high solute)

Solvent

substance capable of dissolving other substances

Solute

dissolved substance

Tonicity

ability of a solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water

Isotonic Solution

solute concentrate inside = solute concentrate outside

Hypertonic Solution

solute concentrate outside the cell > solute concentrate inside the cell

cell losses H2O 

Hypotonic Solution

solute concentrate inside > solute concentrate outside

cell gains H2O  

Facilitated Diffusion

moves big molecules past the membrane through a transport protein

Active Transport

move substances against the concentration with the use of ATP

Bulk Transport

uses vesicles to transport many molecules at once (skips the bilayer)

Exocytosis (bulk transport)

vesicles fuse with plasma membrane to release contents