Biology Concepts Review: Experimental Design & Statistics, Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure & Function, Cellular Energetics, Natural Selection & Evolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions from introductory biology topics focused on experimental design, chemistry of life, cell structure, energetics, and evolution.

Alternate hypothesis

States there is a significant effect or difference.

Bar graph

Compares categorical data.

Box & whiskers plot

Shows distribution (median, quartiles, range).

Cell

Basic unit of life.

CER

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (scientific explanation format).

Chi-square

Statistical test for observed vs. expected data.

Control group

Baseline group for comparison.

Controlled experiment

Only one variable is manipulated.

Controlled variable/constant

Factor kept the same.

Critical value

Cutoff used to reject null hypothesis.

Data table

Organized display of data.

Degrees of freedom

Number of independent categories minus one.

Dependent variable

Measured outcome.

DNA

Genetic material storing hereditary information.

Error bars (±2 SEM)

Show data variability and confidence.

Evolution

Change in allele frequencies over time.

Experimental group

Group receiving treatment.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction.

Independent variable

Manipulated variable.

Law

Describes natural phenomena (what happens).

Line graph

Shows change over time.

Line of best fit

Shows trend in data.

Mean

Average.

Median

Middle value.

Mode

Most frequent value.

Negative control

Expected to show no effect.

Null hypothesis

States no significant difference.

p-value

Probability results occurred by chance.

Positive control

Expected to show a known effect.

Qualitative data

Descriptive, non-numerical data.

Quantitative data

Numerical data.

Rate

Change over time.

Scatter plot

Shows relationship between variables.

Standard deviation

Measure of data spread.

SEM

Precision of the mean.

Statistical significance

Result unlikely due to chance.

Statistics

Analysis of data.

Theory

Well-supported explanation (why/how).

Trial

Repeated experiment.

Variable

Factor that can change.

X-axis

Independent variable.

Y-axis

Dependent variable.

Acid

Releases H⁺ ions.

Adhesion

Water sticks to other substances.

Amine group

–NH₂ functional group.

Amphipathic

Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic.

ATP

Energy currency of the cell.

Base

Accepts H⁺ ions.

Base-pair rule

A–T, C–G.

Biochemistry

Chemistry of living organisms.

Capillary action

Water movement via adhesion + cohesion.

Carbohydrate

Sugars for energy/structure.

Carboxyl group

–COOH functional group.

Cholesterol

Regulates membrane fluidity.

Cohesion

Water sticks to water.

Covalent bond

Shared electrons.

Dehydration synthesis

Removes water to form polymers.

Denaturation

Protein loses shape.

Density of water

Ice less dense than liquid.

Disaccharide

Two sugars bonded.

Electronegativity

Ability to attract electrons.

Enzyme proteins

Speed up reactions.

Glycosidic bond

Bond between sugars.

Hydrogen bond

Weak attraction between polar molecules.

Hydrolysis

Breaks polymers using water.

Hydrophobic

Repels water.

Hydrophilic

Attracts water.

Ion

Charged atom.

Ionic bond

Attraction between ions.

Lipid

Hydrophobic macromolecule.

Macromolecule

Large biological molecule.

Monomer

Building block.

Polymer

Chain of monomers.

Protein

Amino acid polymer.

pH

Measure of acidity.

Phospholipid

Membrane lipid.

Primary → Quaternary structure

Levels of protein folding.

Water

Universal solvent.

Active transport

Uses ATP to move against gradient.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Aquaporin

Water channel protein.

Cell membrane

Phospholipid bilayer.

Cell wall

Structural support.

Chloroplast

Photosynthesis organelle.

Diffusion

Passive movement down gradient.

Endocytosis/Exocytosis

Vesicle transport in/out.

Endosymbiotic theory

Mitochondria/chloroplasts from bacteria.

Facilitated diffusion

Passive transport via proteins.

Fluid mosaic model

Membrane structure.

Golgi

Modifies and ships proteins.

Homeostasis

Stable internal conditions.

Hypertonic/Hypotonic/Isotonic

Relative solute concentrations.

Lysosome

Digestive organelle.

Mitochondria

Cellular respiration.

Nucleus

DNA storage.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water.

Passive transport

No energy required.

Prokaryote/Eukaryote

Without/with nucleus.

Ribosome

Protein synthesis.

SA:V ratio

Efficiency of exchange.