BIO101 Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terminology from the BIO101 lecture notes.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons Calculation

The number of neutrons can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the atomic mass.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of an element's isotopes.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared equally between two atoms.

Polar Covalent Bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and another atom.

Weakest Bond

Among ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds, hydrogen bonds are the weakest.

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together.

Compound

A substance formed from two or more different elements that are chemically bonded.

Chemical Reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

Reactant

A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

Product

The substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

pH

A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Acid

A substance that donates protons (H+) in a solution.

Base

A substance that accepts protons (H+) or donates hydroxide ions (OH-) in a solution.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when acids or bases are added.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction that requires energy to proceed.

Heating Virus Inactivation

Heating a virus disrupts its structure and functionality, thus inactivating it.

Dehydration Synthesis Reaction

A reaction that involves the removal of water to form new bonds.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that involves the addition of water to break bonds.

Solute

The substance dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances.

Polarity

The distribution of electrical charge over the atoms joined by the bond.

Water Cohesion

The attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding.

Adhesion

The attraction between different types of molecules.

Universal Solvent

Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid.

Concentration Gradient

A difference in the concentration of a substance across a space.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane without energy input.

Organic Molecule Definition

Molecules that contain carbon and are found in living organisms.

Organic Molecule Elements

All organic molecules contain carbon, hydrogen, and usually nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, or sulfur.

Four Major Macromolecules

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Monomers of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides linked together.

Monomers of Proteins

Amino acids.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent bonds that link amino acids together.

Protein Denaturation

The alteration of a protein's natural structure.

Monomers of Nucleic Acids

Nucleotides.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules such as fats and oils.

Phospholipids

Lipids that make up the cell membrane, consisting of a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.

Cholesterol

A type of lipid that forms an essential component of cell membranes.

Enzyme

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind.

Substrate Specificity

The ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a specific substrate.

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

Temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, substrate concentration.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence.

Point Mutation

A mutation in which a single nucleotide base is added, deleted, or changed.

Frameshift Mutation

Mutations that shift the reading frame of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide.

Deletion Mutation

A mutation that removes one or more base pairs from DNA.

Insertion Mutation

A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotide base pairs into a DNA sequence.

Silent Mutation

A mutation that has no observable effect on the organism's phenotype.

Nonsense Mutation

A mutation that converts an amino acid codon into a stop codon.

Missense Mutation

A mutation that results in a different amino acid being incorporated into a protein.

Three-Nucleotide Insertions

Can avoid frameshifts by adding complete codons.

Two Major Cell Types

Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

Structures in All Cells

Plasma membrane, ribosomes, and genetic material.

Plasma Membrane

The lipid bilayer that separates the interior of the cell from the outside environment.

Cytoplasm

The gel-like fluid inside the cell.

Cytosol

The aqueous component of the cytoplasm.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's DNA.

Nucleolus

The structure within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA is produced.

Ribosomes

Molecular machines that synthesize proteins.

Rough ER

Endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes on its surface, involved in protein synthesis.

Smooth ER

Endoplasmic reticulum without ribosomes, involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion.

Lysosomes

Organelles containing digestive enzymes to breakdown waste.

Peroxisomes

Organelles that contain enzymes for oxidation reactions.

Mitochondrion

The powerhouse of the cell, where energy (ATP) is produced.

Mitochondria DNA

Mitochondria have their own DNA as they are thought to have originated from ancient bacteria.

Chloroplasts

Organelles that conduct photosynthesis.

Chloroplast DNA

Chloroplasts contain their own DNA, similar to mitochondria.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space inside chloroplasts.

Thylakoid

Membrane-bound compartments inside chloroplasts where light reactions take place.

Granum

A stack of thylakoids.

Thylakoid Pigment

Chlorophyll, which captures light energy.

Cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that helps the cell maintain its shape.

Microtubules

Cylindrical structures that help support the cell and serve as tracks for the movement of organelles.

Microfilaments

Thin filaments involved in muscle contraction and cell movement.

Intermediate Filaments

Filaments that provide mechanical support for the cell.

Centrosome

An organelle that serves as a main microtubule organizing center.

Centriole

A structure in a centrosome composed of microtubules.

Vacuole

A storage organelle within a cell.

Cell Wall

A rigid layer that surrounds the plasma membrane of plant cells.

Plasmodesmata

Channels between plant cell walls that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells.

Gap Junctions

Connections between cells that allow for the transfer of ions and small molecules.

Tight Junctions

Connections that prevent leakage between adjacent cells.

Desmosomes

Anchoring junctions that bind cells together.

Endosymbiosis Theory

The theory that suggests that eukaryotic cells arose from symbiotic relationships between prokaryotic cells.

Evidence for Endosymbiosis

Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA, similar to bacteria, and replicate independently.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Facilitated Diffusion

The process of spontaneous passive transport of molecules across a membrane via specific transmembrane proteins.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A type of active transport that moves sodium out of and potassium into the cell.