Introduction to Botany and Biological Molecules

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory botany concepts, historical milestones, scientific disciplines, and foundational biomolecules.

Botany

The scientific study of plant life and plant biology.

Plant Anatomy

The subdiscipline of botany focused on the internal microscopic structure of plants, including cells and tissues.

Plant Morphology

The subdiscipline of botany dealing with the macroscopic, external physical form and structure of the plant body.

Plant Physiology

The study of plant functions and vital biological processes.

Cytology

The study of plants at the cell level, focusing on cellular structure, behavior, and function.

Plant Taxonomy

The science of describing, naming, and classifying plants into related groups; also known as plant systematics.

Plant Ecology

The study of the interactions between plants and their environment.

Plant Pathology

The study of plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that cause diseases in plants.

Horticulture

The applied plant science discipline concerned with producing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, as well as landscape design and conservation.

Forestry

The science and management of forests for timber production and conservation.

Theophrastus

The ancient scholar credited with the earliest records of plant classification around $300\text{ BCE}$.

Robert Hooke

The scientist who published observations of plant tissues and drawings of plant cells in $1665\text{ CE}$.

Gregor Mendel

The scientist who laid the foundation for modern genetics in $1866\text{ CE}$ through pea plant experiments.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons between atoms, resulting in positively and negatively charged ions.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that joins monomers to form a polymer by removing a water molecule ($H_2O$).

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down polymers into individual monomers through the addition of a water molecule ($H_2O$).

Glycosidic Bond

The covalent bond that joins monosaccharide units together to form carbohydrates.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond that links amino acids together to form peptides and proteins.

Phosphodiester Bond

The linkage that connects adjacent nucleotides in a nucleic acid strand.

Ester Bond

The chemical bond that links glycerol and fatty acids in lipid molecules.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide polymer composed of glucose chains found in plant cell walls.

mRNA

Messenger RNA; the type of RNA that encodes genetic instructions for protein synthesis.

tRNA

Transfer RNA; the type of RNA that carries specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein assembly.

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA; the functional type of RNA that forms the primary structure of the ribosome.