Stage 1 Biology Exam Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell structure, transport, the immune system, and experimental skills based on the Semester 2 Stage 1 Biology Exam Checklist.

Prokaryote

A type of cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

A type of cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Cell membrane

A structure that controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell and maintains its integrity.

Cell wall

A rigid outer layer found in plant and fungi cells that provides structural support and protection.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains genetic material and acts as the control center of a eukaryotic cell.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance within a cell that surrounds organelles.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound sac within a cell used for storage of water, nutrients, or waste.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein fibers that helps a cell maintain its shape and assists in movement.

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis.

Mitochondria

The organelles where aerobic respiration occurs to produce energy for the cell.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells used to capture light energy for photosynthesis.

Golgi body

An organelle involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids for secretion.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough and Smooth)

A network of membranes involved in the production of proteins (rough) and lipids (smooth).

Vesicles

Small membrane-bound sacs that transport materials within or outside the cell.

Passive Processes

Methods of transport across the cell membrane that do not require energy, including diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion.

Active Processes

Methods of transport across the cell membrane that require energy, including active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis.

Hypertonic

A solution with a higher solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell.

Hypotonic

A solution with a lower solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell.

Isotonic

A solution with an equal solute concentration compared to the inside of a cell.

Semi-permeable membrane

A barrier that allows only certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Concentration gradient

The difference in the concentration of a substance between two areas.

Lysis

The bursting of a cell due to an osmotic imbalance that has caused excess water to move into the cell.

Plasmolysed

A condition in plant cells where the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall due to water loss in a hypertonic solution.

SA:V

The Surface Area to Volume ratio, which affects the rate of exchange of materials between a cell and its environment.

Pathogens

Agents that cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Bacteria that have evolved the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics.

Innate Immune Response

The rapid, non-specific first and second lines of defense against infection.

Adaptive (acquired) Immune Response

A specific immune response that develops over time and provides long-lasting immunity.

Phagocytes

Immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, that ingest and destroy foreign particles and pathogens.

Natural Killer Cells

Immune cells that recognize and kill virus-infected or cancerous cells.

Mast Cells

Cells that play a role in the inflammatory response by releasing chemicals like histamine.

B Cells/Antibodies

Cells of the adaptive immune system that produce antibodies to neutralize specific pathogens.

Cytotoxic T Cells

Immune cells that directly kill infected host cells.

Memory Cells

Long-lived immune cells that remember a specific pathogen for a faster response upon re-exposure.

Epidemic

The rapid spread of an infectious disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across multiple countries or continents.

Herd Immunity

The resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population that results if a high proportion of individuals are immune.

Independent variable

The factor in an experiment that is deliberately changed to observe its effect.

Dependent variable

The factor in an experiment that is measured or observed as it changes in response to the independent variable.

Random Errors

Unpredictable fluctuations in measurements that affect the precision of data; their effect can be minimised by increasing sample size.

Precision

How close measured values are to each other, influenced by random errors.

Systematic Errors

Consistent, repeatable errors often caused by faulty equipment that affect the accuracy of the data.

Accuracy

How close a measured value is to the true or accepted value, influenced by systematic errors.

Validity

The extent to which an experiment measures what it is intended to measure, increased by holding factors constant.

Reliability

The consistency of results when an experiment is repeated; improved by minimising the effect of random errors.