Intro to Biology and Chemistry of Life

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts from introductory biology and chemistry related to life and cellular functions.

Characteristics of Life

Organization, metabolism, homeostasis, growth, response, reproduction.

Levels of Biological Organization

The hierarchy from atom to organism.

Anabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that construct molecules, requiring energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that break down molecules, releasing energy.

Atomic Structure

Consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Cations and Anions

Cations are positively charged ions; Anions are negatively charged ions.

Chemical Bonds

Types include ionic, polar covalent, nonpolar covalent, and hydrogen bonds.

Water Polarity

Water molecules have a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on oxygen.

Cohesion

The tendency of molecules of the same substance to stick together.

Adhesion

The tendency of molecules of different substances to stick together.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance.

Hydration Spheres

The sphere of water molecules that surrounds a solute particle.

Macromolecules

Large molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomers and Polymers

Monomers are single units, while polymers are chains of monomers.

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction that links monomers together, releasing water.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers by adding water.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to lower activation energy.

Phospholipid Bilayer Structure

Found in the cell membrane, composed of two layers of phospholipids.

Membrane Proteins

Proteins that interact with or are part of biological membranes.

Selective Permeability

The ability of a cell membrane to allow some substances to pass through while blocking others.

Passive Transport

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

Active Transport

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

Tonicity Effects

The effect of a solution's concentration on cell volume.

Central Dogma Steps

The process of transcription and translation through which gene expression occurs.

Comparison of Membrane Transport Mechanisms

Analysis of various ways substances cross the cell membrane.