Living Environment Regents

Homeostasis

maintaining a stable internal environment of an organism

cell

Smallest unit of structure in living things that show the characteristics of life. most basic unit of life

Nutrition

The life process where an organism takes in food.

transport

The life process that moves substances through an organism

Reproduction

The life process where organisms generate others of the same kind

Synthesis

Life process where similar substances are joined to make larger ones

Regulation

the life process that helps control homeostasis in an organism

Growth

Life process of an organism increasing in size or cell number

Excretion

removal of cellular waste in an organism

metabloism

All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism

Organelle

tiny structures that carry out life functions, similar to what organs do for the body

organ system

A group of organs that work together in performing vital body functions in a multicellular organism.

dynamic equilibrium

a state of balance between continuing life processes

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

2n

full set of chromosomes (diploid)

n

half set of chromosomes (haploid)

cancer

uncontrolled cell division

Carcinogen

A cancer-causing substance

Regeneration

Refers to the replacement or regrowth of lost or damaged tissue/body parts.

Nucleotide

made up of a phosphate, sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Chromosome

contains hereditary information and is made up of DNA

acid

Any substance that releases hydrogen (H+) ions in a solution, causing a pH of less than 7.

active site

The part of an enzyme where the substrate attaches.

amino acids

building blocks of proteins and enzymes.

Base

Any substance that produces hydrogen (H-) ions in a solution causing the pH to be more than 7.

Carbohydrates

made of sugars, they have carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.

biological catalyst

substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up.

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid - the hereditary material found in the cells of an organism.

enzyme

A biological protein catalyst necessary for most reactions in a cell.

Fats/Lipids

Compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen including fats, oils, and waxes.

Glucose

The most common sugar used by living organisms. It is needed for cellular respiration to occur.

inorganic compounds

compounds that do not contain both carbon and hydrogen

organic compounds

Compounds containing both carbon and hydrogen.

pH scale

Scale measuring how acidic or basic a substance is.

products

new substances made through chemical reactions.

starch

A large carbohydrate compound of simple sugars involved in storing energy in an organism.

Substrate

the substance on which an enzyme acts

stomach

large muscular sac that stores food and continues the mechanical and chemical digestion of food

Pepsin

Enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach

large intestine

Absorbs water from from partially digested food.

anus

The exit point for waste after exiting the small intestine.

ATP

useable energy form for organisms.

digestive system

Converts food into glucose that can be used by cells of the body to make ATP, repair damaged tissue, build muscle, etc.

digestion

the process of breaking down food by mechanical and enzymatic action in the alimentary canal into substances that can be used by the body.

diffusion

the movement of molecules from high concentration to low concentration. also referred to as passive transport. does not require ATP

mouth

where digestion begins

Monomer/Subunit

the building block of a molecule

Elements of life

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

Building blocks of fats

1 glycerol and 2 fatty acids; CHO

Building blocks of carbohydrates

simple sugars; CHO

Monosccharides

simple sugars

Polysaccharides

complex molecules made up of many sugars

Building blocks of protein

Amino Acids; CHON

Building blocks of nucleic acid

nucleotides; CHOPN

Biomolecules

Molecules that are necessary for our body to carry out our daily life functions; carbohydrates, fats/lipids, proteins, nucleic acid.

-ASE

ending of most enzymes

Denaturation

When enzymes/proteins change shape due to environmental factors such as temperature or pH. Shape determines an enzyme's function.

nucleic acids

- Provides the genetic instructions that code for all proteins found in all living things -this includes our physical traits -Found in all forms of life

DNA pairings

{Adenine (A) and Thymine (T)} + {Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C)}

RNA Pairings

{Adenine (A) and Uracil (U)} + {Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C)}. THERE IS NO T!!!!

cell membrane

semi permeable. it only allows certain substances into and out of the cell based on their size

cell wall

outermost layer of plant cells and gives them their rigid structure. PLANT CELLS ONLY

chloroplast

the site of photosynthesis. is only found in plants

Cytoplasm

jello like watery material inside the cell where all the chemical reactions take place

cell theory

1. All living things have cells

2. All cells come from pre-existing cells

3. The cell is the most basic unit of life

Vacuole

the "storage closet" of the cell because it stores food, water, and waste

Mitochondria

known as the powerhouse of the cell. creates energy, or ATP for the organism

Ribosome

site of protein synthesis

Lyosomes

breakdown of materials inside the cell contains enzymes. Help with digestion. ONLY IN ANIMAL CELLS

Chlorophyll

green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used to carry out photosynthesis

Unicellular Organisms

Living things made up of only one cell

Multi-cellular organisms

Organism made up of more than 1 cell

Exceptions to the cell theory

1. Where did the first cell come from?

2.Viruses

3. Mitochondria and Chloroplasts divide on their own

active transport

Molecules moving from an area of low concentration to high concentration. REQUIRES Energy/ATP.

cell receptors

Molecules on the outside of the cell membrane that accept chemical messengers and cause a change inside the cell.

Reactants of respiration

glucose, oxygen, and water

products of respiration

carbon dioxide, water, and ATP

cellular respiration

The life process that produces ATP (energy) for an organism.

Aerobic respiration

Requires oxygen, makes 36 ATP molecules

anaerobic respiration (fermentation)

does not require oxygen, produces 2 ATP molecules, produces lactic acid

lactic acid

product of fermentation (in most organisms), causes muscles to burn.

alcoholic fermentation

the anaerobic process by which yeasts and other microorganisms break down sugars to ATP, CO2, and alcohol.

Biosphere

the portion of the earth (including the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere) where like exists

Biome

a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.

Ecosystem

one or more communities (biotic factors) interacting with each other and their nonliving environment (abiotic factors)

community

Two or more populations interacting which each other

Population

a group of organism which belong to the same species.

Organism

fully functional form of a living being that can survive in a particular environment.

Autotrophs/Producers

organisms that capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and convert it into forms living cells can use.

Primary Producers

the first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

Heterotrophs/Consumers

cannot make their own food; acquire energy by ingesting other organisms.

Carnivore

kill and eat other animals

Scavengers

consume the carcasses of other animals

Decomposers

chemically break down organic matter. Ex: bacteria, fungi, etc....; are not shown in the energy pyramid. Recycle energy from every level.

Herbivores

Consumers that eat only plants

Omnivores

Consumers that eat both plants and animals.

Food Chain

shows how living organisms get their food. Starts with a producer and ends with the largest consumer.

Food web

shows the flow of energy between organisms and the community as a whole. More stable.

Trophic level

each step in a food chain or food web

energy pyramid

show relative amount of energy available at each trophic level 90% of energy is lost to heat and 10% is transferred to the next organism.