all i needa know in life

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy currency of the cell, used to power most cellular processes.

Adhesion

The tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another (e.g., water sticking to other surfaces).

Allele

A variant form of a gene.

Amino Acid

The building block (monomer) of proteins.

Analogous Structure

Structures in different species that have similar functions but evolved separately and do not share a common ancestor.

Artificial Selection

The process by which humans selectively breed organisms for desired traits.

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes; offspring arise from a single organism.

Biology

The scientific study of life and living organisms.

Biomass

The total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume.

Biome

A large geographical area characterized by specific climate conditions and dominant plant and animal communities.

Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems on Earth; the zone of life on Earth.

Biotechnology

The application of biological processes for technological purposes to improve human life.

Carbohydrate

A class of organic compounds including sugars, starches, and cellulose, serving as a primary energy source.

Carrier (transport) proteins

Proteins in the plasma membrane that help move specific molecules across the membrane.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent chemical change (e.g., enzymes).

Cell

The basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms.

Cell Cycle

The series of events a cell undergoes from its formation to its division into two daughter cells.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process that converts biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP, releasing waste products.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

The organelle in plant cells and algae where photosynthesis occurs.

Chromosomal Mutation

A mutation that affects the structure of a chromosome (e.g., deletion, duplication, inversion).

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures in the nucleus of cells, made of DNA and protein, carrying genetic information.

Cladogram

A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

Co-dominance

An inheritance pattern where both alleles of a gene are fully and equally expressed in the phenotype.

Cohesion

The tendency of like molecules to cling to one another (e.g., water molecules sticking to each other).

Community (ecological)

All the populations of different species that live and interact in a particular area.

Concentration Gradient

The gradual difference in concentration of a substance between two areas, from high to low.

Consumer (ecological)

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. (2nd)

Crossing-over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Cytokinesis

The final stage of cell division, in which the cytoplasm divides to form two daughter cells.

Decomposer

Organisms (like fungi and bacteria) that break down dead organic matter and waste products.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

The molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all known organisms.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

DNA Mutation

A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence of an organism.

DNA Replication

The biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original molecule.

Dominant (inheritance)

An allele or trait that is expressed in the phenotype even when only one copy is present.

Ecology

The scientific study of the interactions among organisms and their environments.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. (whole forest not js forest floor)

Embryology

The study of the development of an organism from fertilization to birth or hatching.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells absorb molecules by engulfing them with their cell membrane.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membranes within eukaryotic cells involved in protein and lipid synthesis and transport.

Endosymbiosis

A theory proposing that certain organelles (like mitochondria and chloroplasts) originated as free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by other cells.

Energy Pyramid

A graphical representation of the energy transfer within an ecosystem, showing decreasing energy at higher trophic levels.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst, typically a protein, that speeds up specific biochemical reactions.

Eukaryote

A cell or organism with a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells release large molecules from the cell.

Exponential Growth

Population growth where the rate of increase is proportional to the population size, leading to a J-shaped curve.

Extracellular

Located or occurring outside of a cell.

Facilitated Diffusion

The passive movement of molecules across a membrane with the help of transport proteins, down their concentration gradient.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy are transferred as one organism eats another.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnected food chains showing feeding relationships within an ecosystem.

Founder Effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when a new population is established by a small number of individuals from a larger population.

Frame-shift Mutation

A type of mutation caused by insertions or deletions of a nucleotide in a DNA sequence, altering the reading frame.

Gamete

A mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another in fertilization (e.g., sperm and egg).

Gene

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

Gene Recombination

The process of creating new combinations of genes through crossing-over or independent assortment.

Gene Splicing

A technique in molecular biology where specific pieces of DNA are cut and combined.

Genetic Drift

Random fluctuations in the frequencies of alleles in a population from one generation to the next.

Genetic Engineering

The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism; the set of alleles it possesses.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle in eukaryotic cells that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Gradualism

The theory that evolution occurs slowly and steadily over long periods.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism despite changes in external conditions.

Homologous Structure

Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry, even if they have different functions.

Impermeable

Not allowing fluid (liquids or gases) to pass through.

Incomplete Dominance

An inheritance pattern where one allele is not completely dominant over another, resulting in a blended or intermediate phenotype.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where a cell grows, replicates its DNA, and prepares for division.

Intracellular

Located or occurring within a cell.

Isolating Mechanisms

Biological barriers that prevent different species from interbreeding or producing fertile offspring.

Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that restricts the size or distribution of a population.

Lipids

A diverse group of organic compounds, including fats, oils, and steroids, that are insoluble in water.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that is limited by environmental factors, resulting in an S-shaped curve as it approaches carrying capacity.

Macromolecule

A large molecule, such as a protein or nucleic acid, composed of many smaller subunits.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes by half, producing gametes.

Migration

The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

Mitochondrion

An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus.

Monomer

A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar that is the basic component of carbohydrates (e.g., glucose).

Multicellular

Composed of more than one cell.

Multiple Alleles

The existence of more than two alleles for a particular gene in a population.

Nondisjunction

The failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division (meiosis or mitosis).

Nonnative Species

A species, often called introduced or exotic, that is not native to the place or region where it is found.

Nucleic Acid

A complex molecule, such as DNA or RNA, essential for all known forms of life.

Nucleotide

The basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

Nucleus

The central and most important part of an object, movement, or group; in biology, the organelle containing the cell's genetic material.

Organelle

A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.

Organic Molecule

A molecule containing carbon, usually bonded to hydrogen, and often other elements.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, based on the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by its genotype and environmental influences.

Plasma Membrane

The selectively permeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.

Point Mutation

A mutation affecting only one or a few nucleotides in a gene sequence.

Polarity

The separation of electric charge into positive and negative poles; in molecules, it refers to uneven sharing of electrons.

Polygenic Inheritance

Inheritance of a trait controlled by two or more genes.

Polymer

A large molecule composed of many repeating subunits (monomers).

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.

Population Dynamics

The study of the changes in population size and composition over time.