Keystone Biology Review Flashcards

Flashcards from Keystone Biology Review - Module 1 & 2

Characteristics of Living Things

All living things are made of cells; reproduce sexually or asexually; perform respiration; carry on metabolic activities; grow and develop; respond to environmental stimuli and maintain homeostasis.

Prokaryotes

Simpler, unicellular, smaller, no true nucleus or complex organelles; includes bacteria.

Eukaryotes

More complex, multicellular, cell specialization, larger, has a nucleus and complex organelles; includes animals, plants, and fungi.

Similarities between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Cell membrane, ribosomes, cytoplasm

Complex Organelles in Eukaryotic Cells

Mitochondria, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi complex, nucleus, lysosomes

Mitochondria

Makes energy (ATP) for the cell using cellular respiration.

Chloroplasts

Makes sugar and oxygen using photosynthesis.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Transports proteins.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Makes lipids.

Golgi Complex

Modifies and packages proteins.

Nucleus

Control center of the cell, houses the cell's DNA.

Lysosomes

Contains strong digestive enzymes, "suicide sac of the cell".

Levels of Organization in Living Things

Organelles -> Cells -> Tissue -> Organs -> Organ Systems -> Organism

Cohesion

Water molecules stick together because they are attracted to each other.

Adhesion

Water molecules stick to other substances.

Capillary Action

Water moves up tiny tubes using adhesion and cohesion.

High Specific Heat of Water

It takes a lot of heat energy to raise the temperature of water.

High Heat of Vaporization of Water

It takes a lot of heat energy to make liquid water molecules evaporate as gas molecules.

Acids

pH below 7.

Bases

pH above 7.

Unique Properties of Carbon

Make long chains, form rings, bond with other carbons and other types of atoms, form double bonds, and form very complex molecules.

Four Main Types of Organic Compounds

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Dehydration Synthesis

Removing a water molecule (H2O) from 2 polymers.

Hydrolysis

Adds a molecule of water (H2O) to break down larger macromolecules into smaller monomers.

Carbohydrates

Monomers are monosaccharides (simple sugars); polymers polysaccharides (complex carbs); function is short term energy storage.

Lipids

Monomers are glycerol and fatty acids; polymers are fats and oils; function is long term energy storage and make up plasma membrane.

Nucleic Acids

Monomers are nucleotides; polymers are DNA and RNA; function store and transmit hereditary information.

Proteins

Monomers are amino acids; polymers are polypeptides; functions are enzymes, hormones, movement, transporters, immunity, and pump molecules across the plasma membrane.

Enzymes

Act as catalysts to speed up the rate of chemical reactions.

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

pH, temperature, and substrate/enzyme concentrations.

Cellular Respiration

Cells make energy from glucose, with the help of oxygen; occurs in the mitochondria; energy is transferred from glucose to ATP.

Photosynthesis

Cells make glucose (organics) from carbon dioxide, water, and light energy; occurs in the chloroplast; light energy is transferred to the bonds in glucose with help of chlorophyll.

Makeup of the Cell Membrane

Phospholipids and proteins.

Passive Transport

Moves molecules across the membrane through diffusion; from high to low concentration; facilitated diffusion uses protein channels.

Active Transport

The cell uses energy to move substances across the cell membrane against the concentration gradient.

Endocytosis

Large quantities of substances are surrounded by the cell membrane and taken IN.

Exocytosis

Large quantities of substances are pushed OUT of the cell.

Reasons for Cell Division

Cells divide for growth, repair and asexual reproduction.

Interphase

G1, S, and G2 are the phases of interphase.

Mitosis

Divides up the genetic information in the nucleus.

Cytokinesis

Divides up the cytoplasm and cell organelles.

Results of Mitosis

Two identical daughter cells, same chromosome number as the parent cell.

Meiosis

Produces gametes (sex cells) for sexual reproduction; includes 2 divisions; makes 4 daughter cells; each cell has ½ the chromosome number of the parent cell.

Homologous Chromosomes

Carry genes that code for the same types of traits.

Nondisjunction Disorder

A disorder giving an individual extra or missing chromosomes as a result of chromosomes not separating during meiosis.

Components of a DNA Nucleotide

Sugar, phosphate, and a nitrogen base.

Genes

The order or sequence of the nitrogen bases in DNA makes up 1 gene that codes for a protein that shows a trait.

DNA Polymerase

Adds new nucleotide bases by matching up the correct base from the original strand; A pairs with T, C pairs with G.

Protein Synthesis

Turning a message in DNA into a series of amino acids (a protein).

Transcription

Copying genes in DNA into mRNA.

Codon

Three bases on mRNA that recognize and code for a specific amino acid.

Translation

Taking the mRNA and turning it into an amino acid sequence using the ribosome.

Gene

A section of DNA that codes for a protein.

Allele

A form that a gene may be found in (dominant or recessive alleles).

Genotype

A combination of alleles that an organism has for a trait.

Phenotype

The physical or visible characteristics that are determined by genes.

Homozygous

Having the same alleles for a trait (AA or aa).

Heterozygous

Having different alleles for a trait (Aa).

Genetics

The study of heredity.

Heredity

The passing on of traits from parents to offspring.

Recessive Trait

A gene that is “masked” or hidden by another “stronger” gene.

Dominant Trait

A gene that shows over a “weaker” gene if it is present.

Codominance

When 2 genes are both dominant and both will show in the phenotype.

Incomplete Dominance

When one gene is partially dominant over another; the phenotype shows a blending of the two alleles in a heterozygote.

Sex-Linked Traits

When genes for a trait are found on the X chromosome.

Multiple Alleles

When more than the normal 2 alleles code for a trait.

Polygenic Inheritance

When more than the usual 2 genes code for a trait.

Selective Breeding

The process of breeding organisms that results in offspring with desired genetic traits.

Genetically Modified Organism

Organism whose genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering technology.

Gene Splicing

A tool used in genetic engineering to take genes from one organism and mix them with the DNA from another organism.

Gene Therapy

The intentional insertion, alteration, or deletion of genes within an individual’s cells and tissues for the purpose of treating a disease.

Cloning

A technique where scientists make a new organism with the genetic information from another.

DNA Fingerprinting

A process used to compare fragments of DNA; used for paternity/maternity testing, linking a suspect to a crime scene, and testing for disease alleles.

Evolution

The process of change in a population of organisms over time.

Evidence for Evolution

Fossils, homologous structures, comparative biochemistry, comparative embryology, and vestigial structures.

Homologous Structures

Similar bone and muscle arrangement when the anatomy of different organisms is compared; adapted for different functions.

Comparative Biochemistry

Similar DNA and protein (amino acid) sequences between species; shows a shared common ancestor.

Vestigial Structures

Structures that are useless in an organism; show a common ancestor with other species that have a functioning structure.

Evolution by Natural Selection

Overproduction, variation, competition, survival of the fittest, reproduction.

Gene Pool

All of the alleles represented by individuals in a population.

Allele Frequency

How common one allele appears in the population in comparison to another.

Founder's Effect

When a small number of organisms breaks off of an original population and forms a new one that does not accurately represent the gene pool of the original population.

Reproductive Isolation

Geographic, temporal, and behavioral isolation.

Ecology

The study of the relationships between organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

Population

All members of a species living in a given location.

Community

All of the populations interacting in a given location.

Habitat

The physical location where a community lives.

Ecosystem

All the members of a community and the physical environment in which they live; includes living and nonliving parts and all their reactions with each other.

Diversity

Measures the numbers of species living there and how common each species is.

Biosphere

The region of the Earth’s surface where living things exist; includes soil, water and air.

Abiotic Factors

Physical factors that sustain the lives and reproductive cycles of organisms in that ecosystem; sunlight, temperature, water, gasses.

Biotic Factors

All of the living organisms in an environment; affect the environment directly or indirectly; can include nutritional and symbiotic relationships.

Producers

Take in energy from their surroundings and store it as complex molecules; plants, algae, some bacteria.

Autotrophic Nutrition

When organisms have the ability to make their own food; they can make organic compounds from inorganic compounds, usually through photosynthesis; all producers are this.

Consumers

Must obtain their energy from other organisms; most bacteria, protists, fungi and animals.

Decomposers

Eat organic wastes from other organisms and dead bodies; consumers.

Heterotrophic Nutrition

A type of nutrition in which organisms must ingest preformed organic nutrients to obtain energy; they must eat something that is or was once living; all consumers are this.

Herbivores

Organisms that eat mostly producers (plants and algae).

Carnivores

Organisms that eat mostly consumers (meat).

Predators

Carnivores that hunt and kill their prey.