Biology Placement Exam Review Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts from the Biology Placement Exam Review, including chemistry, cell biology, metabolism, and genetics.

Hypothesis

A testable statement within the steps of the scientific method.

pH

A measure of the concentration of $H^+$ in a solution.

Ionic bonds

Chemical bonds found in ionic salts.

Electronegativity

The property of an atom that contributes to the polarity of a water molecule.

Adhesion

A property of water that allows it to stick to other surfaces.

Cohesion

A property of water caused by $H$ bonds between molecules that allows them to stick to each other.

Surface tension

A property of water resulting from cohesive forces at the surface.

Dehydration synthesis

A process also known as condensation where a monomer is converted into a polymer.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates including starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Lipids

Largely nonpolar molecules that are not water soluble and contain lots of hydrocarbon with little oxygen.

Peptide bonds

The specific type of bonds that link amino acids to form polypeptides.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to lower activation energy during metabolism.

Active site

The specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Allosteric site

A site on an enzyme other than the active site.

Endergonic

A chemical reaction that requires an input of energy.

Exergonic

A chemical reaction that releases energy.

Nucleolus

An organelle located within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

Mitochondria

Eukaryotic organelles containing cristae and a matrix.

Phospholipid bilayer

The structural component of membranes consisting of proteins and phospholipids with nonpolar tails.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from high toward low concentration gradient.

Osmosis

The specific diffusion of water.

Facilitated diffusion

The movement of polar or charged molecules using a membrane channel or carrier protein without an energy requirement.

Active transport

The movement of molecules using a membrane channel or carrier protein that requires energy.

Catabolism

Metabolic processes involved in the breakdown of molecules.

Glycolysis

A metabolic process occurring in the cytoplasm involving the oxidation of glucose.

Aerobic respiration

A form of cellular respiration where oxygen serves as the final $e^-$ acceptor.

Fermentation

A process involving an organic molecule as the final electron acceptor.

Synapsis

The formation of a tetrad and crossing over during Prophase I of meiosis.

Nondisjunction

An error in chromosomal inheritance where chromosomes fail to separate properly.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, as opposed to its physical appearance.

Allele

An alternative form of a gene.

Pleiotropy

A gene interaction where one gene affects multiple phenotypic traits.

Helicase

An enzyme used in the process of DNA replication.

Transcription

The process of creating RNA from a DNA template using RNA polymerase.

Spliceosomes (snRNPs)

Complexes responsible for the excision of introns and the splicing of exons during RNA processing.

Operon

A unit of genetic regulation in procaryotes consisting of an operator, promoter, and gene.