Biology Mid-Year Review

Biology Mid-Year Review

Organic Compounds

Compounds containing carbon found in living things.

Carbohydrates

Provide short-term energy; composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; monomer: monosaccharide.

Proteins

Nitrogen-containing compounds made of amino acid chains; compose enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and structural components.

Lipids

Water-insoluble compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; provide long-term energy, insulation, and cushioning.

Nucleic Acids

Direct protein instruction; store genetic information; composed of nucleotides.

Enzymes

Special proteins regulating biochemical reactions; function in digestion, catalysts, and lower activation energy.

Optimum pH

Most favorable pH value for enzyme activity.

Activation Energy

Energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Adhesion

Water attraction to other molecules.

Cohesion

Water attraction to itself; ex: capillary action.

High Heat Capacity

Ability to hold heat to regulate temperature.

High Heat of Vaporization

Energy required for vaporization; used in sweating to cool down.

Diffusion

Movement of substances from high to low concentration across the plasma membrane.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water across the plasma membrane from high to low concentration.

Facilitated Transport

Movement of substances across the plasma membrane using carrier molecules.

Active Transport

Movement of substances across the plasma membrane against the concentration gradient using the cell's energy.

Endocytosis

Large particles brought into the cell.

Exocytosis

Large particles released from the cell.

Homeostasis

Internal equilibrium regulated by the plasma membrane.

ATP

Molecule storing and releasing energy for cellular activities.

Photosynthesis

Conversion of light energy into glucose for cellular energy.

Cellular Respiration

Conversion of food molecules into energy in the presence of oxygen.

Fermentation

Anaerobic breakdown of glucose to produce ATP.

Mitosis

Process of cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

Process of cell division resulting in four genetically different daughter cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles; small in size.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; larger in size.

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

Physical appearance of an organism.

Punnett Square

Graphic organizer showing the probable results of a genetic cross.

Pedigree

Graphic organizer mapping genetic traits between generations.

Mutation

Change in genetic code; can be inherited or non-inherited.

Biotechnology

Manipulation of organisms to produce useful products for human health and food production.

Natural Selection

Gradual process by which heritable traits become more or less common in a population.

Gene Flow

Movement of genes from one population to another.

Genetic Drift

Random change in gene frequency due to chance.

Taxonomy

Branch of biology studying grouping and naming of organisms.

Phylogenetic Classification

Classification based on evolutionary relationships.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Theory stating that eukaryotic organelles originated as symbiosis between separate single-celled prokaryotic organisms.

Biogeography

Study of how species are distributed spatially across the landscape.

Amniotic egg

Egg with a shell allowing gas exchange, enabling reptiles to reproduce on land.

Four limbs

Limb structure consisting of two forelimbs and two hind limbs, characteristic of tetrapods.

Bony skeleton

Framework of bones providing support, protection, and movement for vertebrates.

Vertebrae

Individual bones forming the vertebral column, protecting the spinal cord in vertebrates.

Population

All individuals of a species living together in a specific area.

Limiting factors

Biotic or abiotic factors influencing population density and growth, causing fluctuations.

Density-dependent factors

Biotic factors with increasing effect as population size grows, e.g., disease, competition.

Density-independent factors

Abiotic factors affecting populations regardless of density, e.g., temperature, storms.

Immigration

Movement of individuals into a population, increasing its size.

Emigration

Movement of individuals out of a population, decreasing its size.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size sustainable by available resources in an environment.

Logistic Growth

Population growth rate regulated by internal and external factors, leading to a stable equilibrium.

Population size

Number of individuals in a population at a given time.

Birth/natality

Number of births in a population over a specific time period.

Death/mortality

Number of deaths in a population over a specific time period.

Aquatic Biomes

Communities of plants, animals, and other organisms adapted to aquatic environments.

Salinity

Measure of total dissolved solids in water, affecting the types of organisms that can live in it.

Sunlight

Essential for photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems, affecting the distribution of life forms.

Temperature

Affects metabolic rate of organisms in aquatic ecosystems, influencing their growth and reproduction.

Dissolved gases

Gases essential for marine organisms, including oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Nitrogen

Major limiting factor in marine environments, requiring fixation into nitrates for use by algae.

Intertidal zone

Area closest to shore, exposed to air at low tide and covered with water at high tide.

Photic zone

Upper layer of water with sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, supporting more life than the aphotic zone.

Neritic zone

Shallow water over the continental shelf, rich in nutrients and supporting diverse organisms.

Aphotic zone

Deeper water with insufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, supporting fewer living things.

Oceanic zone

Open ocean beyond the continental shelf, with deep water and fewer organisms.

Benthic zone

Ocean floor, with fewer living things in deeper waters away from the continents.

Seasonal changes

Influences key stages of annual life cycles for many species, such as migration and mating.

Succession

Gradual process of ecosystem change and development over time, including primary and secondary stages.

Habitat loss and degradation

Factors leading to biodiversity reduction, destabilizing ecosystems and making them vulnerable to disturbances.

Global Warming

Caused by deforestation and human encroachment, leading to loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction.

Energy Flow

Transfer of energy from the sun to producers, then to consumers in an ecosystem.

Food chain

Illustrates the path of energy from producers to consumers in an ecosystem, showing who eats whom.

Food web

Interconnected food chains, demonstrating all possible feeding relationships at each trophic level.

Ecological Pyramid

Representation of energy transfer, including pyramids of energy, biomass, and numbers.

Blood flow

Volume of blood circulating through systemic and pulmonary blood vessels per minute, regulated by pressure differences.

Cardiac Output (CO)

Total volume of blood flow through systemic and pulmonary blood vessels per minute.

Distribution of CO

Regulated by pressure differences in different parts of the body, influencing blood flow.