Biochemistry (Honors Bio)

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable, constant conditions despite external changes. This includes regulation of temperature, pH, and concentrations of ions and nutrients.

Passive Transport

The movement of substances across a cell membrane without the need for energy input, driven by concentration gradients. It includes processes like diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion. This process allows cells to regulate their internal conditions efficiently.

Diffusion

is the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until balance is reached.

Osmosis

is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane, moving from an area of higher solute concentration to an area of lower solute concentration.

Isotonic

solution has the same solute concentration as another solution, resulting in no movement of water across the membrane.

Hypotonic

solution has a lower solute concentration than another solution, causing water to move into the cell, potentially leading to cell swelling.

Hypertonic

solution has a higher solute concentration than another solution, causing water to move out of the cell, potentially leading to cell shrinkage.

Facilitated Diffusion

Protein channels that allow large molecules to pass through the cell.

Macromolecules

Polymers of the monomers, includes fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids

Monomers

small things that macromolecules are made of

Protein’s monomer

amino acids

Carbohydrate’s monomer

monosaccharides, simple sugars

Lipid’s and Fat’s monomer

glycerol and fatty acids

Lipid function

protective layer of cell membrane, insulates

Protein function

catalysts, help metabolism (break things down)

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cell, responsible for breaking down glucose into an energy molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through chemical reactions.

Vacuole

A membrane bound sac within a cell that function as a storage area for water, nutrients, and waste products.

Cholesterol

lipid that helps regulate membrane flexibility/fluidity and is crucial for various bodily functions.

Cell wall

Barrier of cell, holds shape and protects cell.

Cell membrane

Filters things allowed in or out of the cell, semi-permeable

Nucleus

Control center of cell, holds DNA

Cytoplasm

jelly substance filling the cell, where most chemical reactions occur and contains organelles

Ribosomes

Small structures that build proteins using genetic instructions in the mRNA

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth ER has ribosomes, rough ER doesn’t, network of membranes involved in protein and lipid combination (synthesis)

Golgi Apparatus

Sorts, packages, and transports proteins an lipids to different destinations

mRNA

single stranded molecule that carriers genetic instructions from DNA in the cell’s nucleus to the cytoplasm

Flow of genetic cell information

DNA—>RNA—>Protein

Cilia

Short and numerus structures to move fluid, mucus, or particles along a cell’s surface (can propel a cell)

Flagella

Long(er than cilia) hair like structures used to propel an entire cell through a liquid environment [ex. tail of sperm cell]

Lysosomes

contain enzymes to break down waste materials and cellular debris

Cytoskeleton

Network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm that provides support to the cell