Biology Vocabulary

It's Rocket Science: Biology Basics, Cells, Mitosis and Cancer, Energy Flow, Gene, and Heredity

fact

an objective, verifiable observation

principle

a statement based on repeated experimental aspects of the world

law

broad concept that describes patterns in nature and often accepted as fact

theory

an explanation of an observed phenomenon that organizes facts and research from scientists to explain why something is

qualitative

describing something using its qualities

quantitative

using numbers to measure something

independent variable

what the experimenter will deliberately change or manipulate in an investigation; the only thing different between experimental groups

dependent variable

what changes in response to the independent variable; represented by data that is collected

controlled variable

group used for comparison, represents "normal or "status quo" condition

technology

the advancement of society that solves problems based on our needs

engineering

applies scientific and mathematic principles to solve problems

matter

anything that has mass and occupies space

atom

the smallest part of an element that still has the properties of that element

cell

the most basic unit of life

polar

unequal distribution of charges, dissolves in water

nonpolar

no distribution of charge, does not dissolve in water

cohesion

the attraction between molecules of the same substance

adhesion

the attraction between molecules of different substances

specific heat

the amount of heat required to raise 1g of water 1 degree Celsius

solute

what is dissolved in a solution

solvent

what does the dissolving in a solution

solution

a uniform mixture of two or more substances

hydrophilic

dissolves easily in water, water "loving"

hydrophobic

does not dissolve easily in water, water "fearing"

macromolecules

large, organic molecules that make up all living things

monomers

small, basic sub-units of a macromolecule

polymers

larger, more complex structures made up of monomers

carbohydrates

short-term energy storage; monomer: monosaccharides, polymer: polysaccharides; 4 Cal/gram

lipids

long-term energy storage; monomer: fatty acids, polymer: triglycerides; 9 Cal/gram

proteins

make up enzymes, hormones, antibodies, bones, and muscles, and aid in transport and cell signaling; monomer: amino acids, polymer: polypeptides; 4 Cal/gram

nucleic acids

contain genetic information and information to make protein; hereditary; monomer: nucleotides, polymer: nucleic acids; 0 Cal/gram

all living things are made of cells

first concept of cell theory

unicellular

composed of one cell

multicellular

composed of many cells

cells are the basic unit of life

second concept of cell theory

all cells come from other cells

third concept of cell theory

prokaryote

no nucleus, no organelles, ALWAYS unicellular, cell walls made of peptidoglycan, binary fission to divide; ex. bacteria and archaea

eukaryote

nucleus, organelles, uni- or multicellular, ONLY fungi and plants have cell walls (chitin or cellulose); ex. animals, plants, fungi, protists

genetic material, cytoplasm, cell membrane, ribosomes

ALL cells have these four structures

organelles

specialized structures within the cell that work together to help the cell function; make proteins; ONLY found in eukaryotic cells

cell membrane

surrounds the outside of all cells, made of phospholipid bilayer; controls what goes in and out of cells and critical for communication and maintaining homeostasis

phospholipid bilayer

two layers of phospholipids (fats): hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails; proteins embedded for transport, carbs embedded for structure; called "fluid mosaic model" because it is composed of many parts tat move around freely

cytoskeleton

threadlike fibers made of protein (usually not pictured); give the cell shape, can also move organelles around; provide structural support for animal cells without cell walls

cytoplasm

jelly-like substance mainly made up of water; holds everything in place and provides a solution for chemical reactions to take place in

nucleus

contains genetic material (DNA), surrounded by a nuclear envelope/membrane with pores that control what goes in and out; protects the DNA that controls the activities of the cell

chromatin

when DNA appears spread out

nucleolus

inside of the nucleus; makes rRNA which makes up ribosomes

ribosomes

made of proteins and rRNA, located on rough ER and floating in cytoplasm; make proteins in a process called translation; rough ER: make proteins to export, floating: make proteins to use within the cell

rough ER

has ribosomes on surface, hugs the nucleus; makes proteins and packages them for secretion, and sends them in vesicles to golgi apparatus

smooth ER

NO ribosomes on surface, attached to rough ER; makes lipids (membrane), stores Ca^2+

golgi apparatus

folded membrane; gets vesicles (mini-carts) of protein from the ER, processes, sorts, and ships proteins where needed

lysosomes

ANIMAL CELLS ONLY: contain enzymes; break down dead food, bacteria, old parts of cell, etc. can do apoptosis (programmed cell death)

vacuoles

structure: small and numerous in ANIMAL cells, ONE large, central one in PLANT cells; store water, nutrients, etc.

centrioles

made of microtubules; appear during cell division, pull chromosomes apart

centrosomes

two centrioles stuck together

mitochondria

two parts: inner membrane and matrix (fluid part); where cellular respiration happens, breaks down chemical energy into food to release usable energy in the form of ATP

chloroplast

PLANT cells ONLY; two parts: grana(stacks) ad stroma (fluid); where photosynthesis happens; converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy in sugar

cell wall

PLANT (bacteria and fungi) cells ONLY: made of cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, and peptidoglycan in bacteria; protect and maintain shape of the cell

central vacuole

ONLY PLANT cells: ONE massive central structure; storage center, help cell maintain shape

homeostasis

need of an organism to stay stable by regulating internal conditions

equilibrium

equally concentrated on both sides of the membrane

dynamic equilibrium

isn't always the same, but things stay within a range

static equilibrium

the system is at rest

stimulus

change in environment

response

a change in the organism as a result of a stimulus

concentration

amount of solute dissolved in a solvent [ ]

concentration gradient

difference in concentration of a substance from one location to another

phagocytosis

cell engulfs solids into vesicles and "digests" them

pinocytosis

cell engulfs liquids into vesicles and "digests" them

positive feedback loop

the output or product of a system intensifies

negative feedback loop

the output or product of a system causes a counter response to return to a set point

channel proteins

help molecules pass through that normally couldn't

passive transport

requires no energy expenditure because molecules move down a concentration gradient

active transport

requires extra energy expenditure to bring materials into or expel out of the cell moving them against the concentration gradient

simple diffusion

the spreading out of small nonpolar molecules such as CO2 and O2 across a membrane until an equilibrium is reached

facilitated diffusion

channel protein helps diffusion of molecules that couldn't normally pass through a cell membrane

osmosis

simple diffusion of water across cell membrane

hypertonic solution

extracellular water has a lower concentration than the cell's cytoplasm, causes cell to shrivel

hypotonic solution

extracellular water has a higher concentration than the cell's cytoplasm, causes cell to swell

isotonic solution

extracellular water concentration is identical to that inside of the cell, cell stays the same

molecular pumps

cell uses energy to pump molecules such as potassium, chlorine, and sodium (ions) across the membrane against the concentration gradient

endocytosis

uses vesicles to move particles into the cell

exocytosis

uses vesicles to move particles out of the cell

simple diffusion

passive movement of O2, CO2 and small, nonpolar molecules

facilitated diffusion

passive movement of large molecules like sugar and polar molecules like calcium

osmosis

passive movement of water in the blood

molecular pumps

active movement of ions (potassium, chlorine, sodium, etc). that aid in muscle contractions

endocytosis

active movement of vesicles into the cell, ex. white blood cells engulfing bacteria to fight infections

exocytosis

active movement of vesicles out of the cell, ex. nerve cells secreting neurotransmitters to send throughout the body

differentiation

a process that creates special structures and functions

mitosis

cell division that creates two identical cells

blastocyst

a rapidly dividing ball of cells that is the result of a fertilized egg

zygote

fertilized egg

stem cells

undifferentiated cells that become differentiated into one or more types of specialized cells

embryonic stem cells

cells that have never differentiated

adult stem cells

cells found in adult bone marrow that are partially differentiated and can become bone, blood, cartilage, fat, and connective tissue

gastrula

embryo with three differentiated germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm

organogenesis

the process of body organ and organ system formation that follows gastrulation

ectoderm

outermost germ layer that becomes epidermis, brain, and nervous system through organogenesis

mesoderm

middle germ layer that becomes blood, heart, kidney, muscles, and connective tissues through organogenesis