BIO 1111 Fall 2025 Exam 3 Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing the key concepts and definitions related to metabolism, respiration, and photosynthesis for the BIO 1111 exam.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Exergonic reactions

Chemical reactions that release energy.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; the primary energy carrier in cells, composed of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness in a system.

Energy coupling

The use of energy released from exergonic reactions to drive endergonic reactions.

Bioenergetics

The study of how energy flows through living systems.

Feedback regulation

A regulatory mechanism in which a process is controlled by its products or outcomes.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Thermodynamics

The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds needed for reactions.

First law of conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Second law of increasing entropy

In an isolated system, entropy tends to increase over time.

Hydrolysis of ATP

The reaction that breaks the bond between phosphate groups in ATP, releasing energy.

Final acceptor of aerobic respiration

Oxygen is the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The process of ATP production in the mitochondria, driven by the electron transport chain.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Redox reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons, leading to reductions and oxidations.

Glycolysis

The first stage of glucose metabolism, occurring in the cytoplasm, producing ATP and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of enzymatic reactions that oxidize acetyl-CoA to CO2 and produce NADH and FADH2.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane, generating ATP via ATP synthase.

Calvin Cycle

The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis that fix CO2 into organic compounds.

Photosystem II and I

Protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane involved in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Photorespiration

A process where O2 is used instead of CO2, leading to the production of CO2 and ATP.