bio 1st exam

Biology

the scientific study of life

biological literacy

the ability to use the process of scientific inquiry to think creatively about real world issues that have a biological component, communicate these thoughts to others, and integrate these ideas into your decision making.

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

Science

the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.

scientific literacy

the capacity to use scientific knowledge, to identify questions and to draw evidence-based conclusions in order to understand and help make decisions about the natural world and the changes made to it through human activity.

Theory

well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations

experiment

a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.

dependent variable

The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Placebo

A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.

placebo effect

a beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.

null hypothesis

the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, any observed difference being due to sampling or experimental error.

Hypothesis

a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

treatment

medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury

experimental group

the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

control group

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Pseudoscience

A fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

Atom

Basic unit of matter

atomic number

the number of protons in an atom

atomic mass

It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.

Proton

A subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Neutron

A subatomic particle that has no charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Electron

A subatomic particle that has a negative charge

Orbital

A specification of the energy and probability density of an electron at any point in an atom or molecule

chemical reaction

the process by which one or more substances change to produce one or more different substances

Element

pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom

ionic bond

Formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another

covalent bond

A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

hydrogen bond

The attraction between a partially positively charged hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom (such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine) and another nearby electronegative atom.

polar covalent bond

a type of chemical bond where a pair of electrons is unequally shared between two atoms.

nonpolar covalent bond

a type of chemical bond that is formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms

Molecule

two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds

Cohesion

the act, state, or process of sticking together of alike molecules or entities. An example is water molecules. The tendency of water molecules to stick together is referred to as cohesion and they are held together by a cohesive force such as an intermolecular hydrogen bond.

Reactant

The substances which participate in a chemical reaction

product

end substances after a biological process has occurred.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has a positive or negative charge.

Isotope

atoms of the same element that contain an identical number of protons, but a different number of neutrons

radioactive isotope

atoms that contain an unstable combination of neutrons and protons, or excess energy in their nucleus

Macromolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down a compound; this is achieved by breaking a covalent bond in the compound by inserting a water molecule across the bond

Monomer

a molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

dehydration reaction

the chemical reactions in which a water molecule is eliminated from the reactant molecule

Carbohydrate

compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; major source of energy for the human body

Monosaccharides

a simple sugar that constitutes the building blocks of a more complex form of sugars such as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Examples are fructose, glucose, and ribose

Disaccharide

A double sugar molecule made of two monosaccharides bonded together through dehydration synthesis.

glycosidic bond

a chemical bond in the form of a covalent connection that connects a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group, which might be another carbohydrate or not

Starch

a complex polysaccharide made up of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds

Glucose

he main type of sugar in the blood and is the major source of energy for the body's cells

Glycogen

the stored form of glucose that's made up of many connected glucose molecules

Cellulose

polysaccharide consisting of glucose monomers that reinforces plant-cell walls

Lipids

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They're part of your cell membranes and help control what goes in and out of your cells. They help with moving and storing energy, absorbing vitamins and making hormones.

fatty acids

chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, building blocks of lipids

Sterol

a class of hydrophobic ringed lipid molecules found in biological membranes throughout eukarya

Phospholipids

a type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell membrane

Protein

control cell division, metabolism, and the flow of materials and information into and out of the cell

peptide bond

a chemical bond that is formed by joining the carboxyl group of one amino acid to the amino group of another

amino acids

molecules that combine to form proteins

Denaturation

the unfolding or breaking up of a protein, modifying its standard three-dimensional structure

nucleic acids

naturally occurring chemical compounds that serve as the primary information-carrying molecules in cells. They play an especially important role in directing protein synthesis.

Nucleotide

the basic building block of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). A nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) attached to a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing base

phosphodiester bond

A bond between a sugar group and a phosphate group; such bonds form the sugar-phosphate-sugar backbone of DNA and RNA

DNA

the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism

RNA

a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA.

nitrogenous base

adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C). The nitrogenous bases in RNA are the same, with one exception: adenine (A), guanine (G), uracil (U), and cytosine (C)

complimentary base pairing

hydrogen bonding between particular bases; in DNA, thymine (T) pairs with adenine (A), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C); in RNA, uracil (U) pairs with A, and G pairs with C

active transport

Energy-requiring process that moves material across a cell membrane against a concentration difference

Cell

The basic unit of structure and function in living things

cell theory

idea that all living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things, and new cells are produced from existing cells

cell wall

A rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to prokaryotic cells

Chloroplast

An organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs

cholosterol

a structural component of cell membranes, Besides their structural role providing stability and fluidity, cholesterol also plays a crucial role in regulating cell function

Cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended

Cytoskeleton

a network of proteins that forms an internal framework for the cell

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

endomembrane system includes

nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles and the plasma membrane.

Endosymbiosis theory

The theory that the eukaryotic cell evolved via the engulfing of one prokaryotic cell by another and some eukaryotic cell organelles, such as mitochondria and plastids, evolved from free-living prokaryotes

Eukaryote

A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

facilitated diffusion

the transport of substances through a cell membrane along a concentration gradient with the aid of carrier proteins

Flagellum

A long, hairlike structure that grows out of a cell and enables the cell to move.

fluid mosaic model

The currently accepted model of cell membrane structure, which envisions the membrane as a mosaic of individually inserted protein molecules drifting laterally in a fluid bilayer of phospholipids.

Glycolipids

Membrane carbohydrates that are covalently bonded to lipids.

Glycoproteins

Membrane carbohydrates that are covalently bonded to proteins.

Golgi apparatus

stack of membranes in the cell that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum

Hypertonic

Having a higher concentration of solute than another solution.

Hypotonic

Having a lower concentration of solute than another solution

intermediate filaments

They form an elaborate network in the cytoplasm of most cells, extending from a ring surrounding the nucleus to the plasma membrane. The primary function of IFs is to create cell cohesion and prevent the acute fracture of epithelial cell sheets under tension

Isotonic

wherein the solute concentration across the semipermeable membrane is the same resulting in an equilibrium state

Lysosome

a membrane-bound cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes. Lysosomes are involved with various cell processes. They break down excess or worn-out cell parts. They may be used to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.

Mitochondria

membrane-bound cell organelles that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell's biochemical reactions. Chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Nucleolus

Found inside the nucleus and produces ribosomes

Nucleus

A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

Organelle

specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell

Osmosis

Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane

passive transport

the movement of substances across a cell membrane without the use of energy by the cell

peripheral proteins

The proteins of a membrane that are not embedded in the lipid bilayer; they are appendages loosely bound to the surface of the membrane.

Phagocytosis

process in which extensions of cytoplasm surround and engulf large particles and take them into the cell

Phospholopid Bilayer

consists of two layers of phospholipids, with a hydrophobic, or water-hating, interior and a hydrophilic, or wate r-loving, exterior. The hydrophilic (polar) head group and hydrophobic tails (fatty acid chains) are depicted in the single phospholipid molecule.

Pinocytosis

a process by which the cell takes in the fluids along with dissolved small molecules. In this process, the cell membrane folds and creates small pockets and captures the cellular fluid and dissolved substances.

plasma membrane

a microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins that forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and that regulates the passage of molecules in and out of the cytoplasm.