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ribosomes
the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis
cytoskeleton
a network of protein fibers that helps to maintain the shape of the cell, secures certain organelles in specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to move independently
phylogeny
the relationships of an organism, such as from which organisms it is thought to have evolved, to which species it is most closely related, and so forth
plasma membrane
surrounds the cell and regulates the passage of some substances, such as organic molecules, ions, and water, preventing the passage of some to maintain internal conditions, while actively bringing in or removing others
endoplasmic reticulum
a series of interconnected membranous tubules that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids
ecosystem
all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, non-living parts of that environment such as nitrogen in the soil or rain water
community
the sum of populations inhabiting a particular area
nucleus
houses the cell's DNA in the form of chromatin and directs the synthesis of ribosomes and proteins. Let us look at it in more detail
phospholipid
a lipid molecule composed of two fatty acid chains and a phosphate group
prokaryotes
the single-celled organisms of the domains Bacteria and Archaea
cytoplasm
comprises the contents of a cell between the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope. It is made up of organelles suspended in the gel-like cytosol, the cytoskeleton, and various chemicals
atom
the smallest and most fundamental unit of matter
population
all the individuals of a species living within a specific area
organelles
small structures that exist within cells
organs
collections of tissues grouped together performing a common function
mitochondria
often called the "powerhouses" or "energy factories" of a cell because they are responsible for making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's main energy-carrying molecule
organ system
a higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs
chloroplasts
organelles that function in photosynthesis and can be found in eukaryotic cells such as plants and algae
cilia
short, hair-like structures that are used to move entire cells (such as paramecium) or move substances along the outer surface of the cell (for example, the cilia of cells lining the Fallopian tubes that move the ovum toward the uterus)
tissues
groups of similar cells carrying out similar or related functions
lysosomes
the cell's "garbage disposal"
cell wall
a rigid covering that protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives shape to the cell
organisms
individual living entities
endosymbiosis
a relationship in which one organism lives inside the other
flagella
long, hair-like structures that extend from the plasma membrane and are used to move an entire cell, (for example, sperm, Euglena)
molecule
a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or more chemical bonds
eukaryotes
animal cells, plant cells, fungi, and protists
symbiosis
a relationship in which organisms from two separate species live in close association and typically exhibit specific adaptations to each other
macromolecules
large molecules that are typically formed by polymerization
peroxisomes
small, round organelles enclosed by single membranes
inorganic compounds
compounds that do not contain carbon
nucleic acids
key macromolecules in the continuity of life that carry the genetic blueprint of a cell and carry instructions for the functioning of the cell
amino acids
the monomers that make up proteins
hydrocarbons
the simplest organic compounds that contain only the elements carbon and hydrogen
condensation reaction
reaction in which two molecules or parts thereof combine, releasing a small molecule
polysaccharide
a long chain of monosaccharides linked by covalent bonds
isomers
molecules with the same atomic makeup but different structural arrangement of atoms
monosaccharides
simple sugars, the most common of which is glucose
stereoisomers
isomers that differ in the spatial arrangements of atoms
carbohydrates
an essential part of our diet that provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a simple sugar
hormones
chemical signaling molecules, usually proteins or steroids, secreted by an endocrine gland or group of endocrine cells that act to control or regulate specific physiological processes, including growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction
structural isomers
compounds that have identical molecular formulas but differ in the bonding sequence of the atoms
essential fatty acids
fatty acids that are required but not synthesized by the human body
biological macromolecules
the large molecules necessary for life that are built from smaller organic molecules
proteins
one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective; they may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes
lipids
a diverse group of compounds that are united by a common feature. Lipids are hydrophobic ("water-fearing"), or insoluble in water
saturated fats
solid at room temperature
alkanes
contain only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms
unsaturated fats
liquid at room temperature and are called oils
structural formula
a graphic representation of the molecular structure of a molecule, showing how the atoms are arranged
organic molecules
molecules that contain carbon
hydrolysis reactions
result in the breakdown of polymers into monomers by using a water molecule and an enzymatic catalyst
polar molecule
a molecule in which one end of the molecule is slightly positive, while the other end is slightly negative
starch
the stored form of sugars in plants and is made up of amylose and amylopectin (both polymers of glucose)
waxes
made up of a hydrocarbon chain with an alcohol (-OH) group and a fatty acid
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid
contains the genes that determine who you are and the instructions for all the proteins your body makes
genome
contains the full complement of DNA within a cell and is organized into smaller, discrete units called genes that are arranged on chromosomes and plasmids
the central dogma
describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein
genotype
the full collection of genes a cell contains
DNA supercoiling
refers to the over- or under-winding of a DNA strand
leading strand
strand that is synthesized continuously in the 5'-3' direction, which is synthesized in the direction of the replication fork
ligase
enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a phosphodiester linkage between the 3' OH and 5' phosphate ends of the DNA
okazaki fragment
DNA fragment that is synthesized in short stretches on the lagging strand
primase
enzyme that synthesizes the RNA primer; the primer is needed for DNA pol to start synthesis of a new DNA strand
primer
short stretch of nucleotides that is required to initiate replication; in the case of replication, the primer has RNA nucleotides
replication fork
y-shaped structure formed during initiation of replication
single-strand binding protein
during replication, protein that binds to the single-stranded DNA; this helps in keeping the two strands of DNA apart so that they may serve as templates
sliding clamp
ring-shaped protein that holds the DNA pol on the DNA strand
telomerase
enzyme that contains a catalytic part and an inbuilt RNA template; it functions to maintain telomeres at chromosome ends
telomere
DNA at the end of linear chromosomes
topoisomerase
enzyme that prevents overwinding of DNA when DNA replication is taking place
transformation
process in which external DNA is taken up by a cell
transition substitution
when a purine is replaced with a purine or a pyrimidine is replaced with another pyrimidine
transversion substitution
when a purine is replaced by a pyrimidine or a pyrimidine is replaced by a purine
HELIā”case [helicase]
during replication, this enzyme helps to open up the DNA helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds
lagging strand
during replication, the strand that is replicated in short fragments and away from the replication fork
3' UTR
3' untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
5' cap
a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5' end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation
5' UTR
5' untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
activator
protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription
catabolite activator protein (CAP)
protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available
cis-acting element
transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it
dicer
enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA
DNA methylation
epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule
enhancer
segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene
epigenetic
heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence
eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)
protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation
gene expression
processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene
guanine diphosphate (GDP)
molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation
guanine triphosphate (GTP)
energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation
histone acetylation
epigenetic modification that leads to gene expression; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group
inducible operon
operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment
initiation complex
protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation
lac operon
operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose
large 60S ribosomal subunit
second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein
microRNA (miRNA)
small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them
myc
oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells
negative regulator
protein that prevents transcription
operator
region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells
operon
collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells