Apbio unit 1 vocab
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Biology: Study of living things and their interactions.
Cell Theory: All living things are made of cells.
Prokaryotic Cells: Cells without a nucleus (e.g., bacteria).
Eukaryotic Cells: Cells with a nucleus and organelles (e.g., plants, animals).
Plasma Membrane: Membrane controlling cell substance movement.
Organelles: Cell structures performing specific functions.
Cytoplasm: Jelly-like fluid inside the cell, excluding nucleus.
DNA: Genetic material of organisms.
RNA: Molecule for gene expression and regulation.
Homeostasis: Stability of internal environment.
Metabolism: Chemical reactions supporting life processes.
ATP: Main energy carrier in cells.
Enzyme: Protein that speeds up chemical reactions.
Substrate: Substance on which an enzyme acts.
Active Site: Region on an enzyme that binds substrates.
Catalyst: Substance that increases reaction rate without being consumed.
Activation Energy: Energy needed to start a reaction.
pH: Measure of acidity or alkalinity.
Buffer: Substance that minimizes changes in pH.
Hydrogen Bond: Weak bond between polar molecules.
Covalent Bond: Strong bond formed by sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bond: Bond formed through transfer of electrons between ions.
Hydrophobic: Substances that repel water.
Hydrophilic: Substances that attract water.
Polarity: Distribution of electric charge over molecules.
Carbohydrate: Organic compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (sugars).
Lipid: Hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats and oils.
Protein: Large molecules made up of amino acids.
Amino Acids: Building blocks of proteins.
Peptide Bond: Bond between amino acids in a protein.
Nucleic Acid: Biomolecules essential for genetic information (DNA, RNA).
Gene: Segment of DNA that codes for a protein.
Chromosome: DNA molecule that contains genetic information.
Genome: Complete set of genes in an organism.
Transcription: Process of copying DNA into RNA.
Translation: Process of converting RNA into protein.
Mutation: Change in DNA sequence.
Natural Selection: Mechanism of evolution where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive.
Speciation: Formation of new and distinct species in evolution.
Ecology: Study of organisms and their environment.
Biodiversity: Variety of life in an area.
Ecosystem: Community and environment interacting as a system.
Food Chain: Series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.
Trophic Level: Each step in a food chain or food web.
Photosynthesis: Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Respiration: Process of breaking down glucose to produce energy.
Biogeochemical Cycle: Pathway by which a chemical substance moves through biotic and abiotic compartments of Earth.
Carrying Capacity: Maximum population size that an environment can sustain.
Population Density: Number of individuals per unit area.
Invasive Species: Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems.
.
Biology: Study of living things and their interactions.
Cell Theory: All living things are made of cells.
Prokaryotic Cells: Cells without a nucleus (e.g., bacteria).
Eukaryotic Cells: Cells with a nucleus and organelles (e.g., plants, animals).
Plasma Membrane: Membrane controlling cell substance movement.
Organelles: Cell structures performing specific functions.
Cytoplasm: Jelly-like fluid inside the cell, excluding nucleus.
DNA: Genetic material of organisms.
RNA: Molecule for gene expression and regulation.
Homeostasis: Stability of internal environment.
Metabolism: Chemical reactions supporting life processes.
ATP: Main energy carrier in cells.
Enzyme: Protein that speeds up chemical reactions.
Substrate: Substance on which an enzyme acts.
Active Site: Region on an enzyme that binds substrates.
Catalyst: Substance that increases reaction rate without being consumed.
Activation Energy: Energy needed to start a reaction.
pH: Measure of acidity or alkalinity.
Buffer: Substance that minimizes changes in pH.
Hydrogen Bond: Weak bond between polar molecules.
Covalent Bond: Strong bond formed by sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bond: Bond formed through transfer of electrons between ions.
Hydrophobic: Substances that repel water.
Hydrophilic: Substances that attract water.
Polarity: Distribution of electric charge over molecules.
Carbohydrate: Organic compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (sugars).
Lipid: Hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats and oils.
Protein: Large molecules made up of amino acids.
Amino Acids: Building blocks of proteins.
Peptide Bond: Bond between amino acids in a protein.
Nucleic Acid: Biomolecules essential for genetic information (DNA, RNA).
Gene: Segment of DNA that codes for a protein.
Chromosome: DNA molecule that contains genetic information.
Genome: Complete set of genes in an organism.
Transcription: Process of copying DNA into RNA.
Translation: Process of converting RNA into protein.
Mutation: Change in DNA sequence.
Natural Selection: Mechanism of evolution where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive.
Speciation: Formation of new and distinct species in evolution.
Ecology: Study of organisms and their environment.
Biodiversity: Variety of life in an area.
Ecosystem: Community and environment interacting as a system.
Food Chain: Series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.
Trophic Level: Each step in a food chain or food web.
Photosynthesis: Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Respiration: Process of breaking down glucose to produce energy.
Biogeochemical Cycle: Pathway by which a chemical substance moves through biotic and abiotic compartments of Earth.
Carrying Capacity: Maximum population size that an environment can sustain.
Population Density: Number of individuals per unit area.
Invasive Species: Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems.