Biology Review nc eoc honors

  • Prokaryotic Cells: Simple, no nucleus, DNA in nucleoid (e.g., bacteria).

  • Eukaryotic Cells: Complex, has a nucleus and organelles (e.g., plants, animals).

  • Cell Membrane: Selectively permeable; made of phospholipids; regulates what enters and exits.

  • Mitochondria: Site of cellular respiration, produces ATP.

  • Chloroplast: Found in plant cells, traps light energy for photosynthesis.

  • Nucleus: Contains DNA, makes ribosomes.

  • DNA: Double-stranded, with complementary base pairing (A-T, C-G).

  • mRNA: Carries instructions for protein synthesis from DNA to ribosomes.

  • Translation: mRNA is translated into a protein by ribosomes.

  • tRNA: Delivers amino acids to ribosomes for protein synthesis.

  • Enzymes: Proteins that act as catalysts, lowering activation energy.

  • Heterozygous: Two different alleles for a gene.

  • Gene Therapy: Changing genes to treat diseases.

  • Transgenic Organisms: Organisms with foreign genes inserted into their DNA.

  • Mutations: Can lead to changes in phenotype (traits) and function (e.g., from radiation, chemicals).

  • Meiosis: Produces gametes (sperm/eggs) and creates genetic diversity through crossing over.

  • Mendelian Inheritance:

    • Autosomal Dominant: Affects every generation (e.g., Huntington disease).

    • Autosomal Recessive: Affects men and women equally; carriers are heterozygous.

    • Hemophilia: A recessive disorder where blood doesn’t clot properly.

  • Mitosis: Nucleus divides (phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase) to form two identical daughter cells.

  • Cytokinesis: Division of cytoplasm after mitosis.

  • DNA Replication: Must occur before mitosis to ensure daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes.

  • Colchicine: Disrupts mitosis by interfering with cell division.

  • Photosynthesis: Converts light energy into glucose; key factors are light, CO2, and temperature.

  • Cellular Respiration: Releases energy from glucose to produce ATP (happens in mitochondria).

  • ATP: The main energy source for all cells.

  • Carbon: Essential element for life, central in both photosynthesis and respiration.

  • Homeostasis: Maintaining a stable internal environment.

  • Passive Transport: Movement across the membrane without ATP (e.g., diffusion, osmosis).

  • Active Transport: Requires ATP to move substances across the membrane.

  • Hypertonic Solution: Cell shrinks (water moves out).

  • Hypotonic Solution: Cell swells (water moves in).

  • Biosphere: The part of Earth where life exists.

  • Scientific Name: Genus + species name.

  • Human Activities: Pollution, deforestation, climate change, and habitat destruction harm ecosystems and biodiversity.

  • Behavioral, Structural, Reproductive Adaptations help organisms survive and reproduce in their environment (e.g., vascular tissue in ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms but not mosses).

  • Proteins: Made from amino acids; determine traits like eye color and enzyme function.

  • Antigens: Determine phenotype (e.g., blood types).

  • Lipids: Make up the cell membrane; important for energy storage.

  • Carbohydrates: Most important energy source for plants.

  • Chitin: Found in fungal cell walls.

  • Cholesterol: A key lipid in cell membranes.

  • Theodor Schwann: Discovered that all animals are made of cells.

  • Endosymbiotic Theory: Chloroplasts and mitochondria were once free-living bacteria.

  • Type A: A antigens, anti-B antibodies.

  • Type B: B antigens, anti-A antibodies.

  • Type AB: A and B antigens, no antibodies (universal recipient).

  • Type O: No A or B antigens, anti-A and anti-B antibodies (universal donor).