Honors Bio

Active Site

  • Definition: The region on an enzyme where the substrate (reactant) binds during a chemical reaction.

  • Function: This is where the enzyme catalyzes the conversion of substrate(s) into product(s).

Aerobic

  • Definition: A process that requires oxygen to produce energy.

  • Example: Cellular respiration (glucose + oxygen → energy, carbon dioxide, and water).

Anaerobic

  • Definition: A process that does not require oxygen.

  • Example: Fermentation (e.g., lactic acid fermentation in muscles).

Asexual Reproduction

  • Definition: Reproduction where offspring are produced from a single parent without the fusion of gametes.

  • Result: Offspring are genetically identical to the parent (a clone).

  • Examples: Binary fission in bacteria, budding in yeast.

Autosomes

  • Definition: Chromosomes that do not determine sex.

  • Humans: There are 22 pairs of autosomes, making up 44 chromosomes total.

  • Function: Carry the majority of an individual's genetic information (e.g., eye color, height).

Biodiversity

  • Definition: The variety of life on Earth, including species, ecosystems, and genetic variation.

  • Highest Biodiversity: Tropical regions, particularly rainforests like the Amazon rainforest.

Carbohydrates

  • Definition: Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

  • Function: Provide energy for cells.

  • Examples: Bread, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables.

Carbon Cycle

  • Definition: The movement of carbon through Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.

  • Organic Carbon: Found in plants, animals, and living organisms.

  • Inorganic Carbon: Found in CO₂, carbonates in rocks, and fossil fuels.

Catalyst

  • Definition: A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed or permanently altered.

  • Function: Lowers the activation energy of a reaction, making it proceed faster.

  • Example: Enzymes are biological catalysts.

Centromere

  • Definition: The region of a chromosome where two sister chromatids are held together.

  • Function: Crucial for chromosome movement during cell division (attachment site for spindle fibers).

Compound

  • Definition: A substance made up of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.

  • Example: H₂O (water), CO₂ (carbon dioxide).

Concentration Gradient

  • Definition: The difference in the concentration of a substance between two areas.

  • Example: Substances move from areas of high concentration to low concentration, a process called diffusion.