B2.2 SL / HL Flashcards
homeostasis
any self-regulating process by which biological systems tend to maintain stabilitywhile adjusting to conditions that are optimal for survival
Cell compartmentalization
the division of a cell’s interior into distinct, membrane-bound compartments, each with a specialized function and unique chemical environment
Cellular component
any of the structures, locations, and macromolecular complexes within a cell
Organelle
a specialized, membrane-bound compartment or structure within a cell that performs a specific function
Reductionism
the approach of explaining complex biological phenomena by breaking them down into their smallest, most fundamental components
Biochemical fractionation
the process used to separatecellular componentswhile preserving individual functions of each component
Centrifugation (cell fractionation)
a multistep procedure that subjects cells to centrifugal force in a spinning device called a centrifuge, which separates organelles by their physical properties
Chromatography
a separation technique used to isolate and analyze mixtures of substances, particularly biological molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
Rf value
the ratio of the solute’s distance travelled to the solvent’s distance travelled
Gel electrophoresis
a laboratory technique used to separate molecules, like DNA, RNA, or proteins, based on their size and charge.It involves applying an electric field across a gel matrix, causing charged molecules to migrate through the gel and separate by their respective properties.Smaller molecules move faster through the gel compared to larger ones
agarose gel
a porous matrix used in gel electrophoresis, a technique for separating molecules like DNA or RNA based on size
anode
the electrode or terminal by which current enters an electrolytic cell, voltaic cell, battery, etc. the negative terminal of a voltaic cell or battery
DNA replication
the process where a cell creates an exact duplicate of its DNA
gene
a fundamental unit of heredity that provides instructions for building proteins or functional RNA molecules
transcription
the synthesis of RNA from DNA
translation
the process in living cells in which proteins are produced usingRNAmolecules as templates
Gene expression
the process by which specific genes are activated to produce a required protein
differentiation
the process by which a cell changes, becoming specialized for a particular function.This specialization involves changes in gene expression, leading to the development of unique structures and functions in different cell types
Pancreatic cells
the specialized cells within the pancreas that perform both digestive and endocrine functions
compartmentalization
the separation of distinct cellular structures and functions within a cell into specialized compartments or regions
phagocytosis
the process where a cell engulfs and consumes a solid substance or another cell
lysosomes
membrane-enclosed organelles that contain an array of enzymes capable of breaking down all types of biological polymers—proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids
