Bio Flashcards
cell
smallest living unit and basic unit of function and structure for living things
nucleus
contains genetic information (DNA deoxyribonucleic acid) and controls the activities of the cell
plasma(cell) membrane
aka semipermeable membrane that seperates the contents of the cell from the surrounding fluid, the interstitial fluid
interstitial fluid
contains substances such as amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, hormones, neurotransmitters and salts
selectively permeable (semipermeable)
the selective nature of the plasma membrane that contains pores and channels that allow only particles of the right size or the right chemical nature to pass through
cytoplasm
fluid matrix found between the plasma membrane and the nucleus that acts as scaffolding for the organelles
organelles “little organs”
specialized units in the cell that perform certain functions
mitochondria
locations for cellular respiration: the conversion of food to energy at the cellular level - the sites of energy production and ATP
ATP
adenosine triphosphate - the chemical the cell uses to store and transfer energy within itself (in the mitochondria)
ribosomes
sites of protein synthesis in the cell - some float freely while others are attached to the ER
endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
serves as a means of transport within the cell and is made up of many channels
rough ER
rough ER named for the fact that it has ribosomes on its surface, serves to store and deliver the proteins made by the attached ribosomes
smooth ER
free of ribosomes and is found in a variety of cells - stores enzymes and minerals and the folding of proteins - involved in the detoxification of chemicals and the metabolism of fats
golgi complex
modifies and packages proteins destined for use in the cell of export from the cell
lysosomes
sacs that contain strong digestive enzymes - responsible for digesting cell structures that are no longer living of that are malfunctioning and for digesting waste
cell wall
plant cells are surrounded by cell walls that contain chloroplasts - the cell wall is for the production of the cell, the maintenance of the shape and water balance
chloroplasts
contain chlorophyll, necessary for photosynthesis
vacuoles
plant cells have large vacuoles which are compartments in the cytoplasm that act as places for secretion, excretion and storage
DNA
found in the nucleus in the form of chromatin and chromosomes
chromatin
when a cell is not dividing, DNA is found in this loosely structured form
chromosomes
when a cell is dividing, the DNA is seen in this condensed rod-shaped body
mitosis
when cells divide, appropriate amount of genetic material is passed on to new “daughter” cells & in somatic (non reproductive) cells, the new cells are identical copies of the parent cells; achieved by the doubling of the chromosomes prior to division. Occurs in both plant and animal cells - although slightly different
meiosis
zygote - the cell created by the union of the sperm and egg contains a full set of chromosomes, half from each parent. Consists first of a doubling of chromosomes and then two subsequent divisions. Thus the products are 4 daughter cells, each with half the normal number of chromosomes
tissues
cells with a common structure and function
muscle tissue
skeletal, cardiac, smooth
epithelial tissue
skin, the lining of organs
nervous tissue
neurons
connective tissue
cartilage, blood, fat, bone
organ
various tissues combined, which performs a specialized function in the body
organ system
after organ, made up of a number of organs working together to carry out a major function
organism
highest level of organization, such as the body itself
evolution
the theory regarding the processes that have produced the biological diversity we see today
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution
1) the present species evolved from ancestral ones & 2) evolution occurs by means of natural slection
natural selection
Darwin - the process by which the traits that promote or enhance an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce are passed onto following generations
adaptation
“survival of the fittest” - the individuals best suited to their environment pass on their traits to their offspring
fossil record
consists of remnants or traces of organisms from past geologic ages
vertebrates
animals with backbones in the order fish>amphibians>reptiles>mammals>birds
biogeography
geographical distribution of plants and animals
comparative anatomy
comparison of organisms’ structures