Bio Ch 1-4 Vocab Flashcards
1
Q
species
A
unique type of organism. defined by genus and specific epithet
2
Q
biology
A
the scientific study of life
3
Q
atoms
A
smallest unit of matter
4
Q
molecules
A
consists of atoms that are bonded together
5
Q
cell
A
smallest unit of life
6
Q
organisms
A
individual consisting of one or more cells
7
Q
tissues
A
consists of specific types of cells organized in a particular pattern
8
Q
organs
A
a structure composed of tissues that carry out a task or set of tasks
9
Q
organ systems
A
set of interacting organs and tissues that fulfill one or more body functions
10
Q
population
A
group of interbreeding individuals of the same species living in a given area
11
Q
community
A
consists of all populations of all species in a given area
12
Q
ecosystem
A
a community interacting with its physical and chemical environment through the transfer of energy and materials
13
Q
biosphere
A
sum of all ecosystems, encompasses all regions of Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere in which organisms live
14
Q
nutrients
A
a substance an organism needs for growth and survival but cannot make for itself
15
Q
producers
A
makes its own food using energy and simple raw materials it obtains from nonbiological sources
16
Q
photosynthesis
A
process in which plants use energy of sunlight to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water
17
Q
consumers
A
obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms`
18
Q
homeostasis
A
process of sensing and adjusting to change to keep conditions within internal environment within ranges of cell survival
19
Q
DNA
A
deoxyribonucleic acid
20
Q
development
A
process by which the first cell of a new individual gives rise to an adult
21
Q
growth
A
increase in cell number, size, and volume
22
Q
reproduction
A
processes by which individuals produce offspring
23
Q
inheritance
A
transmission of DNA to offspring
24
Q
bacteria
A
largest, most diverse and well-known group of prokaryotes
25
archaea
group of prokaryotes that are more closely related to eukaryotes than to bacteria
26
prokaryotes
organisms with no nucleus
27
eukaryotes
organisms whose cell characteristics have a nucleus
28
protists
general term for a eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal, plant, or fungus.
29
plants
multicelled eukaryotes
-majority are photosynthetic producers
30
fungi
single or multicelled eukaryotic consumer
-breaks down material outside itself. then absorbs nutrients released from the breakdown
31
animals
multicelled eukaryotic consumer made up of unwalled cells and develops through series of stages
32
taxonomy
practice of naming, describing and classifying species
33
genus
a group of species that share a unique set of traits
34
traits
inherited characteristics
35
taxa
group or level of organization into which organisms are classified
36
critical thinking
the act of evaluating information before accepting it
37
science
systematic study of the observable world
38
hypothesis
testable explanation for a natural phenomenon
39
prediction
statement about a condition that should reasonably occur if the hypothesis is correct
40
experiment
procedure designed to evaluate a prediction; typically yields data
41
variables
experimental factor that varies
42
data
factual information collected from experiments or observations of the natural world
43
experimental group
a group of individuals who have a certain characteristic or receive a certain treatment
44
control group
group identical to experimental group except for the variable under investigation
45
model
analogous system in an experiment; tested in place of another subject
46
scientific method
A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.
47
sampling error
difference between results obtained from a subset, and results obtained from the whole
48
probability
the measure, expressed as a percentage, of the chance that a particular outcome will occur
49
statistically significant
a result that is statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance alone
50
scientific theory
a hypothesis that stands after many years of systematic testing
51
law of nature
a consistent natural phenomenon that has an incomplete scientific explanation
52
pseudoscience
claims, arguments, or methods that are presented as science, but do not follow scientific principles
53
electrons
negatively charged subatomic particles
54
nucleus
central core of every atom
55
protons
positively charged subatomic particles
56
neutrons
uncharged subatomic particles
57
atomic number
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
58
element
pure substances that consists only of atoms with the same number of protons
59
isotopes
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
60
mass number (atomic mass)
Number of protons and neutrons
61
tracers
any substance with a detectable component - such as a radioisotope
62
radioisotopes
an isotope with an unstable nucleus
63
radioactive decay
process in which a nucleus breaks up and emits radiation
64
shell model
conceptual diagram of electron distribution in an atom
65
ion
atom or molecule that carries a net charge
66
free radical
atom with an unpaired electron
67
chemical bonds
strong attractive force between two atoms
68
compound
molecule that has atoms of more than one element
69
ionic bond
A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
70
polarity
separation of charge into positive and negative regions
71
covalent bond
A chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons
72
hydrogen bonds
an attraction between a covalently bonded hydrogen atom and another atom taking part in a separate covalent bond
73
cohesion
property in which the molecules of a substance resist separating from one another
74
temperature
measure of molecular motion
75
solvent
liquid in which other substances dissolve
76
salts
ionic compounds that release ions other than H+ and OH- when it dissolves in water
77
solutes
a dissolved substance
78
solution
uniform mixture of solute completely dissolved in solvent
79
concentration
amount of solute per unit volume of solution
80
hydrophilic
a substance that dissolves easily in water
81
hydrophobic
a substance that resists dissolving in water
82
evaporation
transition of a liquid to a vapor
83
pH
measure of the amount of hydrogen ions in a fluid
84
acids
substance that releases hydrogen ions in water
85
bases
substance that accepts hydrogen ions in water
86
buffer
set of chemicals that can keep the pH of a solution stable by alternately donating and accepting ions that contribute to pH
87
organic
describes a compound that consists mainly of carbon and hydrogen atoms
88
polymers
molecule that consists of multiple monomers
89
monomers
molecule that is a subunit of polymers
90
enzymes
organic molecule (protein or RNA) that speeds up a reaction without being changed by it
91
reactions
process of molecular change
92
metabolism
collective term for all of the enzyme-mediated chemical reactions in a cell
93
carbohydrates
Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the proportion of 1:2:1.
94
cellulose
tough, insoluble polysaccharide that is the major structural material in plants
95
lipids
fatty, oily, or waxy organic compound
96
fatty acid
a small organic molecule that consists of a long hydrocarbon 'tail' with a carboxyl group 'head'
97
saturated fatty acid
fatty acid with only single bonds linking the carbons in its tail
98
unsaturated fatty acid
fatty acid that has at least one double bond between carbons making up its tail
99
fat
a triglyceride molecule
100
triglyceride
a lipid with three fatty acid tails bonded to a glycerol
101
saturated fat
a triglyceride with three saturated fatty acids tails
102
unsaturated fat
triglycerides with one or more unsaturated fatty acid tails
103
lipid bilayer
two layered sheet of phospholipids
104
phospholipids
type of lipid with two long hydrocarbon tails and a head with a phosphate group in it
105
steroids
a type of lipid with four carbon rings and no fatty acid tails
106
waxes
water-repellent substance that consists of a complex, varying mixture of lipids
107
peptides
short chains of amino acids
108
polypeptides
linear sequence of amino acids
109
amino acids
small organic compound with an amine group, a carboxyl group, and an 'R group' that defines the type
110
peptide bonds
the covalent bond that links amino acids in a chain
111
protein
organic molecule that consists of one or more amino acid chains folded into a specific shape
112
denaturation
loss of a protein's three-dimensional shape
113
prion
infectious protein
114
nucleotides
small organic molecules that function as enzyme helpers, chemical messengers and subunits of DNA and RNA
115
RNA
ribonucleic acid
116
nucleic acids
molecule that consists of one or more strands of nucleotides; DNA or RNA
117
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
118
plasma membrane
membrane that encloses a cell and separates it from the external environment
119
cytosol
jelly-like mixture of water and solutes enclosed by a cell's plasma membrane
120
ribosomes
organelles that carry out protein synthesis
121
organelle
structures that carry out special functions inside a cell
122
cytoplasm
in eukaryotic cells, all cellular contents outside the nucleus; in prokaryotic cells, all of the cells' contents
123
surface-to-volume ratio
A relationship in which the volume of an object increases with the cube of the diameter, and the surface area increases with the square.
124
cell theory
Theory that all organisms consist of one or more cells, which are the basic unit of life; all cells come from division of preexisting cells; and all cells pass hereditary material to offspring.
125
fluid mosaic
model of a cell membrane as a two-dimensional fluid of mixed composition
126
transport proteins
membrane protein that passively or actively helps specific ions or molecules move across the membrane
127
receptor proteins
membrane protein that triggers a change in cell activity in response to a stimulus such as a hormone binding to it
128
adhesion proteins
plasma membrane protein that helps cells stick together in animal tissues
129
flagella
long, slender cellular structure used for movement
130
pili
A protein filament that projects from the surface of some prokaryotic cells.
131
cell wall
rigid, permeable layer of extracellular matrix that surrounds the plasma membrane of some cells
132
biofilm
community of microorganisms living within a shared mass of secreted slime
133
nuclear envelope
A double membrane that constitutes the outer boundary of the nucleus. Pores in the membrane control which substances can cross.
134
mitochondria
double-membraned organelle that produces ATP by aerobic respiration in eukaryotes
135
chloroplasts
organelles specialized for photosynthesis
136
endoplasmic reticulum
membrane enclosed organelle that consists of a continuous system of sacs and tubes extending from the nuclear envelope.
137
rough er
makes and modifies proteins
138
smooth er
makes phospholipids, stores calcium
139
vesicles
saclike organelle that stores, transports, or breaks down its contents
140
Golgi body (also Golgi apparatus)
organelle that modifies polypeptides and lipids, then sorts and packages the finished products into vesicles
141
lysosomes
enzyme-filled vesicle that breaks down particles such as cellular debris
142
cytoskeleton
network of protein filaments that support, organize and move eukaryotic cells and their internal structures
143
motor proteins
Type of energy-using protein that interacts with cytoskeletal elements to move the cell's parts or the whole cell.
144
microfilaments
cytoskeletal element of eukaryotes that reinforces cell membranes and functions in cell movement
145
microtubules
cytoskeletal element of eukaryotes that forms a dynamic scaffolding for my cellular processes involving movement
146
pseudopods
a temporary protrusion from a eukaryotic cell that helps it move or engulf prey
147
cilia
short, hairlike motile structures that project from the plasma membrane of some eukaryotic cells
148
intermediate filaments
stable cytoskeletal element that structurally supports cells and tissues of animals and some protists
149
extracellular matrix
complex mixture of substances secreted by a cell onto its surface; composition and function vary by cell type
150
cuticle
secreted covering at a body surface
151
cell junctions
molecular assemblies that connects a cell to another cell or to extracellular matrix
152
phagocytosis
"Cell eating"; an endocytic pathway by which a cell engulfs particles such as microbes or cellular debris.
153
energy
the capacity to do work
154
first law of thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
155
second law of thermodynamics
energy tends to disperse spontaneously
156
reactants
molecules that enter the reaction and become changed by it
157
products
molecules that are produced by the reaction
158
substrate
specific molecule that can bind to the enzyme's active site and be converted to a product
159
active site
pocket in an enzyme where substrates bind and a reaction occurs
160
cofactors
metal ion or small non-protein organic molecule that associates with an enzyme and is necessary for its function
161
coenzymes
an organic cofactor
162
phosphorylations
chemical reaction in which an enzyme attaches a phosphate group to an organic molecule
163
metabolic pathway
series of enzyme-mediated reactions by which cells build, remodel, or break down an organic molecule
164
feedback inhibition
regulatory mechanism in which a reaction product slows or stops a pathway that produces it
165
electron transfer chains
series of enzymes and other molecules in a cell membrane that accept and give up electrons in turn, thus releasing the energy of the electrons in steps
166
diffusion
the spontaneous spreading of molecules or atoms through a fluid or gas
167
hypotonic
a fluid that has a low overall solute concentration relative to another fluid
168
hypertonic
a fluid that has a high overall solute concentration relative to another fluid
169
isotonic
two fluids with identical solute concentrations
170
osmosis
Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
171
turgor pressure
Pressure that a fluid exerts against a structure that contains it
172
exocytosis
process by which a cell expels a vesicle's contents to extracellular fluid
173
endocytosis
process by which a cell takes in a small amount of extracellular fluid (and its contents) by the ballooning inward of the plasma membrane
