Biology Topics 1-3 Flashcards
what is biochemistry
the study of the material substances that make up living things
what is biology
the study of life and living organisms, from single-celled organisms to the most complex living organism of all
botany
the study of plants, including agriculture
cell membrane
gives the cell its shape and controls what enters and leaves the cell
cell theory
all organisms are made of one or more cells, cells are the basic building blocks of life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells
cell wall
rigid structure giving the cell protection and support
cellular biology
the study of the basic cellular units of living things
chloroplast
contains a green pigment chlorophyll and is the site of photosynthesis
connective tissue
a type of tissue including bone, blood, and loose connective fibres
cytoplasm
a jelly like fluid in which the organelles are suspended; site of chemical reactions
Order of Taxonomy
domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
ecology
the study of how organisms interact with their environment
epithelial tissue
a type of tissue including reproductive, skin and cells of the gastrointestinal tract
eukaryote
a type of cell found in animals, plants, protists and fungi
evolutionary biology
the study of the origins and changes in the diversity of life over time
genetics
the study of heredity
micrometer
a unit of measurement equivalent to one thousandth of a millimetre
lysosome
contains many digestive enzymes used to break down substances
mitochondrion
where aerobic respiration occurs
molecular biology
the study of biological molecules
molecule
two or more atoms chemically bound
multicellular
a type of organism made up of two or more cells
muscle tissue
a type of tissue including cardiac, skeletal and smooth
nanometer
a unit of measurement equivalent to one billionth of a metre
nerve tissue
a type of tissue including nerve cells
nucleus
contains DNA which controls all cell activities
organ
a collection of tissues working together to perform a specific task
organelle
a sub-cellular structure composed of molecules that have a specific job to do within the cell
organism
a living thing
physiology
the study of the functions of organisms and their parts
prokaryote
a single-celled organism
ribosome
site of protein production
system
a collection of organs working together to perform a specific overall function to keep the organism alive
taxonomy
the practice of classifying organisms
tissue
a group of specialised cells working together to perform a specific function
unicellular
an organism made up of one cell
vacuole
a large fluid filled sac containing water, ions and other dissolved solutes
zoology
the study of animals, including animal behaviour
aorta
the largest artery in the body; blood vessel that takes blood to the brain and body
artery
a thick muscular blood vessel that takes blood away from the heart
arteriole
a blood vessel that diverges from an an artery
atria
the top chambers of the heart
atrioventricular node (AV node)
the bundle of pacemaker cells that cause the ventricles to contract
blood pressure
the measure of the amount of pressure blood forces on the wall of the arteries
capillary
the smallest of blood vessels where materials are exchanged between blood and tissues
cardiac muscle
a type of muscle tissue found in the heart
cardiovascular system
the scientific name of the system composing of the heart, lungs and blood vessels
diastole
the measure of blood pressure when the heart relaxes
heartbeat
the contraction and relaxation of the heart
hypertension
scientific name for high blood pressure
hypotension
scientific name for low blood pressure
superior vena cava
he major vein that supplies deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from the brain
lumen
the inner pathway of blood vessels in which blood moves through
lungs
an organ in the circulatory system that delivers oxygen into the blood and takes carbon dioxide out of the blood
pacemaker cells
a group of cells found in the heart and rhythmically beat causing the heart to contract and relax
pulmonary artery
the artery that takes deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs
pulmonary system
the closed blood system that travels between the heart and the lungs
pulmonary vein
the vein that supplies oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart from the lungs
septum
the thick muscular wall that separates the left and right ventricles in the heart
sinoatrial node (SA node)
the bundle of pacemaker cells that cause the atria to contract
inferior vena cava
the major vein that supplies deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from the body
systemic system
the closed blood system that travels between the heart and the body
systole
the measure of blood pressure when the heart contracts
valves
flaps of tissue that open and close to allow the flow of blood in one direction only
veins
a thin muscular blood vessel that takes blood towards the heart; contains valves
ventricle
the bottom chambers of the heart
venule
a blood vessel that converges into a vein
antibodies
defensive proteins made by lymphocytes that attach to foreign antigens and destroy them
antigen
a surface protein that the body recognises as being foreign
basophil
a type of white blood cell that produces histamines which promote inflammation
blood clot
a plug that forms in a broken blood vessel to stop bleeding due to blood cells sticking together with fibrin
bone marrow
the site where all bloods cells are made from haematopoietic stem cells
concentration gradient
the difference in concentration of a substance between two environments
diffusion
the movement of particles from an area of HIGH concentration to an area of LOW concentration
eosinophil
a type of white blood cell that produces powerful chemicals that can punch holes in foreign invaders
equilibrium
when two concentration gradients become equal
erythrocyte
the scientific name for a red blood cell
facilitated diffusion
the movement of particles from an area of HIGH concentration to an area of LOW concentration across a cell membrane with the assistance of membrane proteins
fibrin
a sticky fibrous protein produced by platelets causing red blood cells to stick together to form a clot
haem
the iron component of heamoglobin that binds oxygen
haematopoietic stem cells
stem cells found in the bone marrow that are responsible for producing all types of blood cells
leukocyte
the scientific name for a white blood cell
lymphocyte
a type of white blood cell capable of producing antibodiesmo
monocyte
a type of white blood cell that can perform phagocytosis; largest white blood cell
neutrophil
a type of multi lobed white blood cell that can perform phagocytosis; most abundant
osmosis
the net movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of HIGH water concentration to an area of LOW water concentration
passive transport
a form of transport that does not require an input of energy; e.g. diffusion and osmosis
phagocyte
the name given to white blood cells that have the ability to perform phagocytosis; the ingestion of extracellular solid substances
phagocytosis
the process of a cell ingesting solid extracellular substances; e.g. food particles or disease causing pathogens
plasma
the yellow-watery part of blood that makes up 55% of blood volume in which proteins and other substances are suspended
self-antigen
a surface protein found on all your body cells that distinguish your self-cells as belonging to you
stem cells
undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialised cells forming new tissues
surface area to volume ratio (SA:V)
the ratio between the surface area of a cell and its volume
thrombocyte
the scientific name for a platelet
undifferentiated
a cell (stem cell) that is not yet specialised
totipotent
the ability to differentiate into all possible cell types
pluripotent
the ability to differentiate into almost all cell
multipotent
the ability to differentiate into a closely related family of cells
oligopotent
the ability to differentiate into a few of cells
unipotent
the ability to produce cells of their own type, but have properties of self-renewal required to be labeled a stem cell
how does potency work
if the potency increases the specialisation decreases while id the potency decreases the specialisation increases
