Exam 1 Flashcards
The Scientific Method
Make observations Formulate a hypothesis Devise a testable prediction Conduct a critical experiment Draw conclusions, make revisions
Cell Theory
Living organisms are made of 1 or more cells
All cells arise from other pre-existing cells
Scientific Theory
An explanatory hypothesis for natural phenomena that is exceptionally well-supported by empirical data
Nucleic acid
Macromolecule; Involved in information storage and transfer; DNA and RNA are both examples
Protein
Macromolecule; Chief building blocks of life; Made of amino acids
Carbohydrate
Macromolecule; The primary fuel for cellular activity; Forms much of the cell structure in all life; Sugars (ex: glycogen in animals, starch in plants)
Lipids
Macromolecule; Fats; Energy storage and insulation; Insoluble in water and greasy to the touch
Transport protein
In the plasma membrane, allows various types of molecules to enter cell
Receptor protein
In the plasma membrane, allows only specific things to enter cell
Covalent bond
Very strong bond, holds the oxygen to the hydrogen in a single molecule of water
Hydrogen bond
Weak, “flirty” bond, holds multiple water molecules together
Enzyme
Made of proteins, acts as a catalyst to speed up reactions by breaking things down; Their specific function is determined by their shape
Hormone
A chemical signal that responds to environmental variables
Cohesion
Water molecules stick to other water molecules
Adhesion
Water molecules stick to different water molecules, allows water to defy gravity when supplying nutrients to plants
Solvent
The liquid in which a substance is dissolved
Promoter
Part of a DNA molecule that indicates where the sequence of base pairs that make up a gene begins. Tells RNA polymerase where to START “unzipping” the DNA
Terminator
Part of a DNA molecule that indicates where the sequence of base pairs that make up a gene end. Tells RNA polymerase where to STOP “unzipping” the DNA
Ribosome
Connects amino acids into a polypeptide by catalyzing the formation of the covalent bonds
mRNA
The “product” of transcription, temporary copy of DNA
tRNA
Uses an anticodon that matches a specific codon to bring an amino acid to the ribosome to be connected into an amino acid chain (protein); bring amino acid to ribosome
Initiation
First step of transcription, promoter tells RNA where to start copying DNA
Elongation
Second step of transcription, the “unzipping” and copying of DNA
Termination
Third step of transcription, terminator tells RNA where to start copying DNA
RNA polymerase
Does the “unzipping” of DNA
Genotype
The genes that an organism carries for a particular trait. Influences phenotype
Phenotype
Physical traits, the expression of a genotype, the manifested structure, function, and behaviors of an individual
Dominant
An allele that masks the phenotypic affect of another allele
Recessive
An allele that is masked by the phenotypic affect of another allele
Law of Segregation
Mendel’s law that states a gamete receives just one gene copy from each parent organism, which is selected randomly
Codominant
When two alleles are dominant at the same time with neither allele being dominant over the other. Ex: AB blood type
Incomplete dominance
When two alleles when an allele is not completely dominant or recessive over it’s other allele. Ex: a red and a white flower breed a pink flower
Autosomal chromosome
Any chromosome that it not a sex-linked chromosome
Sex-linked chromosome
Genetic linkage with either an X or Y chromosome
