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Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Scientific method

A

A systematic method of research consisting of putting a hypothesis to a test designed to disprove it, if it is in fact false

Steps of the scientific method roughly include:
Observations
Hypothesis (testable and falsifiable)
Testing
Conclusion (accept or reject hypothesis)
Peer review

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2
Q

Hypothesis

A

Tentative explanation for an observation that requires testing to validate

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3
Q

Theory

A

A scientific theory is “an explanation of a set of
related observations based on well-supported
hypothesis from several different, independent
lines of research.”

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4
Q

Independent variable

A

A factor whose value influences the value of the dependent variable, but is not influenced by it. In experiments, the variable that is manipulated

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5
Q

Dependent variable

A

The variable in a study that is expected to change in response to changes in the independent variable

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6
Q

What are the 4 types of organic molecules?

A

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids

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7
Q

Prokaryotic

A

Type of cell that does not have a nucleus or membrane-bounded organelles

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8
Q

Eukaryotic

A

Cell that has a nucleus and membrane-bounded organelles

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9
Q

Carbohydrates

A

Energy-rich molecule that is the major source of energy for the cell. Consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio CH2O

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10
Q

Proteins

A

Cellular constituent made of amino acids coded for by genes. Proteins can have structural, transport, or enzymatic roles

Functions: structure, speed up reactions, antibodies (immunity), hemoglobin (transport)

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11
Q

Lipids

A

Hydrophobic molecule, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids

Functions: energy storage, insulation, chemical messengers, cell membrane structure

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12
Q

Nucleic acids

A

Polymers of nucleotides that comprise DNA and RNA

Functions: blueprint for life, stores genetic information

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13
Q

Plasma membrane

A

Structure that encloses a cell, defining the cell’s outer boundary

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14
Q

Nucleus

A

Cell structure that houses DNA; found in eukaryotes

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15
Q

Cytoplasm

A

The entire contents of the cell (except the nucleus) surrounded by the plasma membrane

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16
Q

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

A

Resting energy use of an awake, alert person

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17
Q

Metabolism

A

All of the physical and chemical reactions that produce and use energy

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18
Q

Vitamins

A

Organic nutrient needed in small amounts. Most vitamins function as coenzymes

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19
Q

Minerals

A

Inorganic nutrient essential to many cell functions

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20
Q

Macronutrients

A

Nutrient required in large quantities

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20
Q

Essential amino acids

A

The 9 essential amino acids are not made by our bodies and therefore must be supplied through our diets

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21
Q

Micronutrients

A

Nutrient needed in small quantities

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22
Q

Cellular respiration

A

Metabolic reactions occurring in cells that result in the oxidation of macromolecules to produce ATP

Function: provides cells with the energy they need to function

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23
Q

Enzymes

A

Protein that catalyzes and regulates the rate of metabolic reactions

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24
Photosynthesis
Process by which plants, along with algae and some bacteria, transform light energy to chemical energy input: light energy, water, carbon dioxide output: oxygen, glucose
25
Fossil fuels
Nonrenewable resource consisting of the buried remains of ancient plants that have been transformed by heat and pressure into coal and oil
25
Climate change
Significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer
26
Cell division
Process a cell undergoes when it makes copies of itself. Production of daughter cells from an original parent cell
27
Cancer
Cells that divide when they should not, and have the ability to invade surrounding tissue and spread elsewhere
28
What are the options for cancer treatment?
Chemotherapy Radiation Surgery
29
Mitosis
The division of the nucleus (that produces daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell)
30
What are the risk factors for cancer?
Tobacco use (causes 1/3 of cancer deaths) High fat, low-fiber diet Lack of exercise Excess alcohol consumption Increasing age Sun exposure Inheritance Viruses
31
Meiosis
Cell division for sexual reproduction
32
Carcinogens
Substance that causes cancer or increases the rate of its development
33
Genes
Trait-bearing units or factors on chromosomes; composed of DNA
33
Allele
Alternate expressions of a gene
34
Quantitative Trait
Trait that has many possible values
35
Polygenic Trait
A trait influenced by many genes
36
Pleiotropy
The ability of one gene to affect many different functions
37
Sex Determination
Determining the biological sex of an offspring. Humans have a chromosomal mechanism of sex determination in which two X chromosomes produce a female and an X and a Y chromosome produce a male
38
DNA fingerprinting
The analysis of DNA fragments to determine if they come from a particular individual; Used in criminal cases, paternity cases, etc
39
Quantitative Genetics
When multiple genes and/or the environment interact
40
Epigenetics
The study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work
41
Mendelian Genetics
When the role of genes is clear in inheritance
42
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
Organisms whose genome incorporates genes from another organism; also called transgenic or genetically engineered organisms
43
Stem cells
Cells that can divide indefinitely and can differentiate into other cell types
44
Adult stem cells
Cells in adult tissues that can give rise to only a few related types of specialized cells; Typically found in bone marrow/blood cells
44
Embryonic stem cells
Cells derived from an early stage of an embryo that have potential to become any cell type in the body; Typically come from IVF, cloning is a future possibility
45
Cloning
Producing copies of a gene or an organism that are genetically identical
46
Recombinant DNA
the method of joining two or more DNA molecules to create a hybrid
47
Transcription
A gene on a DNA molecule is transcribed into RNA; Takes place in the nucleus
47
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)
Growth hormone produced in a laboratory and injected into cows to increase their size and ability to produce milk
48
What is the main advantage of obtaining stem cells from a cloned embryo?
They would be a perfect match to the patient and not be rejected if used in the patient
49
RNA
Information-carrying molecule composed of nucleotides
50
Translation
The production of proteins from the RNA transcript
50
Codon
A triplet of RNA nucleotides. Transfer RNA molecules bind to codons during protein synthesis
51
Genetic code
Table showing which mRNA codons code for which amino acids
51
Common descent
The theory that all living organisms on Earth descended from a single common ancestor that appeared in the distant past
52
Theory of evolution
Theory that all organisms on Earth today are descendants of a single ancestor that arose in the distant past
53
Natural selection
Process by which individuals with certain traits have greater survival and reproduction than individuals who lack these traits, resulting in an increase in the frequency of successful alleles and a decrease in the frequency of unsuccessful ones
54
Anatomical homology
same bones in different species - homologous structures derived from a common ancestor example: the same bones in a human's arm, a cat's paw, a whale's fin, and a bat's wing
54
Vestigial traits
structures that have no apparent function and appear to be residual parts from a past ancestor are called vestigial structures. Examples of vestigial structures include the human appendix, the pelvic bone of a snake, and the wings of flightless birds. traits would not exist unless the organism's ancestors possessed them; this is strong evidence of common ancestry and change over time
55
Biogeography
organisms in different environments in similar geographic areas are often alike because populations migrate and adapt to new environments but resemble their ancestors
56
Developmental homology
comparative embryology - the comparison of early stages of animal development reveals many similarities between organisms indicating common ancestry
57
Suboptimal structures
our knees and spine were not originally meant for walking upright our respiratory system crosses our digestive system which can cause choking evolution can only modify existing structures and functions organisms "make do" with suboptimal designs
58
Molecular homology
primate chromosome composition is quite similar; chimps/gorillas/orangutans have 24 pairs of chromosomes, humans have 23 pairs also.... the genetic code is essentially universal, suggesting all species descended from a common ancestor
59
Explain the process of evolution by natural selection
natural selection is the mechanism that drives evolution; individuals best suited to the environment survive and produce more offspring, driving change over time
60
Antibiotic resistant
Characteristic of certain bacteria; a physiological characteristic that permits them to survive in the presence of particular antibiotics
61
Summarize the relationship between natural selection and drug resistance in disease-causing microbes
using one type of drug for too short of a time period selects for antibiotic resistant bacteria by using combination drug therapy, bacteria are very unlikely to be resistant to multiple drugs, therefore stopping drug resistance
62
Species
A group of individuals that regularly breed together and are generally distinct from other species in appearance or behavior
63
Biological race
Populations of a single species that have diverged from each other
64
Explain what a species is based on the biological species concept
a species is a group of individuals that, in nature, can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, but cannot reproduce with members of other species
65
Explain why human “races” are not biological groups
human races are not biological groups; humans have never been truly isolated from each other and therefore cannot have evolved into separate biological races
66
Population growth rate
How fast a population changes in size over time growth rate = birth rate - death rate
67
Demographic transition
The period of time between when death rates in a human population fall (as a result of improved technology) and when birth rates fall (as a result of voluntary limitation of pregnancy)
68
List density independent factors that affect population growth
weather fluctuations natural disasters
69
List the factors that have influenced the human population growth rate
improved medical care (vaccines and antibiotics) improved sanitation improved nutrition through industrial agriculture all have driven population growth
70
List density dependent factors that affect population growth
food water space/shelter accumulation of waste spread of disease
71
Discuss factors that may affect the Earth’s carrying capacity for humans
the environment can only support so many people we need enough clean water, air, and energy for everyone we will eventually run out of non-renewable resources
72
List and describe the causes of extinction
habitat destruction and fragmentation: habitat destruction is the most serious threat, fragmentation harms large predators who need large spaces to hunt introduced species: organisms brought by human activity to new environments, often devastate existing species overexploitation: due to use for food, pets, house plants, medicinal value, etc. pollution: most pollutants come from agriculture (herbicides and pesticides, CO2 is also a pollutant
73
List and describe the consequences of extinction
loss of resources: loss of foods, building materials, medicines, etc. without bees to pollinate our food, it will become more expensive with less variety disruption of communities: predation, mutualism, and competition can be disrupted, derailing the web of life disrupted energy and chemical flows psychological effects: because of the evolutionary nature of our ancestors, we have a genetic desire to connect with nature
74
Explain the evidence that suggests we are entering a mass extinction
current extinction rates are 50-100x higher than normal
75
List ways in which you can help prevent the loss of biodiversity
reduce fossil fuel use eat less meat and dairy recycle and reuse reduce the use of wood and paper products financial aid to developing countries join organizations, write politicians, and educate others

General Biology (6 decks)

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