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IB Biology > IB biology essential terms > Flashcards

IB biology essential terms Flashcards

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1
Q

What is cell theory?

A

A theory that states that all organisms are composed of cells; cells are the primary units of life and all life comes from preexisting life.

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2
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body.

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3
Q

What is diffusion?

A

A net flow of particles from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration resulting from random thermal motion of molecules.

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4
Q

What is osmosis?

A

The movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane down their concentration gradient (toward a higher concentration of solute).

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5
Q

What is active transport?

A

The movement of molecules into or out of a cell through the cell membrane, against their concentration gradient using energy released during respiration.

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6
Q

What is a sodium-potassium pump?

A

A membrane protein that moves sodium ions out of the cells and potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients.

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7
Q

What is metabolism?

A

Life-sustaining chemical reactions of an organism.

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8
Q

What is an enzyme?

A

A biological catalyst.

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9
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

A process during which plants produce glucose from sunlight, CO2, and water.

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10
Q

What is cell respiration?

A

Controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP.

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11
Q

What is ATP?

A

Adenosine-triphosphate, the principal molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells.

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12
Q

What is a gene?

A

A heritable factor consisting of a length of DNA, influencing a specific characteristic.

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13
Q

What is an allele?

A

Specific forms of a gene.

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14
Q

What is a genome?

A

Whole genetic information of an organism.

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15
Q

What is a genotype?

A

The collection of alleles of an organism.

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16
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

The set of observable features of an organism.

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17
Q

What is mitosis?

A

Division of cell nucleus by which one nucleus divides into two genetically identical diploid nuclei.

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18
Q

What is meiosis?

A

Division of cell nucleus by which one diploid nucleus divides into four haploid nuclei for sexual reproduction.

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19
Q

What is a clone?

A

An organism genetically identical with another organism.

20
Q

What is a species?

A

A group of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

21
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of organisms of the same species who live in the same area at the same time.

22
Q

What is a community?

A

Population of different species living together and interacting with each other.

23
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

All the living organisms, their physical environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular area.

24
Q

What are autotrophs?

A

Producers; organisms that can produce their own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.

25
Q

What are heterotrophs?

A

Organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.

26
Q

What is evolution?

A

Cumulative change in heritable characteristics of a population.

27
Q

What is natural selection?

A

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype.

28
Q

What is speciation?

A

The process of two separated populations gradually diverging into different species by evolution.

29
Q

What is a cladogram?

A

A tree diagram showing the most probable sequence of divergence in clades.

30
Q

What is digestion?

A

Breaking down of large molecules in food into small molecules so that they can be absorbed by an organism.

31
Q

What is absorption?

A

The process by which the products of digestion are absorbed into the blood to be supplied to the rest of the body.

32
Q

What is a pathogen?

A

A disease-causing microorganism.

33
Q

What is an antibody?

A

A large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens. They are produced by B lymphocytes (and plasma cells) and are specific to a given antigen.

34
Q

What is an antigen?

A

A molecule capable of triggering an immune response, typically on a surface of a pathogen (or allergen).

35
Q

What are memory cells?

A

Long living lymphocytes that survive in the body for many years, producing low levels of circulating antibodies.

36
Q

What are plasma cells?

A

White blood cells that secrete large quantities of antibodies.

37
Q

What is ventilation?

A

Pumping of fresh air into alveoli and removing stale air from them.

38
Q

What are antagonistic muscles?

A

A pair of muscles enabling opposing movements. When one contracts, the other relaxes, and vice versa.

39
Q

What is resting membrane potential?

A

Voltage across the membrane of a neuron of about -70mV maintained in the resting state of the neuron by the sodium-potassium pump.

40
Q

What is action potential?

A

A rapid change in membrane potential, consisting of depolarization and repolarization.

41
Q

What are synapses?

A

Junctions between neurons, and between neurons and receptor or effector cells.

42
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical substances used to send signals across synapses.

43
Q

What are hormones?

A

Chemical messengers that are secreted into the transport system and transported throughout the body of an organism to regulate processes in body tissues.

44
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

Maintaining stable internal environment.

45
Q

What are gametes?

A

Organism’s reproductive cells. They are haploid cells, and each cell carries only one copy of each chromosome.

46
Q

What is a zygote?

A

A cell formed by fusion of two gametes in the process of fertilization.

IB Biology (4 decks)

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