Intro to Biology Flashcards
Polymers
The result of monomers being linked together through polymerization
Carbohydrates
Macromolecules that are a source of energy and structure for many organisms
Lipid
Macromolecule used by the body to store energy and form membranes and barriers around cells
Nucleic Acid
Macromolecule comprised of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus; examples include RNA and DNA, which are responsible for storing genetic information
Protein
Macromolecule responsible for controlling many cell processes and serving as enzyme within chemical reactions
Photosynthesis
Process of using light to make sugar from carbon dioxide and water
Biopolymer
Natural polymer produced by living organisms
Glycogen
Stores energy in the muscles and liver of humans and other animals
Starches
Soluble, helical sugar structures produced by plants and used to store energy
Cellulose
Dietary fiber; plants use it for rigid structures, particularly plant stems
Complex Lipids
contain additional elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur
Simple Lipids
Contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Triol
Carbon chain with three alcohol groups (-OH groups)
Unsaturated Fat
Long-chain hydrocarbon with at least one double bond
Phospholipid
Long-chain hydrocarbon held together by a phosphate group
Nucleotides
Four monomers that make up RNA and DNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Proteins
Extremely large polypeptides with molecular masses of 5,000 to 40,000,000 g/mol
Amino Acid
A molecule that has an NH2 group and a carboxylic acid group on a single carbon; considered the building block of life
Polypeptides
Many amino acids bonded together by an amide bond
Hierarchy
a way of dividing and organizing topics for studying
Biosphere
contains all living things on Earth and the ecosystems upon which they rely
Emergent Properties
properties observed that aren’t present in the preceding level of the hierarchy
Biomes
Highest levels of complexity (Amazon rainforest/Arctic tundra)
Systems biology
study of organisms and how they interact with their environment and other organisms
Cells
the fundamental units of any organism
Unicellular
consist of only one cell (e.g. bacteria)
Homeostasis
the stability of internal conditions
Three domains of life
Bacteria, archaea, and eukarya
The Scientific Method : Steps
Observation, Question, Formulate hypothesis, Develop prediction, Design experiment, Conduct experiment, Collect data, Analyze data
Element
Substances that are made up of only one kind of atom
How many elements occur naturally on earth?
94
Atom
smallest component of an element that retains all of the chemical properties of that element
Atomic Number
number of protons
Atomic Mass
number of protons and neutrons
Protons
Positively charged
Electrons
Negatively charged
Neutrons
Uncharged
Inert
Elements that have a full outer shell
Chemical bonds
atoms share electrons between adjacent outer shells
Compounds
Two or more elements joined together
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
The atomic mass of the most common isotope of carbon
12
What exists in orbitals around the nucleus
Electrons
Valence electrons
electrons in the outermost energy level
Ionic bond
one atom loses one or more electrons and another atom gains the electrons that were lost by the first atom
Ion
an atom with a charge
Anion
Ions with a negative charge
Cation
ions with a positive charge
Covalent bond
Element share electrons to achieve a full outer shell
Molecule
atoms joined by a covalent bond ; the smallest unit of a compound that has the same properties as the compound
Nonpolar covalent bond
when the sharing of electrons between two covalently bonded atoms is nearly equal
Polar covalent bond
when the sharing of electrons between two covalently bonded atoms is not equal
Polar molecules
Molecules with dipoles (e.g. Water)
Cohesion
Water is attracted to water
Adhesion
Water is attracted to other substances
Polar
A bond or molecule in which one side of the molecule is positive and the other is negative
Dipole
Two regions on a molecule that have opposite charges
Matter
Anything that takes up space and has mass
Periods
Rows on the periodic table
Groups
Columns on the periodic table
Properties of water
Cohesion, adhesion, universal solvent
Essential Amino Acids
Amino acids that can’t be synthesized by the body
Two main secondary structures in proteins
alpha-helices ; beta-pleated sheets
Pepsin
a protein that breaks down other proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids
Enzymes
a class of proteins that catalyze reactions (e.g. pepsin)
Glycogen
stores energy in the muscles and livers of humans and other animals
Starches
are water-soluble, helical structures with alcohol groups readily available for hydrogen-bonding; used to store energy in plants.
Cellulose
water insoluble ; collects unwanted residue as it passes through digestive tract
Difference between a polypeptide and a protein
A polypeptide usually has a molecular mass of 5,000 g/mol or less. A protein has a molecular mass above 5,000 g/mol.
Three common forms of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides
Which of the three common forms of carbohydrates is a polymer
Polysaccarides
Fatty acids
lipids that are made only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
DNA is a biopolymer made of four different
Nucleotides
How is DNA copied?
Hydrogen bonding
Cellular theory
- All living organisms are made of cells.
- Cells are the basic unit of life.
- All cells arise from preexisting cells.
- Hereditary information is passed from cell to cell.
- All cells have the same basic chemical composition.
- Energy flow occurs within cells.
Eukaryotic Cells
Cells that have a membrane-bound nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, and multiple rod-shaped chromosomes in which DNA is stored
Nucleoid
The irregularly-shaped region within prokaryotes that contains most of the genetic material of the cell
Chromosome
threadlike structure that contains the genetic information (DNA) of a cell in the form of genes
Peptidoglyican
A substance made up of sugars and proteins that forms the cell walls of many bacteria
Bacteria
One of the six kingdoms of life, composed of prokaryotes only
Archaea
One of the six kingdoms of life, composed of prokaryotes only
Pilus
A hair-like structure found on the surface of many bacterial cells
Flagellum
A microscopic appendage found on many bacterial cells that enables movement
Capsule
A sugar-containing layer considered to be part of the bacterial cellular membrane
Cytoplasm
Fills the cell inside the cellular membrane and holds all cellular material in place
Nuclear Envelope
Surrounds the nucleus and offers an extra layer of protection to it
Nucleolus
Produces ribosomes
Ribosomes
Cellular organelles involved in DNA translation and protein production
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Works with ribosomes to produce proteins
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Manufactures lipids or fats; can also perform detoxification functions for the cell
Peroxisomes
Primarily break down lipids and fats
Vacuoles
Act as a place for animal cells to store molecules before they’re released from the cell or after they’re brought into the cell
Amyoplasts
Unique to plant cells, store and synthesize starch
Cytosol
Jelly-like fluid that fills the cytoplasm
Nucleoplasm
Semisoft fluid that contains the nucleolus and chromatin
Cisternae
Sacs and tubules in the endoplasmic reticulum
Lumen
Internal part of the cisternae in the endoplasmic reticulum
Cis
Receiving/opening end of the golgi apparatus
Trans
Exit end of the golgi apparatus
Cristae
Folds in the inner membrane layer of the mitochondria
Mitochondrial Matrix
Outer membrane surrounding the mitochondria
Chromoplasts
Organelle that stores the pigment for fruits and berries
Characteristics of prokaryotes
No nucleus or membrane-bound organelles
Unicellular
Archaea and Bacteria
Phospholipid bilayer
a selectively permeable membrane that controls the flow of molecules, ions, and proteins into and out of the cell
Characteristics of Eukaryotes
Membrane-bound nucleus
Membrane-bound organelles
Multiples rod-shapes chromosomes where DNA is stored
Cellular Respiration
the process of making ATP from oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients
Lysosomes
filled with enzymes capable of breaking down proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and old organelles
Autophagy
The process of recycling the cell material (amino acids and peptides)
Characteristics shared by all cells
Plasma membrane
Cytosol
Chromosomes
Ribosomes
Concentration Gradient
The process of molecules or solutes moving from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
Electrical Gradient
The electrical potential that acts on an ion to move it into or out of a cell structure
Voltage
The electrical potential difference between two separate points
Passive Transport
The movement of ions and other atomic or molecular substances across cell membranes without using energy
Diffusion
The net passive movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Facilitated Diffusion
The process of passive transport of molecules and ions across a biological membrane through the use of membrane proteins known as channel proteins
Active transport
The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration, primarily conducted with the assistance of enzymes and pumps; requires energy
Sodium-Potassium Pump
An enzyme that assists in the active transport of sodium and potassium molecules; uses ATP as an energy source
Hypotonic
A solution having a lower osmotic pressure than a particular fluid
Isotonic
when the concentrations of solute on the inside and outside are the same.
Hypertonic
Having a higher osmotic pressure than a particular fluid
Solute
A substance dissolved in another substance, usually at the particle level
Enzyme
A biological catalyst that increases the rate of a chemical reaction
Homeostasis
The tendency of living things to maintain a steady state of internal conditions
Set point
Ideal internal conditions for an organism
Negative Feedback Loop
Homeostatic process that changes the direction of the stimulus
Positive Feedback Loop
Homeostatic process that maintains or enhances the stimulus
Thermoregulation
Process by which animals regulate internal temperature
Ectotherm
Depends on external conditions to maintain temperature
Endotherm
Depends on internal processes to maintain temperature
Fluid Mosaic Model
Hypothesis of how different things in a cell membrane are organized
Intergral Proteins
Span the entire cell membrane and are considered part of the membrane
Peripheral Proteins
Not part of the membrane but included on one side of it
Transport proteins
Help substances cross the membrane
Carrier Proteins
Class of transport proteins that change shape to move substances across the membrane
Channel Proteins
Class of transport proteins that have a channel for substances to cross the membrane
Endocytosis
The bulk transport of materials across a cell membrane by the membrane forming a vacuole around it
Phagocytosis
A process by which food is moved across the membrane by enclosing it in a vacuole
Pinocytosis
A process by which a cell moves water and dissolved substances across a membrane by enclosing it in a vacuole
Most cells have an electrical potential difference of between
-40 and -80 milivolts
Osmosis
the diffusion of water from areas of high water concentration to areas of low water concentration across a selectively permeable membrane
Osmotic pressure
a determining force in water movement and causes water to move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
Can a chemical gradient direct solute flow in one direction, and an electrical gradient direct solute flow in the opposing direction
Yes
Describe the three different processes associated with endocytosis
Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis, and Receptor-mediated endocytosis
