Key words - Metabolic pathways Flashcards
Genetic vector
used to carry genetic material from one cell to another.
Mutagenisis
Stimulation of mutations in a species.
Recombinant DNA technology
actives in which DNA is moved from one species to another.
Restriction endonuclease
enzyme that cuts genetic material from a chromosome or is used to open a plasmid.
selective marker gene
A selective marker gene is a gene that protects one organism from a selective agent that would normally kill it.
A marker gene
A marker gene for screening is a gene that makes the cell containing the gene look different.
Recombinant DNA technology
Recombinant DNA technology involves the joining together of DNA molecules from two different species.
Beef extract
complex growth medium for microorganisms.
Exponential growth
growth phase of microorganism involving a rapid geometric increase in numbers
Growth Medium
Substance in which microorganisms are encouraged to grow.
Inducer
Substance that causes a gene to be expressed, often leading to production of an enzyme.
lag phase
Earliest growth stage in microorganisms.
Log phase
exponential phase of microorganism growth.
Precursor
Substance needed to start a metabolic pathway.
Secondary metabolite
Substance produced during the secondary stage of growth of a culture of microorganisms.
Stationary phase
Phase of microorganism growth during which secondary substances can be made.
total cell count
total number of cells in a culture including viable (live) cells and dead cells.
Viable cell count
Number of live cells from a total cell count.
Aestivation
Reaction of an organism to tolerate extreme drought.
Consequencial dormancy
Dormancy that occurs in response to the onset of adverse conditions.
Dormancy
Response by organism to tolerate adverse conditions. (e.g hibernation, aestivation.)
Predictive dormancy
Dormancy that occurs before the onset of adverse conditions.
Torpor
State of reduced metabolic activity in response to adverse conditions.
conformer
Animal whose internal environment is dependent on its environment.
Ecological niche
the way of life and the role of an organism in its community.
Homeostasis
Maintenance of a steady state in the cells of a living organism.
Negative feedback
system of maintaining homeostasis in regulator organisms
Regulator
Animal that can adjust its metabolic rate to maintain a steady internal state.
Thermoreceptor
Heat sensitive cell in the hypothalamus of mammals
Thermoregulation
Use of negative feedback in regulation of body temperature in mammals .
Complete double circulation
double circulation with complete seperation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. (Birds and mammals)
Double circulation
Blood flows through the heart twice during a full circulation of the body.
Incomplete double circulation
Double circulation with some mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood (amphibians and reptiles.)
Low Oxygen niche
Way of life in a habitat with little oxygen present, such as at high altitude or in a deep ocean.
Metabolic rate
rate of consumption of energy by an organism.
V02 max
Maximum volume of oxygen that can be absorbed by an organism in a period of time.
coenzyme A
Substance that carries an acetyl group into the citric acid cycle.
Dehydrogenase
enzyme which removes hydrogen from its substrate. Important in the citric acid cycle.
NAD
Hydrogen carrier important in the citric acid cycle.
Activation energy
Input of energy required to start a chemical reaction.
Competitive inhibition
The slowing of reaction rate due to the presence of a substance resembling the substrate.
Feedback inhibition
Enzyme inhibition caused by the presence of an end product of a metabolic pathway acting as an inhibitor of the pathway.
Induced fit
change to an enzymes active site brought about by its substance.
Non competitive inhibition
Enzyme inhibition by a substance that permanently alters the active site of an enzyme.
Metabolic pathway
Enzyme controlled sequence of chemical reactions in cells.
Metabolism
Total of all metabolic pathways in an organism
Phospholipid membrane
Membrane of a cell made from fluid phospholipid molecules and proteins.
Pore
small gap in a membrane created by a channel forming protein.
Pump
Protein in a phospholipid membrane that carries substances across it by active transport.
