Living Environment Flashcards
Cells
The building blocks of life
Organelles
Makes up the cell
Nucleus
Contains all the DNA/genetic information and can make proteins. Similar to a mayor in a city
- Both Animal and Plant cell
Ribosomes
Create protein
*Both Animal and Plant Cells
Mitochondria
Powerhouse of cell because it creates ATP through cellular respiration
*Both Animal and Plant Cells
Vacuoles
Store food and waste. Like the garbagemen of the cell
*Both Animal and Plant Cells. Plant cells have bigger vacuoles
Cytoplasm
A fluid where chemical reactions take place
Cell Membrane
Controls what going in and out of the cell
Selective Permeability
Only certain things can come inside the cell
Diffusion
When molecules go from a high concentration to a low concentration
Osmosis
Diffusion in water. Molecules go from a high concentration to a low concetration.
Active Transport
The way cells can move molecules from a low concentration to a high concentration using ATP
Passive Transport
Going from high to low (following concentration gradient)
Receptor Molecules
On top of the cell membrane. Shaped a certain way so that only certain molecules can come in (lock and key)
Chloroplast
Chlorophyll inside the Chloroplast makes photosynthesis
*Only plant cells
Cell Wall
Prevents the plant cell from bursting
*Only plant cells
Nutrition
Nutrients needed for ATP, repair, and growth
Autotrophic Organism
Organism that takes in inorganic molecules to create glucose (plants/producers)
Heterotrophic Organisms
Cannot make their own food so they have to rely on organisms for food. They need starches, proteins and lipids. Starches are made out of simple sugars (ex. glucose. Proteins are made out of amino acids. Lipids are made of fatty acids and glycerol.
Transport
Materials move throughout the cell/body
Respiration
Glucose bonds break to create ATP energy. This happens in the mitochondria of the cell.
Metabolism
All the chemical reactions in an organism
Synthesis
Using the nutrients you have to create the things your body needs
Regulation and Coordination
Need to maintain homeostasis by cells communicating with each other
Excretion
Getting rid of toxic waste from the cell. Different from elimination because elimination is poop.
Organization of genetic information
Cells –> nucleus –> chromosome –> genes
How is light converted during photosynthesis?
Light energy is converted to chemical energy
H20 + CO2 –> C6H12O6 + O2
Stomates
They are holes at the bottom of the leaves.
Open to let in CO2
Close to hold H20
Guard cells control their opening and closing
Cellular Respiration in terms of energy
Glucose bonds break down from oxygen to create ATP. Uses chemical energy to create ATP
Digestive System
To digest and absorb nutrients
Respiratory System
Breathing in oxygen and letting out carbon dioxide in a gas exchange
Immune System
To protect the body from viruses and bacteria
Pathogen
Foreign organism that enters the body (ex. viruses, fungus, bacteria)
Antigen
A protein that is attached to the pathogen. Its specific antibody can bind to a WBC receptor.
WBCs
Bind to antigen. Signal the body to create antibodies that have the same receptor
Vaccines
Take part of a virus and put it in the vaccine so your body can prepare for an actual viral infection
Antibiotics
Used for bacterial infections
Allergy
Immune system thinks something harmless is a pathogen so it acts like a pathogen
AIDS
Kills WBCs which makes it very dangerous
Nervous System
Used for fast communication
Endocrine System
Hormones send signals to the body
Feedback Mechanism *Very specific to endocrine
Sends signals to maintain homeostasis in the body
Excretory
Removes waste (kidneys, large intestine –> anus)
Skeletal/Muscular System
Movement
Dynamic Equilibrium
Small changes to keep balance and maintain homeostasis
Enzymes
Proteins are uniquely shaped to bind with substrates to break things down (ex. Protease).
Enzymes are catalyst. This means that the reaction speeds up
Factors that affect Enzymes
Temperature and pH
DNA
In the nucleus. Holds the genetic information
How many base pairs does DNA have?
4, ATCG
A-T
G-C
How does DNA change when mitosis occurs
The two strands untwist and they get duplicated. Then the cell will divide into two so that each has a copy of the DNA
How are proteins made from DNA?
The DNA uses transcription to make mRNA which sends messages to the ribosome to make protein which is translation
Genes
They are inside chromosomes. They are expressed depending on their environment. Our DNA is the same throughout our entire body but cells are differentiated because different genes are expressed.
Mutation
An error in the DNA coding (might add an extra base or delete a base). Happens randomly.
- Chemicals and radiation can cause (UV, X Rays)
- Can cause cancer
- Mutations can be passed down to the next generation
Selective Breeding
When humans breed two animals to make desirable traits
Gel electrophoresis
Fragments of DNA separated by size. Bigger ones move slower, smaller ones move faster
Recombinant DNA
Taking DNA from one organism, and putting it into another one so it has that function.
Asexual Reproduction
Reproducing by cloning which uses mitosis. The babies will be genetically identical
What are the pros of Asexual reproduction?
- Doesn’t take much time
- Don’t need to find a partner
- Can reproduce a lot
What are the cons of Asexual reproduction?
- If you have a mutation it can be passed down
- There is no variation, a threat could wipe out the entire population
Fitness
Genes that’ll be passed down to the next generation because they give the species a higher rate of survival
Sexual Reproduction
50% of DNA is passed down to the baby. The other 50% comes from the partner. Meiosis produces sex cells
Gametes
The sex cells. Sperm and egg. They contain 50% of the genetic material. 23 chromosomes from from the mom and dad
Fertilization
The gametes come together to form a zygote. The zygote now has 46 chromosomes
Variation in Sexual Reproduction
There is variation in sexual reproduction because an offspring has a combination of both of its parents genes
Human Reproduction
Regulated by hormones (ex. testosterone and estrogen)
Ovary
During ovulation it creates the egg and produces estrogen and progesterone
Fallopian Tube
Where fertilization happens
Uterus
Where the baby is protected. The fetus grows and develops
Placenta
Where the baby gets nutrients and gas exchange. Whatever happens to the mom will happen to the baby
Umbilical cord
Baby blood to the placenta and back to the baby
Cervix
The bottom of the uterus
Vagina
The birth canal
Testis
Sperm is formed and hormones like testosterone is made
Epididymis
Where sperm is matured
Vas deferens
How to sperm comes out from the epididymis
Semen
Fluids mixed with sperm so that the sperm cells can swim
Urethra
Passageway leading out the urine and semen
Evolution
Change in a species over time
- Environmental changes
- Mutations can cause evolution
- Natural selection
Natural Selection
Genes that allow organisms to survive will be passed down to the next generation
Four Steps of Natural Selection
Overproduction: there’s limited resources so you can’t have overpopulation
Competition: There’s competition with other species for food and space
Selective Reproduction: Choosing specific mates so their offsprings can have the traits they want tp be passed to the next gen
Variation: every member of a species is different. This can occur through mutations and sexual reproduction
Biosphere
The areas on Earth where we can find life
Species
Interbreeding population of organisms
Community
Many different species in an ecosystem
Ecosystem
The interaction between biotic and abiotic things
What does an ecosystem need to be self sustaining?
- Constant Source of energy (sunlight)
- Needs an organism to convert source energy to a usable form of energy. Autotrophs
- Need diversity, multiple producers and consumers in the case that a species dies out
- Dead organisms need to be recycled. Fungi and bacteria decompose it to release nitrogen. Nitrogen is used by plants
Food chain
- Producer
- Primary Consumer
- Secondary Consumer
- Tertiary Consumer (some ecosystems don’t have a tertiary)
Energy Pyramid
Producers have the most energy. As you move up, the energy decreases.
Secondary and tertiary consumers might waste energy looking for prey
Primary Consumers only absorb about 10% of energy
Niche
The organism’s job in the ecosystem
Habitat
Where the organism lives
Herbivores
Only eat plants
Carnivores
Only eat meat
Scavengers
Eat dead consumers
Parasite
Needs a host and takes nutrients from it
Carrying Capacity
The ecosystem has a limit on the amount of organisms it can sustain. It depends on the amount of food and space it has available. It also depends on the amount of consumers
Ecological Succession
Evolution of the ecosystem. New organisms enter the ecosystem while the old ones might die due to the change
Nature preserves
Protects habitats/ecosystems
Recyclables
Decreasing the number of dumps by reusing certain materials (cans, plastic)
Renewable resources
Wood, sunlight, grass
Compost
Man made. When something is decomposed to eventually be used as fertilizer
Hunting Regulation
Regulating the amount that humans can hunt
Biological mediation
Using one species to limit the amount of another species (ex. people buy cats to limit the number of mice in a house)
