Topic 1: Living Things Flashcards
Cells
The smallest unit of life
Organelles
Structures inside the cell
Nucleus
Contains DNA (genetic information) that controls the production of proteins
Ribosomes
Reads the message sent from DNA and places amino acids (AA) in the correct order to form a protein.
The order of amino acids determines…
SHAPE and FUNCTION of a protein
Vacuoles
Store food (food vacuoles) or wastes
Mitochondria
Site of cellular aerobic respiration. Makes ATP other metabolic activities need to stay alive.
Levels of organization of living things (least complex to most complex)
Atom, molecule/compound, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
Cytoplasm
Fluid (mostly water) where many chemical reactions take place
Cell membrane
Controls what goes in (nutrients and O2) or out (CO2 and wastes) of the cell
Selectively permeable
Only certain substances can pass through the membrane
Diffusion
Molecules move from a higher concentration to a low concentration with no energy required
Osmosis
The diffusion of water
A cell has 95% water on the inside and 90% water on the outside. Water will move…
Out of the cell (high to low)
Active transport
Molecules move from a low concentration to a high concentration. ENERGY IS REQUIRED. The energy used by cells is ATP.
Receptor molecules
On the cell membrane, the shape determines what substances it can attach to and bring into the cell
2 extra organelles that plant cells have:
Chloroplasts and super large vacuole
Chloroplasts
Site of photosynthesis. Contains a green pigment called chlorophyll.
Super large vacuole
Store water and sugar in plant cells.
The 6 life functions are:
Nutrition, transport, respiration, metabolism, regulation and coordination, excretion
Nutrition
Nutrients are needed for energy (ATP), repair and growth
Two ways organisms get their nutrients:
Autotrophic and heterotrophic
Autotrophic organisms
Take in molecules. CO2 and H2O) to form complex organic compounds (like glucose C6H12O6)
An example of autotrophic organism is:
Plants/ producers do photosynthesis
Transport
Materials must be distributed throughout the cell or body (nutrients, wastes, hormones, oxygen, antibodies)
Respiration
Energy (ATP) is released from the bonds of glucose. This happens in the mitochondria of the cells
Metabolism
All chemical reactions in an organism, including synthesis
Synthesis
Process of making materials in the body such as using nutrients to make proteins needed by the organism
Regulation and coordination
To keep homeostasis, cells need to communicate (coordinate). Nerves/hormones carry messages to target cells with receptors on their membranes
Excretion
Gets rid of toxic waste products from cellular processes. This is different from elimination (digestive waste/ feces)
Amino acids
Organic molecules that are the building blocks of proteins
Heterotrophic organisms
Cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms for food (starches, proteins, lipids)
Starches are made of
Simple sugars (ex glucose)
Proteins are made of
Amino acids
Lipids are made of
Fatty acids
Circulation
The flow of blood through blood vessels, and lymph through Lymph vessels
Digestion
The process of breaking down food into substances the body can use for energy, tissue repair, and growth.
Enzymes
Proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies.
Homeostasis
A self regulating process so organisms can maintain internal stability while adjusting to a changing external environment
Hormone
Chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body.
Immunity
The immune systems way of protecting the body against infectious disease. 3 types (innate, adaptive, passive)
Inorganic
A substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen.
Organ
Group of tissues in an organism that are specialized to perform a specific function
Organ System
A group of organs that work together in an organism to perform a specific function
Organelle
A small structure in a cell that is surrounded by a membrane and has a specific function.
Organic
Chemical compounds of carbon and hydrogen
Receptor molecule
A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific effect in the cell.
Reproduction
The production of offspring
Simple sugars
Monosaccharides made of single sugar molecules. Ex fructose, galactose, glucose
Synthesis
The act of combining elements to form something new
Tissue
A group of cells that possess a similar structure and perform a specific function
