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Higher Human Biology > Unit 1-Glossary > Flashcards

Unit 1-Glossary Flashcards

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1
Q

Activation energy

A

The minimum energy required by reactants to allow a reaction to occur

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2
Q

ADH

A

Anti-diuretic hormone.

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland which promotes water retention by the kidney

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3
Q

Adipose

A

Connective tissue composed mainly of cells that store fat, found beneath the skin, around internal organs, in bone marrow, and in breast tissue

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4
Q

ADP

A

Adenosine diphosphate

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5
Q

Anabolic

A

A reaction which builds up complex molecules from simpler ones

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6
Q

ATP

A

Adenosine triphosphate

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7
Q

Bile

A

A liquid produced by the liver which helps the digestion of fats/lipids by emulsifying these molecules

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8
Q

Blastocyst

A

An embryo of about 150 cells (preimplantation) produced by cell division following fertilisation

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9
Q

Carcinogens

A

Any agent directly involved in causing cancer

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10
Q

Carrier

A

An individual who is heterozygous for a particular recessive characteristic and shows a dominant phenotype

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11
Q

Catabolic

A

A reaction which breaks down complex molecules to simpler ones

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12
Q

cDNA

A

Stands for complementary DNA, or copy DNA, and can be single-stranded or double-stranded; it is synthesized in vitro from an mRNA template

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13
Q

Centromere

A

Region of the chromosome where two chromosomes are closed together

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14
Q

Chiasma

A

The point where two homologous chromosomes are touching

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15
Q

Chromatid

A

Daughter chromosomes

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16
Q

Chromatin

A

A complex of DNA, histones, and non-histone proteins found in the nucleus of a human cell. This is the material from which chromosomes are made.

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17
Q

Codominant

A

Alleles, when they are both fully expressed in the phenotype of the heterozygote, e.g. in the AB blood group.

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18
Q

Codon

A

Set of three adjacent bases on messenger RNA which correspond to a DNA triplet of bases and an anticodon on transfer RNA

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19
Q

Co-enzyme

A

Organic molecule that acts as a temporary carrier of atoms being removed from or added to a substrate during a reaction. Aid the action of the enzyme to which they are loosely bound.

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20
Q

Collagen

A

A tough, fibrous protein that is a major component of connective tissue.

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21
Q

Covalent bond

A

Strong chemical bond involving the sharing of electrons between atoms

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22
Q

Cytokines

A

Substances secreted by specific cells of the immune system which will stimulate specific immune responses

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23
Q

Cytoskeleton

A

System of microfilaments and microtubules made of protein that give the cell its structure and shape

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24
Q

Differentiation

A

A process, which takes place after cell division, where cells become specialised cells

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25
Q

Endometrium

A

Inner lining of the uterus

26
Q

Eukaryote

A

An organism in which the DNA of the cells is contained within a nucleus and enclosed in a membrane

27
Q

FAD

A

Flavin adenine dinucleotide

28
Q

Gall bladder

A

The organ in the body which stores bile

29
Q

Gene

A

A unit in the hereditary materials of an organism

30
Q

Glucagon

A

A hormone produced by the pancreas which raises blood glucose levels, acting in opposition to insulin

31
Q

Glycolysis

A

Cell process which converts glucose to pyruvate and occurs in the cytoplasm of the cells of nearly all organisms

32
Q

GTP

A

Guanosine triphosphate, which performs a similar role to ATP, but is more specific

33
Q

Haploid cells

A

Contain only a single set of 23 chromosomes

34
Q

Histones

A

The basic proteins around which DNA is coiled and supercoiled. Histones and non-histone proteins are the chief protein components of chromatin.

35
Q

Homologous chromosome

A

A pair of chromosomes which share the same gene sequences, each derived from one parent

36
Q

Homologous genes

A

Genes of the same type

37
Q

Hydrolysis

A

The breaking of chemical bonds by reaction with water

38
Q

Hydrophobic

A

A molecule which is repelled by water, e.g. lipids (oils and fats)

39
Q

Insulin

A

Hormone produced by the pancreas which lowers blood glucose levels

40
Q

In vitro fertilisation

A

A technique that unites the egg and sperm in a laboratory instead of inside the female body

41
Q

Isomer

A

These are intermediates and products of metabolism

41
Q

Isomer

A

Molecules with the same chemical formula but different molecular structure

42
Q

Micrometre

A

μm

equal to 10-6m

43
Q

Minisatellites

A

Highly repetitive DNA consisting of sequences between 10 and 100 base pairs long, repeated in tandem arrays which vary in size from 0.5 to 40 kbp

44
Q

Multipotent stem cells

A

These are true stem cells that can only differentiate into a limited number of types

45
Q

Mutation

A

DNA gene is damaged or changed in such a way as to alter the genetic message carried by that gene.

46
Q

Myoglobin

A

A conjugated protein, resembling haemoglobin, involved in oxygen transport in muscles

47
Q

Negative feedback mechanism

A

Self-regulating process in which the build-up of a product inhibits earlier steps in the pathway that generates it

48
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

A range of chemicals which convey messages between neurons, or neurons and effectors

49
Q

Nonsense mutation

A

A change to a single nucleotide in DNA which results in a non-functional protein being produced

50
Q

Nucleolus

A

A small, generally spherical, body found within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells

51
Q

Oxytocin

A

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates the uterus to contract during childbirth

52
Q

Phosphofructokinase

A

Enzyme which catalyses a key regulatory step in glycolysis

53
Q

Phospholipid bilayer

A

Thin membrane made up of two layers of phospholipid molecules, orientated such that their hydrophilic (’water-loving’) heads are on the outside and their hydrophobic (’water-hating’) tails are on the inside

54
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Small, pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain which secretes many hormones and is central to several homeostatic processes in the body

55
Q

Pluripotent stem cells

A

These are stem cells with the potential to make any differentiated cell in the body

56
Q

Prokaryote

A

Organisms which do not have any organelles contained within membranes in their cytoplasm, e.g. bacteria

57
Q

Prolactin

A

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates milk production and secretion

58
Q

Ribosomes

A

Structures found in the cytoplasm and attached to ER where protein synthesis occurs

59
Q

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

A

Extensive double-membrane sheets in the cytoplasm which are studded with ribosomes and continuous with the nuclear membrane

60
Q

Stem cells

A

Undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialised cells or divide by mitosis to produce more stem cells

61
Q

Stem cells

A

Undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialised cells or divide by mitosis to produce more stem cells

Higher Human Biology (27 decks)

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