Unit 3 Abbreviations and Word List Flashcards
1
Q
DNA
A
deoxyribonucleic acid, the carrier of genetic information for the cell
2
Q
EtOH
A
ethanol
3
Q
MTOC
A
microtubule organizing center, where microtubules are made
4
Q
RNA
A
ribonucleic acid, the “go-between” linking DNA to protein synthesis
5
Q
acetylcholine
A
chemical signaling molecule
6
Q
acetylcholinesterase
A
enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine
7
Q
acid
A
chemical that gives off hydrogen ions
8
Q
adenine
A
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA)
9
Q
adipocyte
A
fat cell
10
Q
aerobic
A
activity that occurs when oxygen is plentiful
11
Q
alcohol
A
chemical group that includes grain alcohol, ethanol (EtOH)
12
Q
alkaline
A
chemical that absorbs hydrogen ions
13
Q
allele
A
unit of inheritance
14
Q
amphipathic
A
a molecule that partially prefers water and partially repels water
15
Q
anabolic
A
chemical process that makes larger chemicals out of smaller ones
16
Q
anaerobic
A
activity that occurs when oxygen is scarce
17
Q
anaphase
A
stage of cell division where chromosomes are separating
18
Q
antibody
A
protein that defends the body against invaders; immunoglobulin
19
Q
antiparallel
A
parallel, but running in opposite directions, like a two-lane road
20
Q
antiport
A
transport process that involves molecules moving in opposite directions; exchange
21
Q
apical
A
towards the top
22
Q
apocrine
A
cellular secretion that involves breaking off a piece of the cell
23
Q
apoptosis
A
programmed or preplanned cell death
24
Q
astrocyte
A
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astroglia)
25
astroglia
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astrocyte)
26
atom
the smallest unit of matter; indivisible quantity (name means "can't be cut")
27
autosome
chromosome that is not involved in sex determination
28
avascular
without blood vessels
29
basal
toward the bottom
30
base pair
adenine-thymine or cytosine-guanine pairs that form the "rungs" of the twisted ladder structure of DNA
31
bilayer
two-layed covering; cell membrane
32
blastocyst
stage of a human embryo where it is a hollow ball of rapidly-dividing cells
33
carbohydrate
molecule consisting of equal parts carbon and water
34
catabolic
chemical process that makes smaller chemicals out of larger ones
35
catalyze
to speed up a chemical reaction
36
centriole
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
37
centromere
part of a chromosome in the center, where the two DNA molecules touch
38
centrosome
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
39
cholesterol
important lipid, essential for cell processes
40
chondrocyte
cartilage cell
41
chromatin
DNA plus RNA associated proteins, visible when cells are dyed and viewed through a microscope
42
chromosome
chromatin visible through the microscope in X-shaped packages
43
cilia
eyelash-like extension of the cell, used to move substances on the cell surface
44
codon
unit of genetic information; thousands of codons make up a gene
45
colloid
microscopic particles (larger than molecules) surrounded by water
46
columnar
cells that are higher than they are wide
47
cuboidal
cells that are about as high as they are wide ("cube-like")
48
cytokinesis
the movement of cells in cell division
49
cytoplasm
gel-like substance, including organelles, that fills cells and is surrounded by a membrane
50
cytosine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with guanine
51
cytoskeleton
organelle composed of structural support proteins
52
cytosol
cytoplasm minus organelles
53
dehydration
chemical reaction which removes water and forms a new chemical bond
54
denaturation
using heat or chemicals to alter the normal (native) structure of proteins, DNA, or RNA
55
deoxyribose
a sugar that, along with phosphate groups, forms the backbone of the DNA molecule
56
diffusion
process by which molecules move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
57
diploid
containing two copies of each DNA molecule; the normal number of DNA molecules in most human cells
58
dominant
in Mendelian genetics, one copy of a dominant allele is expressed as an observable characteristic
59
elastin
a protein; snaps back into shape when released after being stretched
60
electrolysis
process of breaking molecules (or hairs) through electricity
61
electrolyte
change-carrying ion in the blood
62
electromagnetic
radiation that depending on energy level can be radio waves, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, or gamma rays
63
electron
subatomic particle with a negative charge; found on the outside of an atom
64
endergonic
chemical reaction which requires energy
65
endocytosis
intake of substances by the cell
66
endoplasmic reticulum
organelle with net-like structure found in cytoplasm
67
endothelium
tissue lining blood vessels
68
endothermic
chemical reaction which absorbs heat energy; same thing as endergonic
69
entropy
the tendency of matter to become disorganized
70
enzyme
protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the cell
71
epigenetic
changes in DNA that are outside of the normal molecular genetic processes
72
epinephrine
chemical signaling molecule
73
epithelim
tissue lining body cavities and outside surfaces of the body
74
erythrocyte
red blood cell
75
erythrocytosis
abnormally high levels of red blood cells
76
estrogen
lipid signaling molecule that promotes development of female sexual characteristics
77
ethanol
alcohol that forms part of liquor, wine, and beer; grain alcohol
78
euchromatin
unspooled chromatin; chromatin in the active process of being used
79
eukaryotic
cells with a true nucleus
80
exergonic
chemical reaction which releases energy
81
exocytosis
release of substances from a cell
82
exon
the part of a gene that is turned into protein
83
exothermic
chemical reaction which releases heat energy; same thing as exergonic
84
extracellular
outside of cells
85
fibroblast
connective tissue cell
86
fructose
a sugar; converted by liver to glucose
87
gamete
eggs in females and sperm in males; the cells specialized for reproduction
88
gastrulation
process of embryonic development that forms a "little stomach" or invagination
89
genotype
silent characteristic of DNA that results from the sequence of DNA base pairs
90
glia
non-excitable cells of the brain; perform housekeeping duties for the brain
91
gluconeogenesis
process by which new glucose molecules are made inside the body
92
glucose
a sugar; main energy carrier in blood
93
glycerol
alcohol derived from sugar
94
glycogen
storage form of glucose, mostly found in liver and muscle
95
glycogenolysis
breakdown of glycogen
96
glycolysis
breakdown of glucose
97
glycoprotein
protein+sugar; more protein than sugar
98
goblet cell
mucus-making cell
99
guanine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine
100
haploid
containing one copy of each DNA molecule; the normal number of DNA molecules in gametes
101
hemoglobin
protein that carries oxygen and CO2 in the blood
102
heterochromatin
spooled chromatin; chromatin in storage
103
histology
the study of tissues
104
histone
protein spool around which DNA is wound
105
holocrine
cellular secretion that involves the cell exploding
106
hydrolysis
chemical reaction which adds water and breaks a chemical bond
107
hydrophilic
a molecule that prefers water
108
hydrophobic
a molecule that repels water
109
hypercholesterolemia
high cholesterol levels in the blood
110
hyperkalemia
high potassium levels in the blood
111
hypernatremia
high sodium levels in the blood
112
hypertonic
solution with more particles per volume than the inside of a cell
113
hypokalemia
low potassium levels in the blood
114
hyponatremia
low sodium levels in the blood
115
hypotonic
solution with fewer particles per volume than the inside of the cell
116
immunoglobulin
protein that defends the body against invaders; antibody
117
insulin
protein that helps cells manage blood sugar
118
interphase
stage of cell life cycle that does not involve active division
119
intron
the part of a gene that is discarded in protein synthesis
120
ionic
pertaining to charged particles (atoms or molecules)
121
isomer
different arrangements of the same atoms in the same quantities
122
isotonic
solution with the same number of particles per volume as the inside of a cell
123
isotope
different forms of the same element where the number of neutrons varies but the number of protons stays the same
124
ketoacidosis
high keton and acid levels in the blood
125
ketone
chemical byproduct of lipid breakdown
126
kinase
enzyme that adds a phosphorus-containing chemical group
127
lactose
a sugar; found in milk
128
lamina
layer, "plate"
129
lariat
loop of RNA that is discarded as an intron
130
leukocyte
white blood cell
131
leukocytosis
abnormally high levels of white blood cells
132
ligand
a signaling molecule or drug that binds to a receptor
133
ligoprotein
a protein that carries fat molecules in the blood
134
liposome
microscopic balls of fat molecules
135
lymphocyte
white blood cell (a subtype)
136
lysosome
organelle that breaks down substances that the cell no longer needs
137
macrophage
cell that eats large particles, including bacterial invaders
138
maltose
a sugar; derived from malt
139
meiosis
process of forming gametes by reorganizing and reducing the amount of DNA in each cell
140
merocrine
cellular secretion that involves the cell releasing substances using vesicles
141
metabolism
anabolism +catabolism
142
metaphase
stage of cell division where chromosomes are lined up
143
microfilament
thread-like part of the cytoskeleton
144
microglia
defensive cell in the brain
145
microtubule
tube-like part of the cytoskeleton
146
microvillus
microscopic shaggy hair-like structures on the surface of intestinal cells and other absorptive epithelia
147
mitochondrion
organelle that creates cellular energy
148
mitosis
process of cell division that results in diploid cells (non-gamete cells; somatic cells)
149
mole
unit describing number of molecules in a solution
150
molecule
arrangements of two or more atoms into larger structures (typically, about one-thousandth of a millimeter)
151
monomer
single molecular unit
152
neutron
subatomic particle with no charge; found in the nucleus of the atom
153
norepinephrine
chemical signaling molecule
154
nucleolus
"little nucleus": RNA-making factory in the nucleus of a cell
155
nucleoside
part of DNA and RNA: base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, or uracil) plus sugar
156
nucleotide
monomer of DNA or RNA; nucleoside plus 1 phosphorus and 4 oxygen atoms
157
nucleus
organelle where genetic material is stored and manipulated
158
oligodendrocyte
a cell in the nervous system that forms insulating sheaths; same as oligodendroglia
159
oligodendroglia
a cell in the nervous system that forms insulating sheaths; same as oligodendrocyte
160
organelle
microscopic part of a cell where specific cell functions are carried out
161
osmosis
process of diffusion through a membrane that allows only water to pass
162
osteocyte
bone cell
163
peptidoglycan
sugar+protein; more sugar than protein
164
peroxide
water with an extra oxygen atom, H2O2
165
peroxisome
organelle that uses peroxide to break down substances in the cell
166
phagocytosis
process of cell eating large particles
167
phenotype
observable characteristics that results from genetic plus epigenetic processes
168
phosopholipid
phosphorus-containing fat molecule
169
phosphorylation
process of removing a phosphorus-containing chemical group
170
photon
subatomic particle that carries electromagnetic (light) energy
171
pinocytosis
process of cell drinking
172
ploidy
number of DNA molecules in the cell
173
polar
molecule with an unequal distribution of electons; this makes it water-loving (hydrophilic)
174
polymer
combination of two to 250 million molecular units
175
polypeptide
small protein; string of many amino acids (generally, between 2 and 100ish)
176
polyploid
containing more than two copies of each DNA molecule
177
primer
a DNA or RNA fragment that starts a chemical process in the cell
178
prokaryotic
cells without a true nucleus
179
prophase
stage of cell division that begins the division process
180
prostaglandin
lipid signaling molecule
181
proteasome
organelle that breaks down proteins that the cell no longer needs
182
protein
a string of amino acids which is responsible for most cell functions (generally, between 100 and 34,350 amino acids)
183
proteoglycan
sugar+protein; more sugar than protein
184
proton
subatomic particle with a positive charge; found in the nucleus of the atom
185
pseudostratified
appearing to be layered when there is actually a single layer of cells
186
receptor
a protein in the cell membrane; when it binds a signaling molecule it causes a change in the cell
187
recessive
in Mendelian genetics, two copies of a recessive allele are needed to create an observable characteristic
188
renaturation
restoring the normal (native) structure of proteins, DNA, or RNA
189
resonance
property of molecules where there is extensive sharing of electrons between atoms
190
reticular
net-like
191
ribose
a sugar that, along with phosphate groups, forms the backbone of the RNA molecule
192
ribosome
organelle that is a protein-making machine; consists of RNA plus protein
193
secretion
releases of substances from a cell or from the body
194
solution
molecular-size particles surrounded by water
195
somatic
most of the body cells; cells that have no reproductive function (non-gametes)
196
squamous
cells that are wider than they are high
197
steroid
lipid signaling molecule based on cholesterol
198
stratified
layered
199
stratum
layer
200
substrate
molecule that an enzyme acts upon
201
sucrose
a sugar; can sugar or table sugar
202
surfactant
chemical substance that helps lipids dissolve in water; detergent
203
suspension
cells or other large microscopic particles surround by water
204
symport
transport process that involves molecules moving in the same direction
205
telomere
part of a chromosome at the ends
206
telophase
stage of cell division that ends the division process
207
testosterone
lipid signaling molecule that promotes development of male sexual characteristics
208
thermodynamics
branch of physics that studies how energy is managed by systems like cells
209
thrombocyte
cell fragment responsible for blood clotting; platelet ("small plate")
210
thrombocytopenia
abnormally low levels of thrombocytes
211
thrombocytosis
abnormally high levels of thrombocytes
212
thymine
molecule found in DNA; pairs with adenine
213
tonicity
number of particles per unit volume (i.e. concentration of particles)
214
transcription
process by which RNA is made from DNA
215
translation
process by which protein is made from RNA
216
triglyceride
form of lipid found in the blood
217
uracil
molecule found in RNA; pairs with adenine
218
valence
property of atoms important to understand formation of bonds by sharing or trading of electrons
219
vesicle
organelle that contains molecules to be secreted or absorbed by the cell
220
villus
shaggy hair-like structures lining the intestines
