Unit #3 - Word Building Flashcards
acetylcholine
chemical signaling molecule
acetylcholinesterase
enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine
acid
chemical that gives off hydrogen ions
adenine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA)
adipocyte
fat cell
aerobic
activity that occurs when oxygen is plentiful
alcohol
chemical group that includes grain alcohol, ethanol (EtOH)
alkaline
chemical that absorbs hydrogen ions
allele
unit of inheritance
amphipathic
a molecule that partially prefers water and partially repels water
anabolic
chemical process that makes larger chemicals out of smaller ones
anaerobic
activity that occurs when oxygen is scarce
anaphase
stage of cell division where chromosomes are separating
antibody
protein that defends the body against invaders; immunoglobulin
antiparallel
parallel, but running in opposite directions, like a two-lane road
antiport
transport process that involves molecules moving in opposite directions; exchange
apical
toward the top
apocrine
cellular secretion that involves breaking off a piece of the cell
apoptosis
programmed or preplanned cell death
astrocyte
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astroglia)
astroglia
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astrocyte)
atom
the smallest unit of matter; indivisible quantity (name means “can’t be cut”)
autosome
chromosome that is not involved in sex determination
avascular
without blood vessels
basal
toward the bottom
base pair
adenine-thymine or cytosine-guanine pairs that form the “rungs” of the twisted ladder structure of DNA
bilayer
two-layered covering; cell membrane
blastocyst
stage of a human embryo where it is a hollow ball of rapidly-dividing cells
carbohydrate
molecule consisting of equal parts carbon and water
catabolic
chemical process that makes smaller chemicals out of larger ones
catalyze
to speed up a chemical reaction
centriole
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
centromere
part of a chromosome in the center, where the two DNA molecules touch
centrosome
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
cholesterol
important lipid, essential for cell processes
chondrocyte
cartilage cell
chromatin
DNA plus RNA plus associated proteins, visible when cells are dyed and viewed through the microscope
chromosome
chromatin visible through the microscope in X-shaped packages
cilia
eyelash-like extension of the cell, used to move substances on the cell surface
codon
unit of genetic information; thousands of codons make up a gene
colloid
microscopic particles (larger than molecules) surrounded by water
columnar
cells that are higher than they are wide
cuboidal
cells that are about as high as they are wide (“cube-like”)
cytokinesis
the movement of cells in cell division
cytoplasm
gel-like substance, including organelles, that fills cells and is surrounded by a membrane
cytosine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with guanine
cytoskeleton
organelle composed of structural support proteins
cytosol
cytoplasm minus organelles
dehydration
chemical reaction which removes water and forms a new chemical bond
denaturation
using heat or chemicals to alter the normal (native) structure of proteins, DNA, or RNA
deoxyribose
a sugar that, along with phosphate groups, forms the backbone of the DNA molecule
diffusion
process by which molecules move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
diploid
containing two copies of each DNA molecule; the normal number of DNA molecules in most human cells
dominant
in Mendelian genetics, one copy of a dominant allele is expressed as an observable characteristic
elastin
a protein; snaps back into shape when released after being stretched
electrolysis
process of breaking molecules (or hairs) through electricity
electrolyte
charge-carrying ion in the blood
electromagnetic
radiation that depending on energy level can be radio waves, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, or gamma rays
electron
subatomic particle with a negative charge; found on the outside of the atom
endergonic
chemical reaction which requires energy
endocytosis
intake of substances by the cell
endoplasmic reticulum
organelle with net-like structure found in cytoplasm
endothelium
tissue lining blood vessels
endothermic
chemical reaction which absorbs heat energy; same thing as endergonic
entropy
the tendency of matter to become disorganized
enzyme
protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the cell
epigenetic
changes in DNA that are outside of the normal molecular genetic processes
epinephrine
chemical signaling molecule
epithelium
tissue lining body cavities and outside surfaces of the body
erythrocyte
red blood cell
erythrocytosis
abnormally high levels of red blood cells
estrogen
lipid signaling molecule that promotes development of female sexual characteristics
ethanol
alcohol that forms part of liquor, wine, and beer; grain alcohol
euchromatin
unspooled chromatin; chromatin in the active process of being used
eukaryotic
cells with a true nucleus
exergonic
chemical reaction which releases energy
exocytosis
release of substances from a cell
exon
the part of a gene that is turned into protein
exothermic
chemical reaction which releases heat energy; same thing as exergonic
extracellular
outside of cells
fibroblast
connective tissue cell
fructose
a sugar; converted by liver to glucose
gamete
eggs in females and sperm in males; the cells specialized for reproduction
gastrulation
process of embryonic development that forms a “little stomach” or invagination
genotype
silent characteristic of DNA that results from the sequence of DNA base pairs
glia
non-excitable cells of the brain; perform housekeeping duties for the brain