BIO - TERMS - FREQUENCY > 3 Flashcards
(137 cards)
acidosis
Condition in which the pH of arterial blood is below 7.35. // A condition in which an accumulation of H+ increases muscles acidity. // A metabolic condition in which the capacity of the body to buffer H is diminished; usually accompanied by decreased blood pH. // Abnormally low blood pH.
active transport
Energy-requiring transport of a solute across a membrane in the direction of increasing concentration. // Movement of a molecule across a membrane or other barrier driven by energy other than that stored in the electrochemical or concentration gradient of the transported molecule. // Method of a protein pump transporting a substance across the membrane, against its concentration gradient. // Net movement of a substance across a membrane against a concentration gradient; requires the cell to expend energy.
agonist
A compound, typically a hormone or neurotransmitter, that elicits a physiological response when it binds to its specific receptor. // Muscle that contracts to produce a particular movement; also called prime mover. // A stimulatory ligand for a receptor. // Organisms that produce substances (secondary metabolites) that activate defense mechanisms.
aldose
A simple sugar in which the carbonyl carbon atom is an aldehyde; that is, the carbonyl carbon is at one end of the carbon chain. alkalosis A metabolic condition in which the capacity of the body to buffer OH is diminished; usually accompanied by an increase in blood pH. // A sugar that is an aldehyde. // Monosaccharide with an aldehyde group. // A type of carbohydrate with an aldehyde functional group.
Allele (allelomorph; adj, allelic, allelomorphic)
Variation of a gene found on the same locus of homologous chromosomes. // A variant form of a gene; many genes occur in several (or more) different forms within the general population. See also heterozygous, homozygous, polymorphism. // One of several alternative forms of a gene. In a diploid cell, each gene will typically have two alleles, occupying the corresponding position (locus) on homologous chromosomes. // One of a pair, or series, of alternative forms of a gene that occur at a given locus in a chromosome. Alleles are symbolized with the same basic symbol (for example, D for tall peas and d for dwarf). (See also Multiple alleles.)
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
Enzyme that attaches the correct amino acid to a tRNA molecule to form an aminoacyltRNA. // Enzymes that catalyze synthesis of an aminoacyl-tRNA at the expense of ATP energy. // Cytoplasmic enzymes that attach an amino acid to a tRNA. // Enzymes that catalyze the formation of high energy bonds between amino acids and tRNA molecules.
anemia
Any condition in which the number of erythrocytes is below normal or the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is reduced (as may occur if the amount of hemoglobin within erythrocytes is decreased). // A decrease in the number of red blood cells, a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin, or any other condition leading to a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. // Abnormal condition characterized by pallor, weakness, and breathlessness, resulting from a deficiency of hemoglobin or a reduced number of red blood cells. // Abnormal decrease of the blood hemoglobin concentration.
antigenic variation
Ability to change the antigens displayed on the cell surface; a property of some pathogenic microorganisms that enables them to evade attack by the adaptive immune system. // Alterations in surface antigens that occur in some pathogens (such as African trypanosomes) from one generation to another, which allows them to evade preexisting antibodies. // Changes in surface antigens that occur in a microbial population. // Th e display by virus particles or infected cells of new protein sequences that are not recognized by antibodies or T cells that responded to previous infections. (Chapter 5)
aquaporin (AQP) // aquaporin (water channel)
A member of a family of integral membrane proteins that mediate the flow of water across membranes. // Channel protein embedded in the plasma membrane that greatly increases the cell’s permeability to water, allowing transport of water, but not ions, at a high rate across the membrane. // (ak′wă-pōr-in) Protein channels in the plasma membrane allowing the passage of water. // Membrane-based proteins regulating water flow across the membrane.
Atomic number, Z
Indicates the number of protons in one atom of a specific element. Value appears above each atomic symbol in the periodic table. // The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. // The number of protons in an atom; the atomic number defines the element. // The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate)
Adenosine triphosphate: an energy-rich compound that promotes certain activities in the cell. // Nucleoside triphosphate composed of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups. The principal carrier of chemical energy in cells. The terminal phosphate groups are highly reactive in the sense that their hydrolysis, or transfer to another molecule, takes place with the release of a large amount of free energy. // A ribonucleoside 5’-triphosphate functioning as a phosphate group donor in the cellular energy cycle; carries chemical energy between metabolic pathways by serving as a shared intermediate coupling endergonic and exergonic reactions. // Chemical that transfers energy within a cell.
autoimmune disease
Damage to one’s own organs due to action of the immune system. // Pathological state in which the body mounts a disabling adaptive immune response against one or more of its own molecules. // Disease in which the immune system attacks selfantigens as if they were foreign. // Disorders in which the immune systems of affected individuals produce antibodies against self antigens— antigens synthesized in their own cells.
base
(1) A substance that can reduce the number of protons in solution, either by accepting H+ ions directly, or by releasing OH– ions, which then combine with H+ to form H2O. (2) The purines and pyrimidines in DNA and RNA are organic nitrogenous bases and are often referred to simply as bases. // A proton acceptor. // A substance that dissociates into one or more hydroxide ions (OH2) and one or more positive ions. // Substance that accepts a hydrogen ion.
calorie (cal)
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1.0 g of water from 14.5 to 15.5 C. One calorie (cal) equals 4.18 joules (J). // The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1°C. // A unit of energy defined as the amount of energy required to raise 1 g of water 1°C; equal to 4.184 J. // Shorthand notation for the kilocalorie (kcal), or 1000 calories; also called the nutritional calorie, the unit of energy used on nutritional labels.
capsid
The protein coat of a virion or virus particle. // The outer shell of viral proteins that surrounds the genome in a virus particle. (Chapters 1 and 4) // The protein coat of a virus that surrounds the nucleic acid. // The protein coat of the virus particle.
caspase
Intracellular protease that is involved in mediating the intracellular events of apoptosis. // A family of cysteine proteases that cleave proteins at aspartic acid residues. They have important roles in apoptosis and in the processing of cytokine pro-polypeptides. // Crirical proteases in apoptosis; members of a family of cysteine proteases that specifically cleave after aspartate residues. (Chapter 3) // Proteases whose activation triggers apoptosis.
catecholamines
(kat-ĕ-kōl′ă- mēnz) Class of neurotransmitters (includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). // Tyrosine-derived biogenic amines: dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. // Hormones, such as epinephrine, that are amino derivatives of catechol. // The neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
centriole
(sen′trē-ōl) Organelle that participates in the separation of chromosome pairs or sister // Short cylindrical array of microtubules, closely similar in structure to a basal body. A pair of centrioles is usually found at the center of a centrosome in animal cells. // A structure consisting of nine microtubule triplets, found in eukaryotic cells. // An organelle in many animal cells that appears to be involved in the formation of the spindle during mitosis.
centrosome
A barrel-shaped organelle associated with the mitotic spindle in animal cells. // Centrally located organelle of animal cells that is the primary microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) and acts as the spindle pole during mitosis. In most animal cells it contains a pair of centrioles. // Region in a eukaryotic cell consisting of a pericentriolar area (protein fibers) and a pair of centrioles; involved in formation of the mitotic spindle. // An organelle that is the main microtubule-organizing center. (Chapter 5)
chemokine
A cytokine that induces, by chemotaxis, the migration of leukocytes into infected areas. // Small chemoattractant protein that stimulates the migration and activation of cells, especially phagocytic cells and lymphocytes. Chemokines have a central role in inflammatory responses. Properties of individual chemokines are listed in Appendix IV. // Small proteins that attract and stimulate cells of the immune defense system; produced by many cells in response to infection. (Chapter 3) // Small proteins that attract and stimulate cells of the immune defense; produced by many cells in response to infection. Also called chemotactic cytokines. (Chapter 5)
cholesterol
An abundant lipid molecule with a characteristic four-ring steroid structure. An important component of the plasma membranes of animal cells. // The most common steroid (fat-like material) found in the human body; important for membrane fluidity and as a precursor to steroid hormones; high cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary diseases. // The only important membrane steroid in humans. // Type of steroid found in the plasma membrane.
Cilium (pl, cilia; adj, ciliate)
(sil′ē-ă) Extensions of plasma membrane supported by microtubules that move materials past the cell. // Hairlike locomotor structure on certain cells; a locomotor structure on a ciliate protozoan. cis-acting sequence. A nucleotide sequence that only affects the expression of genes located on the same chromosome, that is, cis to itself. // Hairlike extension of a eukaryotic cell containing a core bundle of microtubules. Many cells contain a single nonmotile cilium, while others contain large numbers that perform repeated beating movements. Compare flagellum. // A relatively short cellular projection from some eukaryotic cells, composed of nine pairs plus two microtubules. See flagellum.
cofactor
(1) The nonprotein component of an enzyme. (2) A microorganism or molecule that acts with others to synergistically enhance or cause disease. // An inorganic ion or a coenzyme required for enzyme activity. // A small nonprotein part of an enzyme that is necessary for biological activity. // Inorganic chemical structure attached to an enzyme that aids in enzyme function; e.g., Zn2+.
complementary DNA (cDNA)
A DNA complementary to a specific mRNA, used in DNA cloning; usually made by reverse transcriptase. // DNA made in vitro from an mRNA template. // The double-stranded DNA copy of a single-stranded RNA. // Transcribed from mRNA by employing the enzyme reverse transcriptase.