MT Unit 3 Full Word List 2024 Flashcards
(224 cards)
1
Q
acetylation
A
addition of an acetyl group
2
Q
acetylcholine
A
chemical signaling molecule
3
Q
acetylcholinesterase
A
enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine
4
Q
acid
A
chemical that gives off hydrogen ions
5
Q
acidic
A
quality of being acid
6
Q
adenine
A
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA)
7
Q
adipocyte
A
fat cell
8
Q
aerobic
A
activity that occurs when oxygen is plentiful
9
Q
alcohol
A
chemical group that includes grain alcohol, ethanol (EtOH)
10
Q
alkali
A
chemical that absorbs hydrogen ions
11
Q
alkaline
A
quality of being alkali
12
Q
allele
A
unit of inheritance
13
Q
amphipathic
A
a molecule that partially prefers water and partially repels water
14
Q
anabolic
A
chemical process that makes larger chemicals out of smaller ones
15
Q
anaerobic
A
activity that occurs when oxygen is scarce
16
Q
anaphase
A
stage of cell division where chromosomes are separating
17
Q
antibody
A
protein that defends the body against invaders; immunoglobulin
18
Q
antiparallel
A
parallel, but running in opposite directions, like a two-lane road
19
Q
antiport
A
transport process that involves molecules moving in opposite directions; exchange
20
Q
apical
A
toward the top
21
Q
apocrine
A
cellular secretion that involves breaking off a piece of the cell
22
Q
apoptosis
A
programmed or preplanned cell death
23
Q
astrocyte
A
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astroglia)
24
Q
astroglia
A
star-shaped cell of the brain; a type of glial cell (same as astrocyte)
25
atom
the smallest unit of matter; indivisible quantity (name means "can't be cut")
26
autosome
chromosome that is not involved in sex determination
27
avascular
without blood vessels
28
basal
toward the bottom
29
base pair
adenine-thymine or cytosine-guanine pairs that form the "rungs" of the twisted ladder structure of DNA
30
bilayer
two-layered covering; cell membrane
31
blastocyst
stage of a human embryo where it is a hollow ball of rapidly-dividing cells
32
carbohydrate
molecule consisting of equal parts carbon and water
33
catabolic
chemical process that makes smaller chemicals out of larger ones
34
catalyze
to speed up a chemical reaction
35
centriole
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
36
centromere
part of a chromosome in the center, where the two DNA molecules touch
37
centrosome
organelle that acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC)
38
cholesterol
important lipid, essential for cell processes
39
chondrocyte
cartilage cell
40
chromatin
DNA plus RNA plus associated proteins, visible when cells are dyed and viewed through the microscope
41
chromosome
chromatin visible through the microscope in X-shaped packages
42
cilia
eyelash-like extension of the cell, used to move substances on the cell surface
43
codon
unit of genetic information; thousands of codons make up a gene
44
colloid
microscopic particles (larger than molecules) surrounded by water
45
columnar
cells that are higher than they are wide
46
cuboidal
cells that are about as high as they are wide ("cube-like")
47
cytokinesis
the movement of cells in cell division
48
cytoplasm
gel-like substance, including organelles, that fills cells and is surrounded by a membrane
49
cytosine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with guanine
50
cytoskeleton
organelle composed of structural support proteins
51
cytosol
cytoplasm minus organelles
52
dehydration
chemical reaction which removes water and forms a new chemical bond
53
denaturation
using heat or chemicals to alter the normal (native) structure of proteins, DNA, or RNA
54
deoxyribose
a sugar that, along with phosphate groups, forms the backbone of the DNA molecule
55
diffusion
process by which molecules move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
56
diploid
containing two copies of each DNA molecule; the normal number of DNA molecules in most human cells
57
dominant
in Mendelian genetics, one copy of a dominant allele is expressed as an observable characteristic
58
elastin
a protein; snaps back into shape when released after being stretched
59
electrolysis
process of breaking molecules (or hairs) through electricity
60
electrolyte
charge-carrying ion in the blood
61
electromagnetic
radiation that depending on energy level can be radio waves, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, or gamma rays
62
electron
subatomic particle with a negative charge; found on the outside of the atom
63
endergonic
chemical reaction which requires energy
64
endocytosis
intake of substances by the cell
65
endoplasmic reticulum
organelle with net-like structure found in cytoplasm
66
endothelium
tissue lining blood vessels
67
endothermic
chemical reaction which absorbs heat energy; same thing as endergonic
68
entropy
the tendency of matter to become disorganized
69
enzyme
protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the cell
70
epigenetic
changes in DNA that are outside of the normal molecular genetic processes
71
epinephrine
chemical signaling molecule
72
epithelium
tissue lining body cavities and outside surfaces of the body
73
erythrocyte
red blood cell
74
erythrocytosis
abnormally high levels of red blood cells
75
estrogen
lipid signaling molecule that promotes development of female sexual characteristics
76
ethanol
alcohol that forms part of liquor, wine, and beer; grain alcohol
77
euchromatin
unspooled chromatin; chromatin in the active process of being used
78
eukaryotic
cells with a true nucleus
79
exergonic
chemical reaction which releases energy
80
exocytosis
release of substances from a cell
81
exon
the part of a gene that is turned into protein
82
exothermic
chemical reaction which releases heat energy; same thing as exergonic
83
extracellular
outside of cells
84
fibroblast
connective tissue cell
85
fructose
a sugar; converted by liver to glucose
86
gamete
eggs in females and sperm in males; the cells specialized for reproduction
87
gastrulation
process of embryonic development that forms a "little stomach" or invagination
88
genotype
silent characteristic of DNA that results from the sequence of DNA base pairs
89
glia
non-excitable cells of the brain; perform housekeeping duties for the brain
90
gluconeogenesis
process by which new glucose molecules are made inside the body
91
glucose
a sugar; main energy carrier in blood
92
glycerol
alcohol derived from sugar
93
glycogen
storage form of glucose, mostly found in liver and muscle
94
glycogenolysis
breakdown of glycogen
95
glycolysis
breakdown of glucose
96
glycoprotein
protein + sugar; more protein than sugar
97
goblet cell
mucus-making cell
98
guanine
molecule found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine
99
haploid
containing one copy of each DNA molecule; the normal number of DNA molecules in gametes
100
hemoglobin
protein that carries oxygen and CO2 in the blood
101
heterochromatin
spooled chromatin; chromatin in storage
102
histological
pertaining to the study of tissues
103
histology
study of tissues
104
histone
substance found in tissues that binds to DNA
105
histopathology
study of how tissues change during disease
106
histone
protein spool around which DNA is wound
107
holocrine
cellular secretion that involves the cell exploding
108
hydrolysis
chemical reaction which adds water and breaks a chemical bond
109
hydrophilic
a molecule that prefers water
110
hydrophobic
a molecule that repels water
111
hypercholesterolemia
high cholesterol levels in the blood
112
hyperkalemia
high potassium levels in the blood
113
hypernatremia
high sodium levels in the blood
114
hypertonic
solution with more particles per volume than the inside of a cell
115
hypokalemia
low potassium levels in the blood
116
hyponatremia
low sodium levels in the blood
117
hypotonic
solution with fewer particles per volume than the inside of a cell
118
immunoglobulin
protein that defends the body against invaders; antibody
119
insulin
protein that helps cells manage blood sugar
120
interphase
stage of cell life cycle that does not involve active division
121
intron
the part of a gene that is discarded in protein synthesis
122
ionic
pertaining to charged particles (atoms or molecules)
123
isomer
different arrangements of the same atoms in the same quantities
124
isotonic
solution with the same number of particles per volume as the inside of a cell
125
isotope
different forms of the same element where the number of neutrons varies but the number of protons stays the same
126
ketoacidosis
high ketone and acid levels in the blood
127
ketone
chemical byproduct of lipid breakdown
128
kinase
enzyme that adds a phosphorus-containing chemical group
129
lactose
a sugar; found in milk
130
lamina
layer; "plate"
131
lariat
loop of RNA that is discarded as an intron
132
leukocyte
white blood cell
133
leukocytosis
abnormally high levels of white blood cells
134
ligand
a signaling molecule or drug that binds a receptor
135
lipoprotein
a protein that carries fat molecules in the blood
136
liposome
microscopic balls of fat molecules
137
lymphocyte
white blood cell (a subtype)
138
lysosome
organelle that breaks down substances that the cell no longer needs
139
macrophage
cell that eats large particles, including bacterial invaders
140
maltose
a sugar; derived from malt
141
meiosis
process of forming gametes by reorganizing and reducing the amount of DNA in each cell
142
merocrine
cellular secretion that involves the cell releasing substances using vesicles
143
metabolism
anabolism + catabolism
144
metaphase
stage of cell division where chromosomes are lined up
145
methylation
addition of a methyl (–CH3) group
146
microfilament
thread-like part of the cytoskeleton
147
microglia
defensive cell in the brain
148
microtubule
tube-like part of the cytoskeleton
149
microvillus
microscopic shaggy hair-like structures on the surface of intestinal cells and other absorptive epithelia
150
mitochondrion
organelle that creates cellular energy
151
mitosis
process of cell division that results in diploid cells (non-gamete cells; somatic cells)
152
mole
unit describing number of molecules in a solution
153
molecule
arrangements of two or more atoms into larger structures (typically, about one-thousandth of a millimeter)
154
monomer
single molecular unit
155
neutron
subatomic particle with no charge; found in the nucleus of the atom
156
norepinephrine
chemical signaling molecule
157
nucleolus
"little nucleus": RNA-making factory in the nucleus of a cell
158
nucleoside
part of DNA and RNA: base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, or uracil) plus sugar
159
nucleotide
monomer of DNA or RNA; nucleoside plus 1 phosphorus and 4 oxygen atoms
160
nucleus
organelle where genetic material is stored and manipulated
161
oligodendrocyte
a cell in the nervous system that forms insulating sheaths; same as oligodendroglia
162
oligodendroglia
a cell in the nervous system that forms insulating sheaths; same as oligodendrocyte
163
organelle
microscopic part of a cell where specific cell functions are carried out
164
osmosis
process of diffusion through a membrane that only allows water to pass
165
osteocyte
bone cell
166
parenchyma
the proper tissue of an organ (as distinguished from connective tissue, blood vessels, etc.)
167
peptidoglycan
sugar + protein; more sugar than protein
168
peroxide
water with an extra oxygen atom; H2O2
169
peroxisome
organelle that uses peroxide to break down substances in the cell
170
phagocytosis
process of cell eating large particles
171
phenotype
observable characteristic that results from genetic plus epigenetic processes
172
phospholipid
phosphorus-containing fat molecule
173
phosphorylation
process of removing a phosphorus-containing chemical group
174
photon
subatomic particle that carries electromagnetic (light) energy
175
pinocytosis
process of cell drinking
176
ploidy
number of DNA molecules in the cell
177
polar
molecule with an unequal distribution of electrons; this makes it water-loving (hydrophilic)
178
polymer
combination of two to 250 million molecular units
179
polypeptide
small protein; string of many amino acids (generally, between 2 and 100ish)
180
polyploid
containing more than two copies of each DNA molecule
181
primer
a DNA or RNA fragment that starts a chemical process in the cell
182
prokaryotic
cells without a true nucleus
183
prophase
stage of cell division that begins the division process
184
prostaglandin
lipid signaling molecule
185
proteasome
organelle that breaks down proteins that the cell no longer needs
186
protein
a string of amino acids which is responsible for most cell functions (generally, between 100 and 34,350 amino acids)
187
proteoglycan
sugar + protein; more sugar than protein
188
proton
subatomic particle with a positive charge; found in the nucleus of the atom
189
pseudostratified
appearing to be layered when there is actually a single layer of cells
190
receptor
a protein in the cell membrane; when it binds a signaling molecule it causes a change in the cell
191
recessive
in Mendelian genetics, two copies of a recessive allele are needed to create an observable characteristic
192
renaturation
restoring the normal (native) structure of proteins, DNA, or RNA
193
resonance
property of molecules where there is extensive sharing of electrons between atoms
194
reticular
net-like
195
ribose
a sugar that, along with phosphate groups, forms the backbone of the RNA molecule
196
ribosome
organelle that is a protein-making machine; consists of RNA plus protein
197
secretion
release of substances from a cell or from the body
198
solution
molecular-size particles surrounded by water
199
somatic
most of the body cells; cells that have no reproductive function (non-gametes)
200
squamous
cells that are wider than they are high
201
steroid
lipid signaling molecule based on cholesterol
202
stratified
layered
203
stratum
layer
204
substrate
molecule that an enzyme acts upon
205
sucrose
a sugar; cane sugar or table sugar
206
surfactant
chemical substance that helps lipids dissolve in water; detergent
207
suspension
cells or other large microscopic particles surrounded by water
208
symport
transport process that involves molecules moving in the same direction
209
telomere
part of a chromosome at the ends
210
telophase
stage of cell division that ends the division process
211
testosterone
lipid signaling molecule that promotes development of male sexual characteristics
212
thermodynamics
branch of physics that studies how energy is managed by systems like cells
213
thrombocyte
cell fragment responsible for blood clotting; platelet ("small plate")
214
thrombocytopenia
abnormally low levels of thrombocytes
215
thrombocytosis
abnormally high levels of thrombocytes
216
thymine
molecule found in DNA; pairs with adenine
217
tonicity
number of particles per unit volume (i.e. concentration of particles)
218
transcription
process by which RNA is made from DNA
219
translation
process by which protein is made from RNA
220
triglyceride
form of lipid found in the blood
221
uracil
molecule found in RNA; pairs with adenine
222
valence
property of atoms important to understand formation of bonds by sharing or trading of electrons
223
vesicle
organelle that contains molecules to be secreted or absorbed by the cell
224
villus
shaggy hair-like structures lining the intestines
