Terms E-1 Flashcards
(175 cards)
1
Q
Biology
A
the scientific study of life
2
Q
organisms
A
living things made of one or more cells
3
Q
cells
A
basic units of life
4
Q
unicellular
A
simple single-celled organisms
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Q
multicellular
A
organisms with 2 or more cells
6
Q
DNA
A
molecule that carries genetic information that makes up chromosomes
7
Q
matter
A
anything that has mass and takes up space
8
Q
atoms
A
anything that has mass and takes up space
9
Q
molecule
A
2 or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
10
Q
organelle
A
specialized structure that preforms important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell
11
Q
tissue
A
a group of similar cells that perform a specific function
12
Q
organ
A
a collection of tissues that carry out a specialized function of the body
13
Q
organ system
A
a group of organs that work together in performing vital body functions
14
Q
population
A
a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
15
Q
community
A
all the different populations that live together in an area
16
Q
ecosystem
A
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
17
Q
biospere
A
a part of earth in which life exists including land water and air or atmosphere
18
Q
emergent properties
A
an alternating and perhaps more powerful way of looking at systems-level behavior characteristics such as safety and security. this perspective also helps provide a more testable measurable answer to questions such as “how secure is our system?”
19
Q
energy
A
the ability to do work
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Q
producer
A
an organism that can make its own food
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Q
consumer
A
an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
22
Q
decomposer
A
an organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
23
Q
autotrophs
A
organisms that make their own food
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Q
heterotrophs
A
an organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or their by-products
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homeostasis
process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment
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asexual reproduction
process by which a single parent reproduces by itself
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sexual reproduction
a reproductive process that involves 2 parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism which differs from both parents
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development
the process of change that occurs during an organisms life to produce a more complex organism
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evolution
change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms
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mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
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gene
a segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait
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adaptation
inherited characteristic that increases an organisms chance of survival
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taxonomy
the scientific study of how living things are classified
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evolutionary relationships
evidence from DNA protein structure fossils early development and body structure to find a pattern of decent
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common ancestors
the shared ancestor of new different species that arose from one population
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domain
a taxonomic category above the kingdom level. the tree domains are archaea bacteria and eukarya
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kingdom
first and largest taxonomy category used to classify organisms
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genius
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species
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tree of life
a diagram depicting the genealogical relationships of all living organisms on earth with a single ancestral species at the base
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bacteria
single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes
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archaea
Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls that do not contain peptidoglycan
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eukarya
Domain of all organisms whose cells have nuclei, including protists, plants, fungi, and animals
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prokaryotes
cells that do not contain nuclei; Bacteria and Archaea
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eukaryotes
A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
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biotic
living things
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abiotic
non-living things
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scientific method
A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.
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observations
the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.
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questions
the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.
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hypothesis
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
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predictions
specific statements that can be directly and unequivocally teste
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experiment
a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
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conclusion
a judgement based on the information obtained
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peer review
A process by which the procedures and results of an experiment are evaluated by other scientists in the same field or conducting similar research.
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sample size
The number of subjects used in an experiment or study. Generally, the larger the better.
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independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
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dependent variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
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standardized variable
anything that the investigator holds constant for all subjects in the experiment
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control
the standard by which the test results can be compared
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statistical significance
a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
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theory
well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations
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periodic table
an arrangement of elements in which the elements are separated into groups based on a set of repeating properties
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elements
A molecule composed of one kind of atom; cannot be broken into simpler units by chemical reactions.
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atom
basic unit of matter
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sub-atomic particles
What atoms are made up of: Protons, electrons and neutrons.
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proton
A subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom
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neutron
A subatomic particle that has no charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom
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electron
A subatomic particle that has a negative charge
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atomic number
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
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atomic mass number
the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus
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isotopes
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
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chemical bonds
the attractive force that holds atoms or ions together
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compound
A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds
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energy shells
The orbital paths of electrons found at varying distances from the nucleus
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valence shell
The outermost energy shell of an atom, containing the valence electrons involved in the chemical reactions of that atom.
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chemical reaction
the process by which one or more substances change to produce one or more different substances
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reactants
elements or compounds that enter into a chemical reaction
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products
The elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction.
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non-polar covalent bond
equal sharing of electrons
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polar covalent bond
unequal sharing of electrons
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ionic bond
transfer of electrons
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electronegativity
A measure of the ability of an atom in a chemical compound to attract electrons
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ions
positively and negatively charged atoms
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hydrogen bond
A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.
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cohesion
an attraction between molecules of the same substance
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adhesion
attraction between molecules of different substances
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hydrophilic
attracted to water
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hydrphobic
repels water
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pH scale
scale with values from 0 to 14, used to measure the concentration of H+ ions in a solution; a pH of 0 to 7 is acidic, a pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH of 7 to 14 is basic
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acid
compound that forms hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; pH 0-6
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pH
hydrogen ion concentration in a substance
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buffer solutions
Consist of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate salt or weak base and its conjugate salt. They resist large fluctuations in pH.
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base
A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution; pH 8-14
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organic molecule
A molecule containing carbon that is a part of or produced by living systems.
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functional group
group of atoms within a molecule that interacts in predictable ways with other molecules
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hydroxyl
A chemical group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.
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carboxyl
A functional group present in organic acids and consisting of a single carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and also bonded to a hydroxyl group.
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amino acid
a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group.
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phosphate
a natural mineral containing chemical compounds often used in fertilizers
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monomers
small unit that can join together with other small units to form polymers
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polymers
large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
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dehydration synthesis
Chemical reaction in which two molecules are bored together with the removal of a water molecule
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hydrolysis
the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
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carbohydrates
the starches and sugars present in foods; broken down to glucose to provide energy
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monosaccharides
glucose, fructose, galactose
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ribose
A five-carbon sugar present in RNA
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glucose
A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.
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disaccharide
sugars made of two covalently bonded monosaccharides; ex. sucrose
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polysaccharide
a carbohydrate (e.g., starch, cellulose, or glycogen) whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together.
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proteins
Nutrients the body uses to build and maintain its cells and tissues
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enzymes
Catalysts for chemical reactions in living things
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r-group
a functional group that defines a particular amino acid and gives it special properties.
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polypeptide
A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.
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primary structure
An original document containing the observations, ideas, and conclusions of an individual. It is a firsthand account presented by someone present or actively participating in the event. Examples include manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, and personal journals.
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tertiary structure
The third level of protein structure; the overall, three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide due to interactions of the R groups of the amino acids making up the chain.
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quanternary structure
the three-dimensional arrangement of two or ore polypeptides, or of a polypeptide and a non-protein component such as haem, in a protein molecule.
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denatured
loss of an enzyme's normal shape so that it no longer functions; caused by a less than optimal pH and temperature
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nucleic acids
macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus
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nucleotides
Basic units of DNA molecule, composed of a sugar, a phosphate, and one of 4 DNA bases
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nitrogenous base
A molecule found in DNA and RNA that encodes genetic information in cells.
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triglycerides
an energy-rich compound made up of a single molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.
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fatty acid
an organic acid that is contained in lipids, such as fats or oils
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glycerol
A three-carbon alcohol to which fatty acids are covalently bonded to make fats and oils.
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phospholipids
a lipid consisting of a glycerol bound to two fatty acids and a phosphate group.
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steroids
A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various functional groups attached.
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saturated
being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature
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unsaturated
A solution that contains less than the maximum amount of dissolved solute in a concentration.
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light microscope
microscope that uses a beam of light passing through one or more lenses to magnify an object
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electron microscope
a microscope that focuses a beam of electrons to magnify objects
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ribosomes
site of protein synthesis
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cytoplasm
A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended
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cell membrane
A cell structure that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell.
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amphipathic
A molecule that has both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region.
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phospholipid bilayer
Plasma membrane layers composed of phospholipid molecules arranged with polar heads facing the outside and nonpolar tails facing the inside.
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semipermeable
some substances can pass directly through the cell membrane by passive or active transport
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flagellum
A long, hairlike structure that grows out of a cell and enables the cell to move.
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capsule
A sticky layer that surrounds the cell walls of some bacteria, protecting the cell surface and sometimes helping to glue the cell to surfaces.
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cell wall
A rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell
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animal cell
A small living part of a multicellular organism that eats to gain energy and reproduces sexually.
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plant cell
A small living part of a multicellular organism that makes its own food in chloroplast and reproduces sexually or asexually.
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mitochondria
Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production
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cellular respiration
the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food
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chloroplasts
organelle found in cells of plants and some other organisms that captures the energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy
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photosynthesis
The process by which plants and some other organisms capture the energy in sunlight and use it to make food.
146
nucleus
A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction
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nucleolus
Found inside the nucleus and produces ribosomes
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messanger RNA
type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell
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nuclear pore
a protein-lined channel in the nuclear envelope that regulates the transportation of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm
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nuclear envelope
double-membrane layer that surrounds the nucleus
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endomembrane system
A network of membranes inside and around a eukaryotic cell, related either through direct physical contact or by the transfer of membranous vesicles.
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rough ER
That portion of the endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes.
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vesicles
small membrane sacs that specialize in moving products into, out of, and within a cell
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golgi apparatus
A system of membranes that modifies and packages proteins for export by the cell
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lysosmes
cell organelle filled with enzymes needed to break down certain materials in the cell
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vacuoles
Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates
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peroxisomes
Function in detoxification of alcohol and production of bile in the liver or kidneys
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cytoskeleton
A network of fibers that holds the cell together, helps the cell to keep its shape, and aids in movement
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microfilaments
Long, thin fibers that function in the movement and support of the cell
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intermediate filaments
Threadlike proteins in the cell's cytoskeleton that are roughly twice as thick as microfilaments
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microtubules
Spiral strands of protein molecules that form a tubelike structure
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cilia
Hairlike projections that extend from the plasma membrane and are used for locomotion
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food chain
A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
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trophic level
each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.
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primary consumer
An organism that eats producers
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secondary consumer
An organism that eats primary consumers
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tertiary consumer
An organism that eats secondary consumers
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primary producer
first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms
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detritus
Dead organic matter
170
food webs
A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains
171
energy pyramids
A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
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gross primary production
The total primary production of an ecosystem.
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biomagnification
accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain
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biogeochemical cycles
process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another
175
reservoirs
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
