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Biology 3/4 > Unit 3 // AOS2 Textbook definitions > Flashcards

Unit 3 // AOS2 Textbook definitions Flashcards

The definitions of specific words that come directly from the textbook

1
Q

Photoautotroph

A

An organism capable of undertaking photosynthesis

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2
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process of capturing light energy to power the production of glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water

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3
Q

Mesophyll cell

A

A plant cell type found in leaves that contain large amounts of chloroplasts

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4
Q

Chloroplast

A

A membrane-bound organelle only found in plant and photoautotroph cells that is the site of photosynthesis

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5
Q

Stoma (pl. stomata)

A

A small pore on the leaf’s surface that opens and closes to regulate gas exchange

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6
Q

Xylem

A

Vascular tissue in plants responsible for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the leaves

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7
Q

Light-dependent stage

A

The first stage of photosynthesis, where light energy splits water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen inside the thylakoid membranes

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8
Q

Thylakoid

A

A flattened sac-like structure housed inside the chloroplast. Each thylakoid is made up of chlorophyll-containing membrane enclosing a lumen. Thylakoids are the location of the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis

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9
Q

Granum (pl. grana)

A

A stack of thylakoids

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10
Q

NADPH

A

A coenzyme that is a proton (H+) and electron carrier in photosynthesis

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11
Q

Photolysis

A

The process in which molecules are broken down by the action of light

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12
Q

Light-independent stage

A

The second stage of photosynthesis where carbon dioxide is used to form glucose in the stroma of a chloroplast. Also known as Calvin Cycle

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13
Q

Stroma

A

The fluid substance that makes up the interior of chloroplasts. It is the site of the light-independent stage of photosynthesis

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14
Q

Rubisco

A

A pivotal enzyme involved in initial carbon fixation during the light-independent stage of photosynthesis

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15
Q

Carbon fixation

A

The process in living organisms where inorganic carbon, typically within carbon dioxide, is converted into organic compounds such as glucose. Carbon fixation is a central part of the light-independent stage of photosynthesis

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16
Q

Inorganic compound

A

A compound that does not contain a carbon-hydrogen bond, e.g. carbon dioxide

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17
Q

Organic compound

A

A compound containing a carbon-hydrogen bond, e.g. glucose

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18
Q

Photorespiration

A

A wasteful process in plants initiated by Rubisco that limits photosynthesis

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19
Q

Affinity

A

The tendency of a molecule/atom to bind or react with another molecule/atom

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20
Q

C3 plants

A

Plants with no evolved adaptation to minimise photosynthesis

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21
Q

Mesophyll cell

A

A plant cell type found in leaves that contain large amounts of chloroplasts

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22
Q

C4 plants

A

Plants that minimise photorespiration by separating initial carbon fixation and the remainder of the Calvin Cycle over space

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23
Q

Bundle-sheath cell

A

A plant cell type that is the site of most of the Calvin Cycle in C4 plants

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24
Q

CAM plants

A

Plants that minimise photorespiration by separating initial carbon fixation and the remainder of the Calvin Cycle over time

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25
Rate (Factors affecting Photosynthesis)
The speed at which a chemical reaction proceeds
26
Plateau
To reach a state where no further change occurs
27
Saturation point
The point at which a substance (e.g. an enzyme) cannot receive more of another substance (e.g. a substrate)
28
Limiting factor
A factor that prevents the rate of reaction from increasing
29
Limiting reagent
A reactant that prevents the rate of reaction from increasing
29
Cellular respiration
The process by which cells create usable energy in the form of ATP from a series of biochemical reactions, involving the breakdown of glucose
30
Glucose
A simple 6-carbon sugar molecule with the formula C6H12O6
31
Aerobic cellular respiration
Cellular respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen. Involves three stages, during which glucose and O2 are converted into ATP, CO2 and water
32
Anaerobic fermentation
A metabolic pathway that occurs in the absence of oxygen. Involves glycolysis, followed by further reactions that convert pyruvate into lactic acid in animals, or ethanol and CO2 in yeast
33
Glycolysis
The first stage of aerobic cellular respiration in which glucose is converted to two pyruvate molecules
34
Krebs cycle
The second stage of aerobic cellular respiration, where multiple reactions occur to create ATP, NADH, FADH2, and the waste product CO2.
35
Electron transport chain
The third stage of aerobic cellular respiration, in which a series of protein complexes embedded in the inner membrane of a mitochondrion harness the stored energy in NADH and FADH2 to generate large amounts of ATP
36
Cytosol
The aqueous fluid that surrounds a cell's organelles inside the plasma membrane
37
Mitochondrial matrix
The space inside the inner membrane of a mitochondrion. The site of the Krebs cycle
38
Crista (pl. cristae)
The folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion. The site of the electron transport chain
38
Pyruvate
A three-carbon molecule that can be formed from the breakdown of glucose via glycolysis
39
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)
A coenzyme that acts as a proton (H+) and electron carrier in cellular respiration. NAD can cycle between its NAD+ and NADH forms, depending on the reaction it takes part in
40
Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
A coenzyme that acts as a proton (H+) and electron carrier in cellular respiration. FAD can cycle between its FAD and FADH2 forms, depending on the reaction it takes part in
41
Coenzyme A
A large organic non-protein molecule that plays a key role in the modification of pyruvate to allow it to enter the Krebs cycle. Also known as CoA
42
Acetyl-CoA
The product of the link reaction where pyruvate is conjugated to coenzyme A, creating the primary input into the Krebs cycle
43
ATP synthase
An enzyme in the inner mitochondrial membrane that uses the concentration gradient of H+ to synthesise ATP from ADP and Pi
44
Yeast
Unicellular eukaryotic organisms from the kingdom Fungi
45
Lactic acid fermentation
The process of anaerobic fermentation in animals, where pyruvate produced via glycolysis is converted to a lactic acid
46
Lactic acid
A 3-carbon molecule that is the product of anaerobic fermentation in animals. Also known as lactate
47
Ethanol
A 2-carbon alcohol molecule that is produced along with carbon dioxide during anaerobic fermentation in yeast, bacteria and plants
48
Ethanol fermentation
The process of anaerobic fermentation in yeasts, where pyruvate produced via glycolysis is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Also known as alcohol fermentation
49
Fossil fuel
Fuel that formed over tens of millions of years from the remains of dead organic material. Fossil fuels are considered non-renewable
50
Non-renewable
Refers to a resource that is replenished at a slower rate than it is being used, meaning that it will eventually run out
51
Biofuel
Fuel that is created from organic material known as biomass
52
Biomass
Organic material, including plants, animal by-products, and biological waste material. Biomass can be sourced from many industries, including farming, forestry and food manufacturing
53
Renewable
Refers to a resource that can typically be replenished at the same (or faster) rate than it is being used, meaning it is unlikely to run out
54
Carbon neutral
A state in which there is no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, meaning that there is a balance between the amount of CO2 that is emitted during combustion of a fuel and how much was originally absorbed during the formation process of that fuel
55
Fermentation
The anaerobic chemical breakdown of high energy organic molecules, typically via the action of enzymes. For many plants, fermentation involves the conversion of glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide
56
Bioethanol
A type of biofuel that is produced via the anaerobic fermentation of plants such as sugarcane or corn
57
Hydrolysis
A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down the chemical bonds of a substance
58
Food vs fuel debate
A central concern of large-scale biofuel manufacturing that questions the validity of using arable farmland to produce fuel, rather than food
59
First-generation biofuels
Biofuels produced from edible food crops such as corn or sugarcane. These compete directly with agricultural land
60
Second-generation biofuels
Biofuels produced from non-edible crops such as agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste. These typically compete less with agricultural land

Biology 3/4 (3 decks)

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