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