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BIO 181 Exam 1
Terms and Definitions for first exam in BIO 181
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Biology | The study of life |
Eukaryote | Organism with cells that have nuclei and membrance-bound organsims |
Prokaryote | Single-celled organism that lacks organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by a nuclear membrane. |
Unicellular | Organism made up of only one cell that carries out all functions needed by the organism. |
Multicellular | Organisms that are composed of more than one cell, with groups of cells differentiating to take on specialized functions. |
Homeostasis | Ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions |
Evolution | The process of gradual change in a population or species over time |
Natural Selection | A process in which organisms with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than other individuals. |
Atoms | Smallest stable units of matter |
Element | Group of all atoms that have the same number of protons |
Isotopes | Atoms whose nuclei contain different numbers of neutrons |
Atomic Number | Number of protons in an atom |
Mass Number | Protons + Neutrons |
Atomic Weight | Actual mass of an atom |
Ion | Atom or chemical group that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons. |
Ionic Bond | Chemical bond that forms between ions with opposite charges (cations and anions). |
Covalent Bond | Type of strong bond formed between two atoms of the same or different elements; forms when electrons are shared between atoms. |
Hydrogen Bond | Weak bond between slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negatively charged atoms in other molecules |
Hydrophilic | Describes ions or polar molecules that interact well with other polar molecules such as water. |
Hydrophobic | Describes uncharged nonpolar molecules that do not interact well with polar molecules such as water. |
Polar Molecule | Chemical species in which the distribution of electrons between the covalently bonded atoms is not even. |
Cohesion | Intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water, responsible for surface tension. |
Adhesion | Attraction between water molecules and other molecules |
Matter | Anything that has mass and occupies space |
Trace Elements | Required in only small amounts and essential to life |
Protons | Positively charged particle that resides in the atom’s nucleus; has a mass of one amu and a charge of +1 |
Neutrons | Uncharged particle that resides in an atom’s nucleus; has a mass of one amu |
Electrons | Negatively charged subatomic particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a negative charge of -1 unit. |
Buffer | Substance that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen and hydroxide ions. |
Compounds | Substance composed of molecules consisting of atoms of at least two different elements. |
Surface Tension | Tension at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating; created by the attractive cohesive forces between the liquid’s molecules. |
Solvent | Substance capable of dissolving another substance |
Solute | A substance that can be dissolved by a solvent to create a solution |
Solution | Homogeneous mixture of solvent and solute molecules |
Carbohydrates | Biological macromolecule in which the ratio of carbon to hydrogen and to oxygen is 1:2:1; serves as energy sources and structural support in cells and forms arthropods’ exoskeleton. |
Monosaccharide | Single unit or monomer of carbohydrate |
Disaccharide | Two sugar monomers that a glycosidic bond links |
Polysaccharide | Long chain of monosaccharides; may be branched or unbranched |
Dehydration Synthesis Reaction | A reaction that links monomer molecules, releasing a water molecule for each bond formed. |
Hydrolysis Reaction | Causes a breakdown of larger molecules into smaller molecules by utilizing water. |
Lipids | Macromolecule that is nonpolar and insoluble in water |
Protein | Biological macromolecule comprised of one or more amino acid chains |
Nucleic Acids | Biological macromolecule that carries the cell’s genetic blueprint and carries instructions for the cell’s functioning. |
Nucleotides | Monomer of nucleic acids; contains a pentose sugar, one or more phosphate groups, and a nitrogenous base |
Amino Acids | A protein’s monomer; has a central carbon or alpha carbon to which an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen and an R group or side chain is attached: R group is different for having 20 common amino acids. |
Glucose | Similar sugar which is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates |
Monomer | Smallest unit or monomer of carbohydrates |
Polymers | Many molecules are part of a chain |
Gene | Basic physical and functional unit; made up of DNA |
Structure of RNA | Consists of ribose nucleotides attached by phosphodiester bonds, forming strands of varying lengths. Bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil |
Structure of DNA | A molecule that contains the biological instructions that make each species unique. Passed from adult organisms to their offspring during reproduction |
Nitrogenous Base | A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base. |
Prokaryote Cell | Unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle |
Eukaryote Cell | Cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound compartments or sacs |
Nucleus | Cell organelle that houses the cell’s DNA and directs ribosome and protein synthesis. |
Protists | Any eukaryotic organism that is not an animal, plant, or fungus |
Bacteria | Type of cell that has a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms |
Archaea | Any of a group of single-celled prokaryotic organisms that have distinct molecular characteristics separating them from bacteria as well as from eukaryotes |
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum | Region of the endoplasmic reticulum that is studded with ribosomes and engages in protein modification and phospholipid synthesis |
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum | Region of the endoplasmic reticulum that has few or no ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface and synthesizes carbohydrates, lipids, and steroid hormones; detoxifies certain chemicals ), and stores calcium ions. |
Ribosomes | Cellular structure that carries out protein synthesis |
The Golgi Apparatus | Eukaryotic organelle comprised of a series of stacked membranes that sorts, tags, and packages lipids and proteins for distribution |
Vacuoles | Membrane-bound sac, somewhat larger than a vesicle, which functions in cellular storage and transport. |
Chloroplast | Plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis |
Mitochondria | (singular = mitochondrion) cellular organelles responsible for carrying out cellular respiration, resulting in producing ATP, the cell’s main energy-carrying molecule |
Endosymbiosis | a type of symbiosis which one organism lives inside the other, two of them typically behaving as a single organism |
Endosymbiosis Theory | where there are three different pieces of evidence that very well explains that theory. |