Term | Definition |
Hypothesis | Educated prediction about the outcome of a scientific experiment; an 'If...,then..." |
Carbon Cycle | The process by which carbon in the atmosphere goes into living things and is eventually returned to the atmosphere. It can be disrupted by clear-cutting forests, burning fossil fuels, etc. |
Fossil Fuels | Things like oil, coal, and natural gas. Such fuels are created by a dead creature being buried and undergoing one of three transformations into a fuel. |
Nitrogen Cycle | Process by which nitrogen gas in the atmosphere goes into living things and is eventually returned to the atmosphere. It can be disrupted by overuse of fertilizer. |
Ecological Succession | One community following another (ex. new trees growing after a forest fire) |
First species to arrive in an area | Lichens attaching to the bare rock and slowly breaking it apart for plant roots |
Climax Community | End result of succession |
Herbivore | Trophic level 1, only eats producers |
Carnivore | Trophic levels 2-3, eats herbivores & other carnivores |
Omnivore | Eats both plants and animals |
Decomposer | Eats dead things |
Mutualism | A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit. |
Parasitism | A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed. |
Commensalism | A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. |
Competition | Two or more organisms competing for resources |
Predation | One organism killing and eating the other. |
Energy's movement | Nonstop flow |
Matter's movement | Cycling |
Food web | Several food chains linked together showing more in-depth views of the roles of each organism |
Food chain | A basic diagram of organisms and their roles in the environment (A eats B eats C eats D) |
Energy pyramid | A diagram displaying the amount of energy available to each trophic level. Each level has 10% less energy available to it than the level below it |
pH scale | 0-6: Acid 7: Neutral 8-14: Base |
Organic molecules | molecules related to the creation or processes of organisms |
Monomer | A single repeating part of a bigger molecule |
Carbohydrate | An organic molecule consisting of several monosaccharides, used to store short-term energy |
Protein | An organic molecule consisting of several amino acids, used to provide structure |
Nucleic Acids | An organic molecule composed of several nucleotides, used to store genetic information |
Genetic Information | Information on how to make proteins |
Lipids | An organic molecule composed of 3 fatty acids and a glycerol, used to store long-term energy |
Four Functions of Water | Cohesion(Water sticks to itself), Adhesion(Water sticks to other stuff), Density( Ice less dense than water), Solvent (Water dissolves stuff) |
Flagella | Long tail-like structure on a cell used for movement |
Cilia | Short hair-like structures on a cell used for movement |
Pseudopodia | Limb-like structures on a cell used for movement |
Chloroplast | Organelle in a plant cell that allows for photosynthesis |
Mitochondrion | Organelle in an animal cell that allows for respiration |
Ribosome | Organelle used in protein synthesis |
Nucleus | Organelle used to store DNA |
Exocytosis | Process by which a cell emits a large molecule |
Prokaryote | A cell with no nucleus, free-floating DNA |
Eukaryote | A cell with a nucleus to hold its DNA |
Asexual reproduction | Reproduction with a single parent |
Binary Fission | Method of asexual reproduction which creates two identical cells |
Budding | Method of asexual reproduction which creates smaller cells from the parent |
Chromosome | Bundle of DNA, two twisted strands connected by a centromere |
Lysosome | An animal organelle used to assist with digestion |
Central Vacuole | A plant organelle used to hold water |
Cell Walls | Plant cell structure, stiff barrier made of cellulose |
Hypertonic | A solution with more solute relative to another |
Hypotonic | A solution with less solute relative to another |
Photosynthesis | Process by which plant cells create food from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight |
Chemosynthesis | Process by which certain unicellular organisms derive energy from inorganic compounds |
Aerobic Respiration | Process by which a cell breaks down glucose using oxygen |
Anaerobic respiration | Process by which a cell breaks down glucose without oxygen, generates byproducts |
Enzyme | A class of protein used in causing or affecting the speed of certain chemical reactions in the body |
Things That Affect Enzymes | Heat, pH |
Nucleotide | A monomer of a nucleic acid, made of a phosphate, sugar, and a base |
Protein Synthesis | The two-step process of creating proteins |
Transcription | First step in protein synthesis; one gene is made into mRNA |
Translation | Second step in protein synthesis, tRNA attaches to mRNA with certain amino acids to create a protein |
Hydrogen Bonds | Weak chemical bond, used to hold DNA together |
DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid used to store genetic information in an organism |
mRNA | A variety of RNA, used to send genetic info from the nucleus to the ribosome |
tRNA | A variety of RNA, attaches to amino acids and is used in making proteins |
rRNA | A variety of RNA, allows the ribosome to synthesize proteins |
RNA | Ribonucleic acid, has 3 varieties all used in protein synthesis |
Replication | The process of copying DNA, semiconservative |
Nucleic Bases (DNA) | Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine |
Nucleic Bases (RNA) | Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, Cytosine |
Codon | A 3-base length of mRNA coding for one amino acid |
Mutation | A change in DNA |