Biology Definitions Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is RNA?

Single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose.

What is DNA?

Genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents.

What is messenger 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.

What is ribosomal RNA?

Type of RNA that combines with proteins to form ribosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is transfer RNA?

Type of RNA that carries each amino acid to a ribosome during protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is transcription?

Synthesis of RNA molecule from a DNA template. Signup and view all the answers

What is translation?

Process by which the sequence of bases of an mRNA is converted into the sequence of amino acids of a protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is RNA polymerase?

Enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template. Signup and view all the answers

What is DNA polymerase?

Principal enzyme involved in DNA replication - adds complementary bases one by one along the template strand of DNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polypeptide?

Chains of amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is a codon?

Group of 3 nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid to be incorporated into a protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is the start codon?

AUG. Signup and view all the answers

What is an anticodon?

Group of 3 bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the 3 bases of a codon of mRNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is electronegativity?

How strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond. Signup and view all the answers

What is adhesion?

Attraction between molecules of different substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is cohesion?

Attraction between molecules of the same substance. Signup and view all the answers

What is surface tension?

Measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid. Signup and view all the answers

What is capillary action?

The force of adhesion between a solid and a liquid and cohesion in a liquid in a capillarity. Signup and view all the answers

What is heat capacity?

The amount of energy required to increase a liquid's temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What is diffusion?

Random movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. Signup and view all the answers

What is osmosis?

Diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What is active transport?

Movement of materials against a concentration gradient/difference. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cell cycle?

Series of events in which a cell grows, prepares for division, and divides to form two daughter cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is matter?

Anything that takes up space. Signup and view all the answers

What is the biosphere?

All life on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is ecology?

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Signup and view all the answers

What are the levels of organization?

Species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary producers/autotrophs?

Algae, bacteria, or plants that can convert sunlight or chemical energy into forms that living cells can use. Signup and view all the answers

What is energy?

Essential factor in change. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Energy can't be created or destroyed, only transferred and transformed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

During every energy transfer or transformation, some energy is unusable, often lost as heat. Signup and view all the answers

What are heterotrophs/consumers?

Organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

Network of complex interactions formed by feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic level?

Step in food chain/web/pyramid. Signup and view all the answers

What is tolerance?

Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce under non-optimal conditions/a range of environmental factors that support survival and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What is a niche?

Range of physical/biological conditions in which a species lives and how it gets what it needs to survive and reproduce. Signup and view all the answers

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

No 2 species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

RNA and DNA Definitions

RNA is a single-stranded nucleic acid containing ribose sugar, essential for protein synthesis.
DNA is the genetic material inherited from parents, providing the blueprint for organism development.

Types of RNA

Messenger RNA (mRNA) copies instructions for amino acid assembly from DNA and transports them within the cell.
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) combines with proteins to form ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs.
Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries specific amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.

Genetic Processes

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template, essential for gene expression.
Translation converts the sequence of bases in mRNA into the amino acid sequence of proteins.

Key Enzymes in Genetics

RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA nucleotides by using a DNA template during transcription.
DNA polymerase is the principal enzyme in DNA replication, adding complementary bases to the template strand.

Molecular Biology Terminology

A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids that forms proteins.
Codons are groups of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that determine specific amino acids in proteins.
The start codon, AUG, signals the beginning of protein synthesis.

Molecular Interactions

Anticodons are groups of three bases on tRNA complementary to mRNA codons, facilitating the addition of correct amino acids.

Physical Properties of Molecules

Electronegativity describes an atom's ability to attract electrons within a bond.
Adhesion refers to the attraction between different substances, while cohesion refers to attraction between molecules of the same substance.
Surface tension quantifies the difficulty in stretching or breaking a liquid's surface.

Water Properties

Capillary action results from adhesive forces between a solid and liquid and cohesive forces within the liquid.
Heat capacity indicates the energy required to raise a liquid's temperature.

Biological Processes in Cells

Diffusion is the process of molecules moving from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.
Osmosis specifically involves the diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane.
Active transport involves moving materials against a concentration gradient.

Cell Cycle and Ecology Concepts

The cell cycle includes stages of cell growth, preparation for division, and division into two daughter cells.
Matter is anything that occupies space; biosphere encompasses all life on Earth.
Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environments.

Levels of Biological Organization

Levels include species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.
Primary producers or autotrophs are organisms like algae and plants that convert energy into forms usable by living cells.

Energy Principles

Energy is crucial for biological change, asserting the first law of thermodynamics (energy cannot be created or destroyed).
The second law of thermodynamics states that energy transfers often result in some energy being lost as heat.

Nutrition and Trophic Structures

Heterotrophs or consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
Food chains illustrate the transfer of energy through organisms as they eat and are eaten, while food webs depict more complex interactions.
Trophic levels represent steps in food chains, webs, or pyramids in ecosystems.

Organismal Adaptations

Tolerance indicates an organism's ability to survive in non-optimal conditions or diverse environmental factors.
A niche encompasses the physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and how it acquires necessary resources.

Ecological Principles

The competitive exclusion principle states that no two species can occupy the same niche simultaneously within the same habitat.

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Test your knowledge of essential biology terms with these flashcards. Learn definitions related to RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis processes. Perfect for students studying molecular biology or genetics.