Biology EOC Review Flashcards

Activation Energy

• Energy required to initiate a chemical reaction, reduced by enzymes.

Active Transport

• Movement of molecules across a cell membrane that necessitates energy expenditure.

Adaptation

• Inherited traits enhancing an organism's survival chances.

Allele

• Variants of a gene, which can be dominant or recessive.

Amino Acid

• Fundamental components that make up proteins.

Analogous Structures

• Structures sharing similar functions or forms but lacking a common evolutionary origin.

Anaphase

• Third stage of mitosis where chromosome pairs are pulled apart to opposite poles.

Antibiotic

• Chemical substances that hinder bacterial growth and reproduction.

Antibody

• Body-produced substances that neutralize pathogens upon entry.

Antigen

• Typically a foreign substance that triggers antibody production.

Archaea

• Domain consisting of unicellular prokaryotes characterized by the absence of peptidoglycan in cell walls.

ATP

• Nucleotide crucial for storing and transferring energy within cells.

Autotroph

• Organisms capable of producing energy-rich food from sunlight or chemicals, known as producers.

Bacteria

• Domain of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan-containing cell walls.

Bacteriophage

• A virus that specifically infects bacteria.

Base Deletion

• Mutation involving the loss of nucleotide pairs leading to significant protein changes.

Base Insertion

• Mutation that introduces additional nucleotide pairs, affecting protein function.

Base-Pair Substitution

• A point mutation where one nucleotide pair is replaced by another.

Behavioral Adaptation

• Inherited behaviors aiding survival, such as predator evasion and mating strategies.

Binary Fission

• Asexual reproduction method in prokaryotes where one cell divides into two identical cells.

Fetus

• Later developmental stage of an unborn or unhatched vertebrate, displaying features of a mature animal.

Fever

• Elevated body temperature indicating a physiological response.

Fitness

• An individual's capability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.

Food Chain

• Sequential transfer of energy through organisms as they consume one another.

Food Web

• Interconnected diagram demonstrating feeding relationships within an ecosystem.

Fossil

• Remnants or impressions of ancient organisms preserved in geological formations.

Gamete

• Reproductive cells (egg or sperm) containing half the typical chromosome number.

Gene

• DNA sequence that encodes for proteins, influencing traits.

Binomial Nomenclature

• Two-part scientific naming system for species, comprising genus and species names.

Biodiversity

• The variety of species present in a specific ecosystem.

Biogeochemical Cycle

• A continuous cycle involving the movement of elements and compounds among living organisms and the environment.

Biomass

• Overall quantity of living matter at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Capsid

• Protein shell encasing the nucleic acid of a virus.

Carbohydrate

• Organic compounds serving as energy sources, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Carbon Cycle

• The process of carbon circulation between the atmosphere and living organisms.

Carnivore

• Organisms that exclusively consume other consumers.

Catalyst

• Substances like enzymes that enhance chemical reaction rates.

Cell

• The fundamental unit of life.

Cell Cycle

• Series of growth and reproductive phases in cells: interphase and mitosis (including cytokinesis).

Cell Division

• The division process resulting in two daughter cells from a single parent cell.

Cell Membrane

• Lipid bilayer forming the cell's outer boundary.

Cell Wall

• Rigid structure surrounding the cell membrane, providing support.

Cellular Respiration

• Energy-releasing process involving glucose breakdown in the presence of oxygen.

Centriole

• Structures that arrange spindle fibers during animal cell mitosis.

Centromere

• Region where sister chromatids of a chromosome are connected.

Chlorophyll

• Green pigment vital for absorbing sunlight in plants for photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

• Organelles in plant cells that convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Chromatid

• One of two identical strands of a duplicated chromosome.

Gradualism

• Evolution model proposing slow, gradual changes lead to diversity over time.

Guard Cell

• Specialized cells that regulate the opening and closing of stomata.

Habitat

• Specific environment where an organism resides.

Haploid Number

• Condition where a cell contains half the total chromosome count, typical in gametes.

Herbivore

• Organisms that solely consume producers.

Heterozygous

• Possessing two different alleles for a given trait.

Homeostasis

• Maintaining a stable internal environment by organisms.

Chromosome

• Condensed form of genetic material during cell division.

Climax Community

• Ecosystem stage characterized by stability and longevity reached after succession.

Codon

• Three-nucleotide sequence in RNA that corresponds to specific amino acids.

Commensalism

• Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected.

Competition

• Struggle for survival among organisms in resource-limited habitats.

Concentration Gradient

• Disparity in substance concentration across a membrane.

Conclusion

• Summarization of learning outcomes from an experimental process.

Consumer

• Organisms that derive energy by feeding on others.

Crossing Over

• Genetic material exchange between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Cytokinesis

• Splitting of the cytoplasm following cell division.

Cytoplasm

• Gel-like substance within cells where organelles reside.

Data

• Information collected through observation.

Decomposer

• Organisms that break down dead organic materials for energy.

Deforestation

• Clearing or removal of forest areas.

Differentiation

• Process by which cells attain specialized structures and functions.

Diffusion

• Movement of molecules from higher to lower concentration areas, occurring passively.

Dihybrid Cross

• Genetic cross examining two traits with two alleles each.

Diploid Number

• Condition with two of each type of chromosome present.

Disturbance

• Events that disrupt ecosystems, including natural disasters and human activities.

DNA

• Deoxyribonucleic acid containing hereditary information.

Kingdom

• Major taxonomic category consisting of closely related phyla.

Learned Behavior

• Behaviors acquired through parental teaching.

Lipid

• Macromolecules primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen; includes fats and oils.

Lysosome

• Organelle with enzymes for digesting cellular materials.

Macromolecule

• Any large, complex organic molecule.

Meiosis

• Cell division that results in gametes for sexual reproduction.

mRNA

• Messenger RNA that conveys genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes.

Metaphase

• Second mitotic phase where chromosomes align at the cell's equator.

Domain

• Broad taxonomic category encompassing kingdoms.

Dominant

• Trait that appears in an organism's phenotype when present.

Double Helix

• Structure of DNA formed by two intertwined nucleotide strands.

Ecological Succession

• Progressive changes in community composition after disturbances.

Ecosystem

• Interaction of living and non-living components in an environment.

Egg

• Female reproductive cell.

Embryo

• Early developmental stage of an organism.

Embryology

• Study of organism development from fertilization to maturity.

Endocytosis

• Cell process for substance intake via membrane enveloping; requires energy.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Membrane system aiding protein production, processing, and lipid synthesis.

Energy Pyramid

• Diagram illustrating energy transfer between feeding levels in ecosystems.

Enzyme

• Proteins that enhance the rate of biochemical reactions.

Equilibrium

• Condition where solute concentration is uniform across a solution.

Eukaryote

• Cells characterized by the presence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eutrophication

• Algal proliferation in water bodies, driven by excess nitrogen and phosphate.

Evolution

• Gradual transformation of species over time.

Exocytosis

• Vesicular process releasing contents outside of the cell; requires energy.