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.

Prepare for your Biology End of Course (EOC) exam with these flashcards covering essential concepts. Explore key terms such as activation energy, active transport, and adaptation, along with their definitions. This resource will help reinforce your understanding of biological principles and improve your exam readiness.