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AP Biology: Core Vocab Flashcards

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6934295170Control group/experimentin an experiment the setup that provides a basis of comparison is a0
6934295171Controlled variablesAll those things that must be kept the same during the investigation to produce a valid, fair test.1
6934295172Independent variableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.2
6934295173Dependent variableThe experimental factor that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable3
6934295174AcidA species that is a proton donor; A compound that produces hydrogen ions in a solution4
6934295175BaseA proton acceptor; A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.5
6934295176pH scalemeasurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 146
6934295177BufferA chemical substance that resists changes in pH by accepting hydrogen ions from or donating hydrogen ions to solutions7
6934295178Covalent bondA chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule8
6934295179ElectronegativityAttraction of an atom for electrons in a covalent bond.9
6934295180Hydrogen bondA type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.10
6934295181PolarityUneven distribution of electrical charge within the molecule11
6934295182Hydrogen iona positively charged ion (H+) formed of a hydrogen atom that has lost its electron; a proton12
6934295183HydrophilicAttracted to water; Soluble in water. Either polar or ionic.13
6934295184Hydrophobic"Water-fearing"; pertaining to nonpolar molecules (or parts of molecules) that do not dissolve in water.14
6934295185IonAn atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons; A positively or negatively charged atom15
6934295186Ionic bondThe attraction between oppositely charged ions.16
6934295187Nonpolar covalent bondA type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms of similar electronegativity.17
6934295188Polar covalent bondA covalent bond between atoms that differ in electronegativity. The shared electrons are pulled closer to the more electronegative atom, making it slightly negative and the other atom slightly positive.18
6934295189Surface tensioncreated by attractive cohesive forces between molecules of a liquid; prevents molecules from separating at the surface19
6934295190ADPadenosine diphosphate; molecule that ATP becomes when it gives up one of its three phosphate groups20
6934295191ATPA nucleotide composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups; releases energy when hydrolyzed to ADP; used to store and transport energy needed for biochemical reactions.21
6934295192Carbohydrates"Compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the approximate ratio of C:2H:O (e.g., sugars, starches, and cellulose)"22
6934295193CelluloseA substance (made of sugars) that is found in the cell walls of plants23
6934295194Chaperone proteinProteins that help other proteins fold properly24
6934295195Complementary base pairingHydrogen bonding between particular pyrimidines and purines. Adenine & Thymine. Cytosine & Guanine.25
6934295196Dehydration synthesisA chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.26
6934295197DenatureTo change the shape of a protein and render it ineffective.27
6934295198DNAA complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.28
6934295199EnzymeA type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing; -ase; biological catalyst; decreases activation energy of a reaction.29
6934295200LipidEnergy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.30
6934295201ProteinAn organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells31
6934295202GlucoseA simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates32
6934295203GlycogenAn extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.33
6934295204StarchA storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose.34
6934295205HemoglobinIron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen and transports it to the body35
6934295206HydrolysisBreaking down complex molecules by the chemical addition of water36
6934295207MyoglobinAn oxygen-storing, pigmented protein in muscle cells.37
6934295208NucleotideA building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.38
6934295209Peptide bondThe chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid39
6934295210PhospholipidA molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail.40
6934295211PrionSmall infectious protein that causes rare, fatal degenerative diseases of nervous system41
6934295212DeoxyriboseA five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides42
6934295213RiboseA five-carbon sugar present in RNA43
6934295214RNAA type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U); usually single-stranded; functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses.44
6934295215SteroidLipids that act as chemical messengers; A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various functional groups attached.45
6934295216Saturated fatty acidA fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can attach to the carbon skeleton.46
6934295217Unsaturated fatty acidA fatty acid possessing one or more double bonds between the carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton.47
6934295218Cell wallA rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to cell48
6934295219VacuoleCell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates49
6934295220CentrioleStructure in an animal cell that helps to organize cell division50
6934295221ChloroplastAn organelle found in plant cells and the cells of other eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms where photosynthesis occurs.51
6934295222ChromatinSubstance found in eukaryotic chromosomes that consists of DNA tightly coiled around histones52
6934295223ChromosomeA tightly wound bundle of DNA53
6934295224CyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic, oxygen-producing bacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae).54
6934295225Cytoplasm/cytosolA jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended55
6934295226CytoskeletonA network of fibers that holds the cell together, helps the cell to keep its shape, and aids in movement56
6934295227Endomembrane systemThe collection of membranes inside and around a eukaryotic cell, related either through direct physical contact or by the transfer of membranous vesicles; includes the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and vacuoles.57
6934295228Endosymbiotic theorya theory that states that certain kinds of prokaryotes began living inside of larger cells and evolved into the organelles of modern-day eukaryotes58
6934295229EukaryotesOrganisms whose cells contain a membrane bound nucleus and other organelles59
6934295230ProkaryotesCells that do not contain nuclei; Bacteria60
6934295231Golgi apparatusAn organelle in eukaryotic cells consisting of stacks of flat membranous sacs that modify, store, and route products of the endoplasmic reticulum.61
6934295232LysosomeA small round cell structure that contains chemicals that break down large food particles into smaller ones62
6934295233Plasma membraneA selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of the cells63
6934295234Ribosomesite of protein synthesis; consists of rRNA and protein molecules, which make up two subunits.64
6934295235Rough ERA network of interconnected membranous sacs in a eukaryotic cell's cytoplasm; covered with ribosomes that make membrane proteins and secretory proteins.65
6934295236Vesiclestransport sac made of membrane inside of cells66
6934295237Smooth ERSynthesis of lipids, phospholipids and steroid sex hormones-help detoxify drugs and poisons (liver cells).67
6934295238OrganelleA tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell68

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