Flash cards to review all of the many vocabulary terms introduced to Pre-AP Biology high school students during the first semester. Topics range from the Scientific Method through Protein synthesis
283129277 | HYPOTHESIS | a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question. | |
283129278 | CONTROL | in an experiment, the standard against which results are compared | |
283129279 | INDEPENDENT VARIABLE | In an experiment, the variable that the experimenter plans to change | |
283129280 | DEPENDENT VARIABLE | the variable in a controlled experiment that is expected to change due to the manipulation of the independent variable | |
283129281 | CONCLUSION | a summary of what you have learned from an experiment | |
283129282 | RESEARCH JOURNAL | the best type of reference to look for prior scientific information when researching a scientific question, hypothesis or goal | |
283129283 | INFERENCE | a tentative conclusion reached on the basis of incomplete evidence and reasoning. | |
283129284 | HOMEOSTASIS | the process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment | |
283129285 | SPONTANEOUS GENERATION | an early and now disproved theory that living organisms can routinely come to life from nonliving material | |
283129286 | FRANCESCO REDI | Name of this scientist who in the 1600's, disproved spontaneous generation by showing that maggots do not spontaneously arise from decaying meat. | ![]() |
283129287 | ARISTOTLE | He believed that the universe was made of air, water, fire, earth and quintessence. First man to try to classify life into taxonomic groups. | ![]() |
283129288 | ABIOGENESIS | A scientific term describing the theory that life can originate from nonliving matter; spontaneous generation | |
283129289 | Anton van Leeuwenhoek | He crafted the simple microscope in the 1600's. First person to see living cells through a microscope. | ![]() |
283129290 | JOHN NEEDHAM | Scientist in 1700's who boiled nutrient broth in wax stoppered flasks. He found microbes grew even in boiled broth, thereby proving that microbes could spontaneously develop from non-life | ![]() |
283129291 | Lazzaro Spallanzani | He repeated Needham's broth flask experiment in 1700's with better stoppers. He proved that properly sealed and sterilized nutrient broth will NOT give rise to new life. Disproved Spontaneous Generation. | ![]() |
283129292 | LOUIS PASTEUR | French Biologist who designed special S-curved neck flasks. His experiments in 1864 with sterilized nutrient broths in his flasks proved once and for all that microbes and life do not spontaneously develop | ![]() |
283129293 | INTELLIGENT DESIGN | the idea that life is too complex to have developed without the hand of a supernatural being or God | |
283129294 | PANSPERMIA ABIOGENESIS | The theory that the first life on Earth came from outer space long ago | ![]() |
283129295 | CHON | the initials of the 4 most abundant elements found in all living things (the first letter of each word) | ![]() |
283129296 | PROTONS | positively charged particles in the nucleus of an atom | ![]() |
283129297 | NEUTRONS | subatomic particles in the nucleus of an atom that have no electrical charge | ![]() |
283129298 | ELECTRONS | Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom | ![]() |
283129299 | ATOMIC NUMBER | the number of protons in the nucleus of any atom | ![]() |
283129300 | ATOMIC MASS | total number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of any atom | ![]() |
283129301 | CARBON | The most important element in living cells, capable of forming lots of chemical bonds with other elements - the basis of the science of "Organic Chemistry" | ![]() |
283129302 | 6 | The atomic number of the element Carbon | |
283129303 | 8 | The atomic number of the element Oxygen | |
283129304 | ISOTOPE | atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons | ![]() |
283129305 | ORBITAL SHELL | The rings of electrons that orbit the nucleus of an atom at specific distances from the protons | ![]() |
283129306 | VALENCE SHELL | the outermost energy shell of an atom, containing the electrons involved in the chemical reactions of that atom | ![]() |
283129307 | PERIODIC TABLE | A big chart listing all of the atoms found in nature, plus atoms that humans have created | ![]() |
283129308 | 2, 8, 18 | The number of electrons that can fit into the first three valance shells | ![]() |
283129309 | Ion | an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons and has a negative or positive charge | ![]() |
283129310 | IONIC BOND | chemical/electrical bond that occurs when an atom loses one or more electrons to another atom, thereby creating ions of opposite charges | ![]() |
283129311 | NaCl | The chemical formula for table salt | |
283160975 | COVALENT BOND | A chemical bond formed when two or more atoms share electrons in their outer valence shells | ![]() |
283160976 | MOLECULE | two or more atoms of any type, bonded together | ![]() |
283160977 | COMPOUND | a molecule made up of two or more different atomic elements joined by chemical bonds | ![]() |
283160978 | ELEMENT | a pure substance made of only one kind of atom | ![]() |
283160979 | 4 | the number of chemical bonds one atom of Carbon can make with other elements | ![]() |
283160980 | HYDROCARBON | an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen | ![]() |
283160981 | MACROMOLECULE | large molecule formed by joining smaller organic molecules together | ![]() |
283160982 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | the study of the chemistry of carbon | |
283160983 | CARBOHYDRATES | compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; major source of energy for most living cells | ![]() |
283160984 | LIPIDS | organic compounds that include fats, oils and waxes; used in living cells and organisms for energy, insulation and cell structure | ![]() |
283160985 | PROTEINS | Molecules made by connecting amino acids via peptide bonds. They function as enzymes, carry out most chemical reactions in cells, and contribute to repair, reproduction and structure of tissues | ![]() |
283160986 | AMINO ACIDS | The basic building blocks of proteins; joined together by peptide bonds | ![]() |
283160987 | GLUCOSE | A simple sugar manufactured during photosynthesis. Main source of energy for plants and animals, Metabolized during cellular respiration | ![]() |
283160988 | MONOSACCHARIDE | Scientific name for simple carbohydrate sugars containing only one sugar molecule | |
283160989 | DISACCHARIDE | Scientific name for simple carbohydrate sugars containing two sugar molecules bonded together (ex: sucrose) | ![]() |
283160990 | POLYSACCHARIDE | Scientific name for complex carbohydrate sugars containing many sugar molecules bonded together (ex: starch or cellulose) | ![]() |
283160991 | CELLULOSE | A polysaccharide carbohydrate made of many glucose units bonded together, that provides structural support for plants. | ![]() |
283160992 | STARCH | A polysaccharide made up of chains of glucose molecules; food storage molecules for animal and plants. Glycogen is the name given to this substance when made by animals | ![]() |
283160993 | TRIGLYCERIDE | The basic building block of lipids; composed of three molecules of fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol | |
283160994 | ENERGY, INSULATION, CELL COMPONENTS | The three functions of lipids in living cells | ![]() |
283160995 | 20 | The number of amino acids found in nature | |
283160996 | ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS | amino acids that are needed but cannot be made by the body; they must be eaten in foods | |
283160997 | PEPTIDE BOND | A strong bond that links amino acids together in a protein | |
283160998 | DENATURATION | A change in the shape of a protein that destroys its function; caused by excessive temperatures, pH and strong chemicals | |
283160999 | DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID | The formal chemical name for DNA | ![]() |
283161000 | RIBONUCLEIC ACID | The formal chemical name for RNA | ![]() |
283161001 | NUCLEOTIDE | The basic building block of DNA, RNA and all Nucleic Acids | ![]() |
283161002 | DEOXYRIBOSE SUGAR, PHOSPHATE GROUP, NITROGEN BASE | The three organic components of the nucleotides that make up the DNA molecule | ![]() |
283161003 | RIBOSE SUGAR, PHOSPHATE GROUP, NITROGEN BASE | The three organic components of the nucleotides that make up the RNA molecule | ![]() |
283161004 | ADENINE | One of the five nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA, beginning with the letter "A" | ![]() |
283161005 | THYMINE | One of the four nucleotides that make up DNA. Not present in RNA | ![]() |
283161006 | GUANINE | One of the five nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA beginning with the letter, "G" | ![]() |
283161007 | CYTOSINE | One of the five nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA beginning with the letter, "C" | ![]() |
283161008 | URACIL | One of the four nucleotides that make up RNA. Not present in DNA | ![]() |
283220686 | ENZYME | specialized proteins that speed up chemical reactions | |
283220687 | CATALYST | a substance that speeds up chemical reactions without itself being affected | |
283220688 | ACTIVATION ENERGY | the minimum amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction in living cells | |
283220689 | ACTIVE SITE | the specific chemical location where a substrate binds to an enzyme | ![]() |
283220690 | SUBSTRATE | the substance(s) acted upon by an enzyme | ![]() |
283220691 | PRODUCT | The substance(s) that are produced when an enzyme chemically acts upon one or more substrates. | ![]() |
283220692 | LOCK AND KEY | Model of enzyme activity that explains how a particular enzyme will only accept one particular type of substrate. | ![]() |
283220693 | INDUCED FIT | The slight change in shape that occurs to an enzyme when its active site is occupied; helps the reaction to proceed | ![]() |
283220694 | H2O | The chemical formula for water | ![]() |
283220695 | POLAR | describes a molecule or compound in which the substance has a slightly positively charged end and a slightly negatively charged end. Water is the most common example of this type of molecule. | ![]() |
283220696 | 0, 100 | The freezing and boiling points of water in Celsius degrees | |
283220697 | HYDROGEN BONDS | Weak chemical bonds formed between molecules that have a slight positive charged end and a slight negative charged end | ![]() |
283220698 | SURFACE TENSION | The attraction of water molecules at the surface of liquid water that causes them to stick together, caused by polarity and hydrogen bonds | ![]() |
283220699 | CAPILLARY ACTION | A process whereby the cohesion of water molecules for each other results in liquid water moving upward through the stems of plants to replace water lost from leaves by evaporation | ![]() |
283220700 | COHESION | The tendency of polar molecules (such as water) to stick to each other and form droplets | ![]() |
283220701 | ADHESION | The tendency of electrically charged molecules such as water or other polar molecules to stick to surfaces | ![]() |
283220702 | DISSOLUTION | The separation and disintegration of a Solute into a liquid solvent | ![]() |
283220703 | SOLUTION | mixture of two or more substances that have dissolved so that the molecules are evenly distributed | |
283220704 | DIFFUSION | the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration | ![]() |
283220705 | UNIVERSAL SOLVENT | Water can dissolve so many solutes that it is called this. | |
283220706 | OSMOSIS | The movement of water into or out of a cell through the cell membrane, due to differences in concentration of solutes between the inside and outside of the cell | ![]() |
283220707 | ISOTONIC | a solution that has equal amounts of solute (substances) in it when compared to its surroundings. Cells in this condition will neither gain nor lose water through osmosis. | ![]() |
283220708 | HYPERTONIC | a solution that has more solute (substances) in it than its surroundings. Cells in this condition will gain water and swell through osmosis | ![]() |
283220709 | HYPOTONIC | a solution that has less solute (substances) in it than its surroundings. Cells in this condition will lose water and shrink through osmosis. | ![]() |
283220710 | TRANSPIRATION | The evaporation of water from plant leaves into the air | ![]() |
283220711 | CELL THEORY | The 3-part idea that (1) all living things are composed of cells, (2) cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things, and (3) new cells are produced from existing cells | ![]() |
283220712 | ROBERT HOOKE | First scientist to discover that life is made of "cells". He studied cork under the microscope; named the little compartments that he saw as "cells" | ![]() |
283220713 | UNICELLULAR | Organisms made of only one single cell | ![]() |
283220714 | MULTICELLULAR | Organisms made of many individual cells, sometimes of different types | ![]() |
283220715 | DIFFERENTIATION | Process in which cells undergo internal changes to become specialized in structure and function. | ![]() |
283220716 | STEM CELL | unspecialized parent cell that can change and differentiate to become many different types of cells | ![]() |
283220717 | Atoms, Molecules, Organelles, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ systems, Organism | The 8 categories from simplest to most complex in living beings (separated by commas) | ![]() |
283220718 | PROKARYOTE | A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. Bacteria are the primary example. | ![]() |
283220719 | EUKARYOTE | A unicellular or multicellular organism whose cells have a nucleus and many membrane bound organelles. Examples include animals, plants, protists and fungi | ![]() |
283262518 | PRIMITIVE PROKARYOTE BACTERIA | The first life form on Earth, based upon the latest scientific evidence | ![]() |
283262519 | PLANT, ANIMAL, PROTIST, FUNGI | The four kingdoms of eukaryote organisms on Earth | ![]() |
283262520 | ORGANELLES | Specialized structures inside cells that carry out specific functions | ![]() |
283262521 | CELL MEMBRANE | The outer barrier of a cell made of phospholipid molecules and proteins; it is semi-permeable and regulates what enters and leaves the cell | ![]() |
283262522 | PROTEIN CHANNELS | Molecules embedded in cell membranes that open or close to allow passage of substances into or out of the cell | ![]() |
283262523 | ACTIVE TRANSPORT | The movement of materials through a cell membrane using cellular energy (usually ATP) | |
283262524 | PASSIVE TRANSPORT | The movement of materials through a cell membrane without the need to use energy | |
283262525 | CELL WALL | A rigid protective structure that surrounds the cell membranes of plants and most bacteria. Made of Cellulose in plants. Provides support for the plant as well as protection | ![]() |
283262526 | CYTOPLASM | The liquid jelly-like fluid inside a cell, plus all of the organelles floating in it | |
283262527 | CYTOSOL | The liquid jelly-like fluid inside a cell; provides a place for cell chemistry to occur | |
283262528 | NUCLEUS | The organelle in a cell that houses the DNA and RNA that controls the design and characteristics of the organism | ![]() |
283262529 | NUCLEOLUS | An organelle inside the nucleus where ribosomes are manufactured | ![]() |
283262530 | NUCLEAR PORES | The openings in the nuclear envelope made of proteins which regulate what substances can enter or leave the nucleus | ![]() |
283262531 | CHROMATIN | The thin form of DNA that is formed inside the cell by proteins that wrap DNA around histone balls to keep the DNA from tangling. DNA remains in this state until cell division. It is this material that is copied/replicated during the S phase of the cell cycle, just prior to cell division. | ![]() |
283262532 | CHROMOSOME | The thick form of DNA that results when chromatin is coiled and condensed into these dense structures during the beginning of prophase in Mitosis. Visible under a microscope. | ![]() |
283262533 | ROUGH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM | An organelle partially surrounding the nucleus consisting of folded layers of membranes with ribosomes embedded in its walls; Involved in the production of proteins | ![]() |
283262534 | SMOOTH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM | An organelle consisting of folded layers of membranes that have no ribosomes associated with it; Involved in the production of cell components, regulation of calcium and destruction of toxic substances in the cell. In communication with the rough ER. | ![]() |
283262535 | CYTOSKELETON | a network of microtubule fibers within the cytoplasm that holds the cell together, maintains cell shape and helps move organelles around inside the cytoplasm | ![]() |
283262536 | CENTRIOLES | two tiny tubular barrel-like structures located in the cytoplasm that separate and take up positions on opposite sides of the nucleus to assist in cell division. | ![]() |
283262537 | MITOCHONDRIA | Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production during aerobic cell respiration | ![]() |
283262538 | RIBOSOMES | Tiny organelles made of protein and rRNA that populate the cell cytoplasm and are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. Some cells may contain thousands of them | ![]() |
283262539 | GOLGI BODY | Organelle in the cell where proteins are folded, then packaged for transport to other parts of the cell or for passage out of the cell through the cell membrane | ![]() |
283262540 | LYSOSOMES | small, round organelles containing digestive enzymes and chemicals used to break down certain materials and wastes in the cell | ![]() |
283262541 | CILIA | Tiny organelles on the outside of some cells shaped like "hairs", that move and help the cell to move or to obtain food. Many protists have them. In humans, cells in our lungs and in the female fallopian tubes possess them. | ![]() |
283262542 | FLAGELLA | Tiny organelles shaped like whip-like tails found in one-celled organisms that aid the cell in movement. In humans, male sperm contains them. | ![]() |
283262543 | VACUOLE | cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates. Can be quite large in plant cells. Small or absent in animal cells. | ![]() |
283262544 | CHLOROPLAST | The complex organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll, and is the site of Photosynthesis. A plant cell can contain dozens of them. | ![]() |
283262545 | CHLOROPHYLL | The organic chemical in plants that absorbs sunlight and initiates the process of photosynthesis | ![]() |
283262546 | PHOTOSYNTHESIS | Process by which plant cells use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugar | ![]() |
283262547 | LIGHT REACTIONS | Phase of photosynthesis where light energy is captured and converted into compounds that will be used later to produce sugars; results in the splitting of water and release of oxygen | ![]() |
283262548 | SUNLIGHT, WATER, CO2 | The three substances plants use in the process of photosynthesis | |
283262549 | SUGAR, OXYGEN | The two substances produced by plants in the process of Photosynthesis | |
283262550 | DARK REACTIONS | Phase of photosynthesis where CO2 is absorbed by the plant and assembled into a larger molecule of sugar. Does not require light. Also called the CALVIN CYCLE. | |
283262551 | ADP and NADP+ | Molecules used in both Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration as "electron carriers"; both molecules participate in many reactions and are converted to ATP and NADPH | |
283262552 | ATP | Adenosine Triphosphate - the key organic molecule made during photosynthesis and cell respiration that serves as the main energy source for cell processes; composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and three phosphate groups | ![]() |
283262553 | ADP | (Adenosine Diphosphate) The compound that remains when a phosphate group is removed from ATP, releasing energy. It is the raw material that is converted to ATP during cell respiration and photosynthesis. | ![]() |
283262554 | Adenine, Ribose, Three Phosphate Groups | The three specific components in the chemical structure of ATP | ![]() |
283262555 | GLYCOLYSIS | first step in cellular respiration, in which a molecule of glucose is broken into two molecules of pyruvate and 2 ATP molecules are produced | ![]() |
283262556 | KREBS/CITRIC ACID CYCLE | Second stage in aerobic cell respiration whereby pyruvate molecules are further broken down into CO2, plus two additional ATP molecules plus additional substances that will be used in the last phase of respiration | ![]() |
283262557 | ELECTRON TRANSPORT | The last stage of aerobic cell respiration whereby oxygen is used by the cell along with "carrier" molecules from earlier stages in respiration, to produce 32 ATP molecules, plus water | ![]() |
283262558 | 36 | The total number of ATP high energy molecules produced by aerobic cell respiration | |
283262559 | SUGAR, OXYGEN | The two raw materials used by cells in aerobic respiration | |
283262560 | CO2, WATER, 36 ATP | The three products that result in cells from aerobic respiration | |
283262561 | ANAEROBIC FERMENTATION | Form of cellular respiration in which cells get the energy they need through the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen. Will produce lactic acid or alcohol as end-products | |
283262562 | LACTIC ACID | A main waste product produced by animal cells during anaerobic respiration in the absence of oxygen. It causes burning pain in muscles. | |
283269443 | GENE | A portion of a DNA molecule that codes for the manufacture of proteins, or other cell traits | ![]() |
283269444 | JUNK DNA | That portion of the DNA genome in all living cells that does not appear to code for anything; inactive. Accumulates in cell DNA through inheritance from distant ancestors and through mutations | |
283269445 | PROMOTERS, SUPPRESSORS | Specific sections of DNA that appear to control the activity of other DNA genes; they can turn on genes or turn them off | |
283269446 | TRANSCRIPTION | The process whereby whole or partial sections of DNA are copied and fabricated into mRNA inside the nucleus | ![]() |
283269447 | DNA REPLICATION | The process by which an entire strand of DNA is copied and duplicated, just prior to the beginning of cell division (Mitosis or Meiosis) | ![]() |
283269448 | mRNA (Messenger RNA) | The complimentary strand of RNA that is produced inside the nucleus when a section of a DNA gene is copied and transcribed. It will pass out of the nucleus through a nuclear pore and be used by ribosomes as a template to make proteins | ![]() |
283269449 | tRNA (Transfer RNA) | The form of RNA floating freely in the cytosol that has amino acids attached to it. Will be grabbed and used by ribosomes during protein synthesis to make proteins | ![]() |
283269450 | CODON | A specific sequence of three adjacent bases on a strand of mRNA that provides a ribosome with genetic code information for a particular amino acid | ![]() |
283269451 | ANTICODON | A sequence of three bases of a tRNA molecule that pairs with the complementary three-nucleotide codon of an mRNA molecule during protein synthesis. | ![]() |
283269452 | START CODON | A specific codon (AUG) that signals to ribosomes to begin the assembly of a protein | |
283269453 | STOP CODON | A specific codon that signals to ribosomes to end the assembly of a protein. There are three different ones. | |
283269617 | BIOLOGY | The science of the study of life | |
283276246 | GENOME | The complete set of DNA instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. | ![]() |
283276247 | HUMAN GENOME PROJECT | completed worldwide scientific effort to determine the nucleotide sequence of the entire human DNA genome | ![]() |
284238851 | TRANSLATION | The process by which mRNA enters the ribosome and is used as a template for tRNA to form a chain of amino acids. This produces a protein. | ![]() |
286758073 | Helicase | The enzyme used by cells to uncoil the DNA double Helix into two separate strands inside the nucleus prior to DNA replication | ![]() |
286758074 | DNA Polymerase | The enzyme used by cells in the nucleus to copy one side of an unwound DNA strand and assemble a complimentary matching DNA strand | ![]() |
291361510 | RNA Polymerase | The enzyme in the nucleus that unwinds the DNA double helix to expose a gene section, and makes a complimentary copy of mRNA from that gene | ![]() |
436327205 | Alcohol | An end-product of anaerobic fermentation, produced particularly by yeast cells in the absence of oxygen | |
436369373 | 2, 8, 18, 32 | How many electrons each of the first four shells in atoms can hold? | |
436369374 | Glycogen | A form of starch polysaccharide made by animal cells, particularly in the liver of mammals. Quickly breaks up into individual glucose units when needed for energy. | |
436384930 | CALVIN CYCLE | Phase of photosynthesis where CO2 is absorbed by the plant and assembled into a larger molecule of sugar. Does not require light. Also called the "Dark Reactions" | |
436390257 | Temperature, pH, concentration | The three physical characteristics that affect the speed at which an enzyme functions | |
436390258 | Denaturation | a structural change in a protein/enzyme that results in a loss of its biological properties |