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H. Biology Vocab

bold face terms from chapters 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12

Terms

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cellulose
polysaccharide consisting of glucose monomers that reinforces plant-cell walls
inorganic molecule
non-carbon-based molecule
carrier
individual who has one copy of the allele for a recessive disorder and does not exhibit symptoms
aerobic
requiring oxygen
genetic linkage
tendency for alleles of genes on the same chromosome to be inherited together
eukaryotic cell
cell with a nucleus (surrounded by its own membrane) and other internal organelles
organic molecule
carbon-based molecule
hydrogen bond
bond created by the weak attraction of a slightly positive hydrogen atom to a slightly negative portion of another molecule
RNA splicing
process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined together
anticodon
in tRNA, a triplet of nitrogenous bases that is complementary to a specific codon in mRNA
monohybrid cross
mating of two organisms that differ in only one character
spindle
framework of microtubules that guide the movement of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis
hypothesis
suggested, testable answer to a well-defined scientific question
lysosome
membrane-bound sac containing digestive enzymes that can break down proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides
glycolisis
the splitting in half of a glucose molecule; the first stage of cellular respiration and fermentation
species
distinct form of life
product
material created as a result of a chemical reaction
substrate
specific reactant acted on by an enzyme
flagella
long, thin, whip-like structures, with a core of microtubules, that enable some cells to move
allele
alternative form of a gene
oncogene
cancer-causing gene
reactant
starting material for a chemical reaction
isotope
one of several forms of an element, each containing the same number of protons in their atoms but a different number of neutrons
autotroph
organism that makes its own food
ph scale
a range of numbers used to describe how acidic or basic a solution is; ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic)
chloroplast
organelle found in some plant cells and certain unicellular organisms where photosynthesis takes place
observation
use of the senses to gather and record information about structures or processes in nature
light reactions
chemical reactions that convert the sun's energy to chemical energy; take place in the membranes of thylakoids in the chloroplast
mitochondria
cellular organelles where cellular respiration occurs
atom
smallest particle of an element
adhesion
attraction between unlike molecules
trace element
element critical to health that makes up less than 0.01 percent of body mass
monosaccharide
sugar containing one sugar unit
crossing over
exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis
mitotic phase
stage of the cell cycle when a cell is actively dividing
anaphase
third phase of mitosis and of meiosis I and II, in which the sister chromatids separate and move toward the poles of the spindle
solvent
substance in a solution that dissolves the other substance and is present in the greater amount
homeostasis
internal stability or "steady state" maintained by the body
enzyme
specialized protein that catalyzes the chemical reactions of a cell
domain
broadest category used to classify life forms
diffusion
net movement of the particles of a substance from where they are more concentrated to where they are less concentrated
recessive
descriptive of an allele in a heterozygous individual that does not appear to affect a trait
asexual reproduction
process in which a single cell or set of cells produces offspring that inherit all their genetic material from one parent
cell cycle
sequence of events from the production of a eukaryotic cell to the time the cell itself reproduces
benign tumor
mass of cells that remain at their original site
cellular respiration
chemical process that uses oxygen to convert chemical energy stored in organic molecules into ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
genetic recombination
new combination of genetic information in a gamete as a result of crossing over during prophase I of meiosis
eukaryotic cells
cell with a nucleus (surrounded by its own membrane) and other internal organelles
radioactive isotope
isotope in which the nucleus decays (breaks down) over time, giving off radiation in the form of matter and energy
hydrocarbon
organic molecule composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms
gene locus
specific location of a gene on a chromosome
unsaturated fats
fat with less than the maximum number of hydrogens in one or more of its fatty acid chains
DNA polymerase
enzyme that makes the covalent bonds between the nucleotides of new DNA strands
cytoplasm
region of a cell between the nucleus and the plasma membrane
covalent bond
chemical bond that forms when two atoms share electrons
deletion
change to a chromosome in which a fragment of the chromosome is removed
neutron
subatomic particle that has no charge (is electrically neutral)
gamete
egg or sperm sex cell that contains a single set of chromosomes, one from each homologous pair
system
complex organization formed from a simpler combination of parts
passive transport
diffusion across a membrane requiring only the random motion of molecules with no energy expended by the cell
aqueous solution
solution in which water is the solvent
greenhouse effect
process by which atmospheric gases trap heat close to Earth's surface and prevent it from escaping into space
natural selection
process by which individuals with inherited characteristics well-suited to the environment leave more offspring than do other individuals
controlled experiment
experiment that tests the effect of a single variable
starch
polysaccharide in plant cells that consists entirely of glucose monomers
chemical energy
potential to perform work due to the arrangement of atoms within molecules
sex chromosome
one of two chromosomes of the 23rd pair of human chromosomes, which determine an individual's gender
nuclear envelope
double membrane that surrounds a cell nucleus
DNA
molecule responsible for inheritance; nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose
tRNA
RNA that translates the three-letter codons of mRNA to amino acids
steroid
lipid molecule with four fused carbon rings
amino acid
monomer that makes up proteins; contains carboxyl and amino functional groups
biosphere
all the parts of the planet that are inhabited by living things; sum of all Earth's ecosystems
cell theory
generalization that all living things are composed of cells, and that cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things
carbon cycle
process by which carbon moves from inorganic to organic compounds and back
cell plate
disk containing cell wall material that develops in plant cells during cytokinesis, eventually dividing the cell into two daughter cells
translation
process by which a sequence of nucleic acids in RNA is used to direct the production of a chain of specific amino acids
base
compound that removes H+ ions from an aqueous solution and that measures more than 7 on the pH scale
golgi apparatus
cellular organelle that modifies, stores, and routes cell products
cholesterol
steroid molecule present in the plasma membranes of animal cells
photosynthesis
process by which plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars
cell wall
strong wall outside a plant cell's plasma membrane that protects the cell and maintains its shape
model
physical, mental, or mathematical representation of how people understand a process or an idea
growth factor
protein that initiates cell division
exon
coding region in RNA transcript
down syndrome
general set of symptoms in people with trisomy 21
DNA replication
process of copying DNA molecules
matter
anything that occupies space and has mass
chromosome theory of inheritance
generalization that genes are located on chromosomes and that the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis and fertilization accounts for inheritance patterns
chemical reaction
breaking of old and formation of new chemical bonds that result in new substances
multicellular
consisting of many cells
anaerobic
without oxygen
polypeptide
chain of linked amino acids
dihybrid characters
mating of two organisms that differ in two characters
telophase
final stage of mitosis and of meiosis I and II, in which the chromosomes reach the spindle poles, nuclear envelopes form around each set of daughter chromosomes, and the nucleoli reappear
population
group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area at the same time
RNA
nucleic acid containing the sugar ribose
lipid
one of a class of water-avoiding compounds
technology
application of scientific understanding for a specific purpose
gene
unit of inherited information in DNA
phenotype
observable traits of an organism
active site
region of an enzyme into which a particular substrate fits
nucleus
in an atom, the central core that contains protons and neutrons (Concept 4.2); in a cell, the part that houses the cell's genetic material in the form of DNA
carbohydrate
organic compound made of sugar molecules
variable
any factor in an experiment that is not constant (any factor that can change)
cohesion
tendency of molecules of the same kind to stick to one another
rRNA
RNA component of ribosomes
nucleolus
ball-like mass of fibers and granules in a cell nucleus
diploid
having two homologous sets of chromosomes
mutagen
physical or chemical agent that causes mutations
electron
subatomic particle with a single unit of negative electric charge (-)
Punnet square
diagram showing the probabilities of the possible outcomes of a genetic cross
microtubule
straight, hollow tube of proteins that gives rigidity, shape, and organization to a cell
kinetic energy
energy of motion
endocytosis
process of taking material into a cell within vesicles that bud inward from the plasma membrane
ion
atom that has become electrically charged as a result of gaining or losing an electron
disaccharide
sugar containing two monosaccharides
inversion
change to a chromosome in which a fragment of the original chromosome is reversed
cells
basic unit of living matter; separated from its environment by a plasma membrane
evidence
collected body of data from observations and experiments
chloroplast
organelle found in some plant cells and certain unicellular organisms where photosynthesis takes place
bacteriaphage
virus that infects bacteria; also called a "phage"
purine
double-ring nitrogenous base
sexual reproduction
process in which genetic material from two parents combines and produces offspring that differ genetically from either parent
facilitated diffusion
pathway provided by transport proteins that helps certain molecules pass through a membrane
microfilament
solid rod of protein, thinner than a microtubule, that enables a cell to move or change shape
hypertonic
having a higher concentration of solute than another solution
compound
substance containing two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio
cytokinesis
process by which the cytoplasm of a cell is divided in two; usually follows mitosis and meiosis
organelle
part of a cell with a specific function
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
intron
internal noncoding region in RNA transcript
chlorophyll
pigment that gives a chloroplast its green color; uses light energy to split water molecules during photosynthesis
chromosome
condensed threads of genetic material formed from chromatin as a cell prepares to divide
tumor suppressor gene
gene that codes for a protein that stops cell division in particular situations
saturated fat
fat in which all three fatty acid chains contain the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms
cancer
disease caused by severe disruption of the mechanisms that normally control the cell cycle
intermediate inheritance
inheritance in which heterozygotes have a phenotype intermediate between the phenotypes of the two homozygotes
calorie
amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water 1°C
ionic bond
chemical bond that occurs when an atom transfers an electron to another atom
Trisomy 21
condition in which an individual has three number 21 chromosomes, resulting in Down syndrome
prophase
first stage of mitosis and of meiosis I and II, when the already replicated chromosomes condense
activation energy
minimum amount of energy required to trigger a chemical reaction
inference
logical conclusion based on observations
ecosystem
community of living things plus the nonliving features of the environment that support them
fat
organic compound consisting of a three-carbon backbone (glycerol) attached to three fatty acids
meiosis
type of cell division that produces four cells, each with half as many chromosomes as the parent cell
mitosis
process by which the nucleus and duplicated chromosomes of a cell divide and are evenly distributed, forming two daughter nuclei
metastasis
spread of cancer cells beyond their original site in the body
codon
in RNA, a three-base "word" that codes for one amino acid
double helix
two strands of nucleotides wound about each other; structure of DNA
thermal energy
total amount of energy associated with the random movement of atoms and molecules in a sample of matter
karyotype
display of a person's 46 chromosomes
osmosis
passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane
nondisjunction
event during meiosis in which homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids fail to separate
potential energy
energy stored due to an object's position or arrangement
selectively permeable membrane
membrane that allows some substances to pass more easily than others and blocks the passage of some substances altogether
dominant
descriptive of an allele in a heterozygous individual that appears to be the only one affecting a trait
Calvin cycle
cycle in plants that makes sugar from carbon dioxide, H+ ions, and high-energy electrons carried by NADPH
cross-fertilization
process by which sperm from one flower's pollen fertilizes the eggs in a flower of a different plant
atomic number
number of protons in an atom's nucleus; is unique for each element
codominance
inheritance pattern in which a heterozygote expresses the distinct traits of both alleles
mutation
any change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA
metabolism
all of a cell's chemical processes
element
pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means
malignant tumor
mass of abnormal cells resulting from uncontrolled cancer cell division
functional group
group of atoms within a molecule that interacts in predictable ways with other molecules
adaption
inherited characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment
transcription
process by which a DNA template is used to produce a single-stranded RNA molecule
tetrad
group of four chromatids formed during prophase I of meiosis by the two sister chromatids in each of the two homologous chromosomes
active transport
movement of molecules across a membrane requiring energy to be expended by the cell
heterozygous
having different alleles for a gene
ribosome
cluster of proteins and nucleic acids that constructs proteins in a cell
homozygous
having identical alleles for a gene
ATP synthase
protein structure in cell mitochondria that uses energy from H+ ions to convert ADP to ATP
buffer
substance that maintains a fairly constant pH in a solution by accepting H+ ions when their levels rise and donating H+ ions when their levels fall
polymer
long chain of small molecular units (monomers)
equilibrium
point at which the number of diffusing molecules moving in one direction is equal to the number moving in the opposite direction
stroma
thick fluid contained in the inner membrane of a chloroplast
acid
compound that donates H+ ions to an aqueous solution and measures less than 7 on the pH scale
molecule
two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
transposon
genetic element that moves from one location to another in a genome
trait
variation of a particular inherited character
evolution
generation-to-generation change in the proportion of different inherited genes in a population that account for all of the changes that have transformed life over an immense time
haploid
having a single set of chromosomes
vesicle
small membrane-bound sac that functions in moving products into, out of, and within a cell
chromatin
combination of DNA and protein molecules, in the form of long, thin fibers, making up the genetic material in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell
zygote
diploid cell formed when the nucleus of a haploid sperm cell fuses with the nucleus of a haploid egg cell
hybrid
offspring of two different true-breeding varieties
centromere
region where two sister chromatids are joined tightly together
genotype
genetic makeup of an organism; an organism's combination of alleles
phospolipid bilayer
two-layer "sandwich" of molecules that surrounds a cell
sister chromatid
one of a pair of identical chromosomes created before a cell divides
pedigree
family tree that records and traces the occurrence of a trait in a family
nitrogenous base
single or double ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms with attached functional groups, found in nucleic acids
virus
package of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat that must use a host cell's machinery to reproduce itself
solution
uniform mixture of two or more substances
solute
substance in a solution that is dissolved and is present in a lesser amount
hypotonic
having a lower concentration of solute than another solution
thylakoid
disk-shaped sac in the stroma of a chloroplast; site of the light reactions of photosynthesis
nucleotide
building block (monomer) of nucleic acid polymers
genetics
study of heredity
generalization
general conclusion
translocation
change to a chromosome in which a fragment of one chromosome attaches to a nonhomologous chromosome
pyrimidine
single-ring nitrogenous base
consumer
organism that obtains food by eating producers (autotrophs) or other consumers
unicellular
consisting of a single cell
genetic counselor
person trained to collect, analyze, and explain data about human inheritance patterns
endoplasmic reticulum
network of membranes within a cell's cytoplasm that produces a variety of molecules
Krebs cycle
stage of cellular respiration that finishes the breakdown of pyruvic acid molecules to carbon dioxide, releasing energy
RNA polymerase
transcription enzyme that links RNA nucleotides together
polar molecule
molecule in which opposite ends have opposite electric charges
homologous chromosome
one of a matching pair of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent
prokaryotic cells
cell lacking a nucleus and most other organelles
plasma membrane
thin outer boundary of a cell that regulates the traffic of chemicals between the cell and its surroundings
protein
polymer constructed from a set of 20 amino acid monomers
monomer
small molecular unit that is the building block of a larger molecule
exocytosis
process of exporting proteins from a cell by a vesicle fusing with the plasma membrane and spilling the proteins outside the cell
hydrophobic
avoids water molecules
sex-linked gene
located on a sex chromosome
data
recorded observations or items of information
interphase
stage of the cell cycle during which a cell carries out its metabolic processes and performs its functions in the body
thermal energy
total amount of energy associated with the random movement of atoms and molecules in a sample of matter
test cross
mating of an individual of unknown genotype but dominant phenotype with a homozygous recessive individual
cilia
short structures projecting from a cell and containing bundles of microtubules that move a cell through its surroundings or move fluid over the cell's surface
heterotroph
organism that obtains food by eating other organisms
denaturation
loss of normal shape of a protein due to heat or other factor
centrosome
region of cytoplasmic material that in animal cells contains structures called centrioles
polgenic inheritance
combined effect of two or more genes on a single character
isotonic
having a solute concentration equal to that of another solution
catalyst
agent that speeds up chemical reactions
polysaccharide
long polymer chain made up of simple sugar monomers
producer
organism that makes its own food (autotroph) and produces organic molecules that serve as food for other organisms in its ecosystem
organism
living thing
duplication
change to a chromosome in which part of the chromosome is repeated
histone
small protein that DNA wraps around
micrograph
photograph of the view through a microscope
hydrophillic
attracts water molecules
proton
subatomic particle with a single unit of positive electric charge (+)
vacuole
membrane-bound sac that buds from the endoplasmic reticulum or the Golgi apparatus
temperature
measure of the average energy of random motion of particles in a substance
mRNA
RNA molecule transcribed from a DNA template
glycogen
polysaccharide in animal cells that consists of many glucose monomers
fertilization
the fusion of the nucleus of a haploid sperm cell and the nucleus of a haploid egg cell, forming a diploid zygote
genome
complete set of an organism's genetic material
prokaryotic cell
cell lacking a nucleus and most other organelles
theory
well-tested explanation that makes sense of a great variety of scientific observations
fermentation
cellular process of making ATP without oxygen
metaphase
second stage of mitosis and of meiosis I and II when the spindle is fully formed and all of the chromosomes are held in place

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