Biology Unit 2

Eukaryotic

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane and whose DNA is bound together by proteins

Prokaryotes

A microscopic single-celled organism

Nucleus

A membrane-bound organelle that contains a cell's DNA

Cytoplasm

The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.

Plasma membrane

a microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins that forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell

Phospholipids

A lipid containing a phosphate group in its molecule

Hydrophobic

tending to repel or fail to mix with water.

Hydrophilic

Having a tendency to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water.

Selective Permeability

A proper ty of cellular membranes that only allows certain molecules to enter or exit the cell.

Concentration Gradient

The process of particles moving through a solution from an area with a higher number of particles to an area with a lower number of particles.

Diffusion

The spontaneous net movement of particles down their concentration gradient

Osmosis

a process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one

Solvent

The components of a solvent that is present in the greatest amount. It is the substance in which the solute is dissolved

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in liquid

Isotonic

The concentration of solutes is the same inside and outside the cell

Hypotonic

The concentration of solutes is greater on inside the cell than outside of it.

Hypertonic

The concentration of solutes is greater outside the cell than inside

Facilitated diffusion

The process of spontaneous passive transport of molecules or ions across a biological membrane via specific trans membrane integral proteins

Active transport

The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration

Vesticle

A large structure within a cell or extra cellular consisting of lipid enclosed by a lipid bilayer

Endocytosis

Taking in of matter by a living cell

Exocytosis

Contents of a cell by a vacuole are released to the exterior

Pinocytosis

The ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell membrane

Phagocytosis

Cells that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles, bacteria

Cytosol

The aqueous component of cytoplasm of a cell

Organelles

Any specialized structure within a cell the performs a specific function

Photoautotroph

Any organisms that derives its energy for food

Lots of conservative of mass

For any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy the mass of the system must remain constant overtime

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water

Potential energy

The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge and other factors

Kinetic energy

Energy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion

Visible light

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye

Ultraviolet light

A form of radiation which is not visible to the human eye

Infrared

A type of electromagnetic radiation

Cyanobacteria

A phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis

Light-dependent reactions

The series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that require light energy

Light-independent reactions

Chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and other compounds into glucose

Stomata

Tiny openings which allowed plants to exchange gases necessary for cellular processes

G3P

The metabolite that occurs as an intermediate in several central pathways of all organisms

Rubisco

An enzyme present in plant chloroplasts, involved in fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide during photosynthesis

Dehydration

The lost or removal of water from something

Photorespiration

A respiratory process in many higher plants by which they take up oxygen in the light and give out some carbon dioxide, contrary to the general pattern of photosynthesis

Amyloplasts

Non-pigmented organelles found in some plants cells

Producers/autotroph

And organism that produces complex organic compounds from simple substances present it in surroundings

Consumer/heterotroph

An organism that cannot produce its own food

ATP

The energy currency of life

ADP

An organic compound that is composed of adenosine and to phosphate groups

Glycolsis

The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and acid

NADH

A coenzyme found in all living things

Anaerobic

A form of cellular respiration that occurs when oxygen is absent or scarce

Fermentation

A metabolic processes that consumes sugar in the absence of oxygen

Coenzyme A

A coenzyme derived from pantothenic acid, important in respiration and many other biochemical reactions

Mitochondrial matrix

Where the citric acid cycle takes place

Citric acid cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to release stored energy

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a semipermeable membrane

Endosymbiosis theory

Describes how a large host cell and ingested bacteria could easily become dependent on one another for survival