biology

• Heredity is the passing of traits from one generation to the

  next.
• The variation of a character is called a trait.
• Allele is one of two or more versions of a DNA sequence.
• Dominant allele dictates the character of the organism
• Recessive allele is the one that is shadowed by the dominant allele
• Punnett Square is a device used to predict the possible outcomes for a genetic cross with known genotype
• Genotype is the genetic makeup of the organism, represented by two letters; each letter is an allele
• Phenotype is the observable/detectable trait based on the genotype
• The scientific names of organisms come from taxonomy, namely their genus and species
• the driving force of evolution is natural selection: organisms that have traits adapted to the environment survive and proliferate more than those who do

  not.
• Over time, these “favorable traits” become the defining trait of the whole species. These are called adaptations.
• 4 nitrogenous bases where genetic information is stored:

  • adenine
  • cytosine
  • thymine
  • guanine
• What nitrogenous bases are paired in DNA?

  Adenine and Thymine

  Cytosine and Guanine
• Central Dogma of Biology is the process of converting genetic information from DNA to protein.
• Replication is the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division
• Transcription is the process of making messenger RNA from DNA
• Translation is the process of producing proteins from the mRNA; proteins are continuously made until the stop codon is translated.
• Carbon is the basis of all living elements on Earth, attributed to its four valence electrons
• Catenation is the process of carbon atoms bonding readily with other carbon atoms and thus forming long macromolecules
• Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for cells. They are made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
• Monosaccharides - simplest carbohydrates, most accessible fuel for cellular functions
• Disaccharides - forms when two monosaccharides

  combine, also provides energy for the cell
• Polysaccharides - macromolecules made of more than a hundred monosaccharides (Starch for plants, glycogen for animals)
• Proteins have various functions in the body, hence the most responsible for biochemical reactions in the body
• Amino acid - building blocks of proteins
• Nucleic acids deal with storage of genetic information, essential for development and function of an organism
• Nucleotides - building blocks of nucleic acids
• RNA - single-stranded nucleic acid

  responsible for protein synthesis in the cell
• DNA - double helix-shaped molecules consists of nitrogenous bases, hydrogen bonds, and sugar-phosphate backbone
• Lipids store large amounts of energy to be used by cells for later. They are known to be hydrophobic.
• The cell is the basic unit of life.
• Prokaryote - single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles; most bacteria are prokaryotes
• Eukaryote - more complex organisms that have a clearly defined nucleus; plants, animals, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes
• outer casing that protects the cell, composed

  of phospholipids

  cell membrane
• a fluid, gel-like substance where most of the cell material is located/embedded

  cytoplasm
• organelles that synthesize amino acids/proteins

  ribosome
• structures that contain genetic material of the cell

  chromosome
• Nucleus - organelle where the DNA is located, stores the genetic material of the cell
• Mitochondria - powerhouse of the cell; produces energy for the cell
• two types of cell division

  mitosis and meiosis