Biology

• Species


  Group of organisms producing fertile offspring
• Morphological Species


  • Defines species by organism structure
• Biological Species


  • Defines species by reproduction compatibility
• Phylogenetic Species


  • Defines species by evolutionary history
• Taxonomy


  Organism classification based on characteristics
• Binomial Nomenclature


  Two-part naming system for organisms
• Prokaryotic cell


  A smaller, simple type of cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus
• Eukaryotic cell


  A larger, complex type of cell that does have a membrane-bound nucleus
• Unicellular


  An organ made up of only one cell
• Multicellular


  An organ made up of multiple cells
• Chitin


  • Found in fungi cell walls, provides support and protection, helps maintain cell shape and structural rigidity
• Cellulose


  • Found in plant cell walls, provides strength and rigidity to plant cells, supports the plant, withstands mechanical stress
• Peptidoglycan


  • Found in bacterial cell walls, provides structural support and protection to bacterial cells, helps maintain cell shape, resists osmotic pressure changes
• Species Diversity


  The variety and number of species in a given area
• Ecosystem Diversity


  Variety of ecosystems in the biosphere
• Biodiversity


  The variety and viability of life forms on Earth (e.g. organisms, habitats, ecological processes & functions)
• Genetic Diversity


  Variation in genetic characteristics within a population
• Autotroph


  Organisms that obtains energy by making its own food from sunlight or non-living substances
• Heterotroph


  Organisms that cannot make food and must consume other organisms to obtain energy-yielding food
• Ecosystem Services


  Benefits organisms gain from ecosystems
• Structural diversity


  The range of different physical landscapes within a habitat
• Viruses


  Non-living organisms with genetic material
• Retrovirus


  A type of virus that uses RNA as its genomic material
• RNA (Ribonucleic acid)


  A nucleid single-stranded acid
• Capsid


  An outer protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus
• Lytic Cycle


  Virus replication process that copies the host cell to produce new viruses
• Attachment


  Proteins on the surface of the virus bind to protein receptors on the surface of the host cell's membrane
• Entry


  The virus injects its genetic material (RNA or DNA) into the host cell
• Replication


  The host cell makes more viral DNA or RNA and proteins
• Assembly


  New viral particles are assembled
• Lysis and Release


  The host cell breaks open and releases new viral particles
• Lysogenic Cycle


  The replication process in viruses where the viral DNA enters the host cell's chromosome, remaining dormant to produce more viruses
• Provirus Formation


  Viral DNA becomes part of the host cell's chromosome, which later causes cell division
• Provirus


  Viral genetic material integrated into host chromosome
• Vaccines


  Stimulate immune system against pathogens
• Prokaryotes


  Single-celled organisms lacking nuclei
• Binary Fission


  Asexual prokaryotic reproduction method
• Conjugation


  Genetic material transfer between prokaryotes
• Plasmids


  Small DNA molecules transferred during conjugation
• Cocci


  Spherical bacterial cell shape