Biology

• Prokaryote


  A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

  
• Eukaryote


  A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

  
• Transcription


  The synthesis of RNA on a DNA template.

  
• Translation


  Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced

  
• Nucleus


  A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

  
• Ribosome


  small particle in the cell on which proteins are assembled; made of RNA and protein

  Makes proteins

  
• Endoplasmic reticulum


  Assembles proteins and lipids

  Assembles proteins and lipids

  
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum


  An endomembrane system covered with ribosomes where many proteins for transport are assembled.

  
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum


  Involved in synthesis of steroids; does not have ribosomes

  stores calcium ions in muscle cells.

  
• Golgi apparatus


  A system of membranes that modifies and packages proteins for export by the cell

  
• Mitochondria


  Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production

  
• Vacuole


  Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates

  
• Chloroplasts


  Site of photosynthesis

  Site of photosynthesis

  
• Autotrophs


  Organisms that make their own food

  
• Heterotroph


  organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer

  
• Chemosynthesis


  When organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates

  process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

  
• Photosynthesis


  Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy.
• Chlorophyll


  Green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used to carry out photosynthesis

  
• ATP


  (adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

  
• ADP


  The compound that remains when a phosphate group is removed from ATP, releasing energy

  
• Stroma


  Fluid-filled space outside the grana in which light-dependent reactions take place.

  The fluid of the chloroplast surrounding the thylakoid membrane

  
• Thylakoid


  A flattened membrane sac inside the chloroplast, used to convert light energy into chemical energy.

  
• Calvin cycle


  light-independent reactions where energy is stored in organic molecules

  a series of enzyme-assisted chemical reactions that produces a three-carbon sugar

  
• Cellular respiration


  The process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food

  
• Glycolysis


  Splits glucose into two three-carbon molecules and makes two molecules of ATP

  
• Anaerobic respiration


  Respiration in the absence of oxygen. This produces lactic acid.
• Fermentation


  The process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen

  
• Plasma membrane


  A selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of the cells

  
• Phospholipid


  a lipid that contains phosphorus and that is a structural component in cell membranes

  
• Diffusion


  Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

  
• Facilitated diffusion


  The diffusion of molecules across a membrane through transport proteins

  
• Osmosis


  The diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane

  
• Hypotonic


  Having a lower concentration of solute than another solution

  
• Isotonic


  Having the same solute concentration as another solution.

  
• Hypertonic


  Having a higher concentration of solute than another solution.

  
• Active transport


  The movement of materials through a cell membrane using cellular energy, from low concentration to high concentration.

  
• Endocytosis


  process by which a cell takes material into the cell by infolding of the cell membrane

  
• Exocytosis


  process by which vesicles release their contents outside the cell

  Process by which a cell releases large amounts of material

  
• Antibiotics


  chemicals that inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms

  
• Antibiotic resistance


  The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic