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General Biology Key Concepts

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Termini in questo insieme (31)

  • Definition of Biology

    Biology is the scientific study of life.

  • Five Major Themes of Biology

    Organization, Information, Energy & Matter, Interaction, Evolution.

  • Levels of Biological Organization

    Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System → Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biosphere.

  • Role of DNA in Biology

    DNA stores, transmits, and uses information to determine cell function.

  • Definition of Evolution

    Evolution is the change in populations over generations, explaining unity and diversity of life.

  • Reductionism vs Emergent Properties vs Systems Biology

    Reductionism: study parts; Emergent Properties: whole is more than parts; Systems Biology: study interactions of parts.

  • Scientific Method Steps

    Observation → Question → Hypothesis → Prediction → Experiment → Data → Conclusion.

  • Difference between Hypothesis and Theory

    Hypothesis is a testable explanation; Theory is a broad explanation supported by evidence.

  • Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning

    Inductive: specific observations to general conclusion; Deductive: general principle to specific prediction.

  • Definition of an Atom

    Smallest unit of an element retaining its properties, made of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

  • Atomic Number and Atomic Mass

    Atomic number = number of protons; Atomic mass ≈ protons + neutrons.

  • Isotopes

    Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

  • Valence Electrons

    Electrons in the outermost shell that determine atom bonding behavior.

  • Electronegativity

    Ability of an atom to attract shared electrons; higher electronegativity means stronger attraction.

  • Covalent vs Ionic Bonds

    Covalent bonds share electrons; Ionic bonds transfer electrons creating ions.

  • Polar vs Nonpolar Covalent Bonds

    Polar: electrons shared unequally due to different electronegativities; Nonpolar: electrons shared equally.

  • Hydrogen Bonds

    Weak attraction between a partially positive hydrogen and electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen.

  • Water Cohesion and Adhesion

    Cohesion: water sticks to water; Adhesion: water sticks to other substances.

  • Specific Heat of Water

    Water has a high specific heat, resisting rapid temperature changes and stabilizing environments.

  • pH Scale and Buffers

    pH 0-14: lower pH is acidic, higher is basic; buffers resist pH changes to maintain stability.

  • Macromolecule Categories

    Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids.

  • Polymer vs Monomer

    Monomer: small building block; Polymer: large molecule made of repeating monomers.

  • Dehydration Reaction vs Hydrolysis

    Dehydration builds polymers by removing water; Hydrolysis breaks polymers by adding water.

  • Functions of Carbohydrates

    Energy, energy storage, and structural support.

  • Difference between Starch, Glycogen, and Cellulose

    Starch: plant energy storage; Glycogen: animal energy storage; Cellulose: plant structural support.

  • Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats

    Saturated fats have no double bonds; unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds.

  • Phospholipid Structure and Function

    Phospholipids have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, forming cell membrane bilayers.

  • Protein Structure Levels

    Primary: amino acid sequence; Secondary: local folds (α-helix, β-sheet); Tertiary: 3D shape; Quaternary: multiple chains.

  • Denaturation of Proteins

    Loss of protein shape and function caused by temperature, pH, or chemicals.

  • Differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

    Prokaryotes: no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles; Eukaryotes: nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

  • Endosymbiont Theory

    Mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from bacteria engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.