wilsonmagnetMIDTERM24

villi

"Hairy" projections on the walls of the small intestines that increase surface area and allow nutrients to be absorbed into blood.

SIF

"School is fun!"; a phrase we use to remind us that we have control over our attitudes. Change your attitude, change your life.

optimum enzyme temperature for humans

37 C (normal body temperature)

optimum enzyme pH for humans

6-8

organ

A body part.

target cell

A cell that has the correct shaped receptor for a particular hormone.

trait

A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes (e.g. curly eyelashes, predisposition to type II diabetes).

iodine

A chemical indicator that changes from amber (reddish brown) to dark blue or black when starch is present; also known as SIS (starch indicator solution).

Benedict's solution

A chemical indicator that, when heated, changes from blue to light green to orange in the presence of increasing amounts of sugar; also known as GIS (glucose indicator solution).

organic compound

A chemical that contains carbon-carbon bonds (e.g. glucose).

muscle fatigue

A condition in which the muscle is no longer able to contract; usually caused by a build up of the waste product lactic acid.

organ system

A group of organs that work together to perform a major function; i.e. digestive, endocrine, excretory, respiratory, reproductive, nervous, immune.

tissue

A group of similar cells that perform the same function.

nucleus (plural: nuclei)

A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA, responsible for controlling the production of proteins.

hypothesis

A possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations; does NOT end in a question mark- ends in a period.

enzyme

A protein that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction; a catalyst. Specific for 1 substrate.

cell wall

A rigid structure, found in plant and bacteria cells, that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell.

gene

A sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait.

indicator

A substance that changes color when it encounters certain chemical conditions.

organelle

A subunit within a cell that has a specialized function. "I have parts called organs; cells have parts called organelles."

immune system

A system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response.

respiratory system

A system of organs, functioning in the process of gas exchange between the body and the environment, consisting especially of the nose, nasal passages, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

cell membrane

A thin, flexible barrier around ALL cells; regulates what enters and leaves the cell and allows for communication.

chromosome

A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of one very long DNA molecule and associated proteins.

meiosis

A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes (sex cells).

mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells identical to original parent cell; cloning; do this any time you need more body cells (e.g. tissue repair).

circulatory system

A.k.a. cardiovascular system; this system works as the transportation highway for the body. It consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels. It transports substances such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients in the body.

validity

Accuracy, reliability.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; main energy source that ALL cells use for most of their work.

chloroplast

An organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) combine to make glucose (food) and oxygen (O2), a waste product that we use to breathe!

digestive system

Breaks down food into absorbable units that are small enough to enter the blood for distribution to body cells.

amino acids

Building blocks of protein.

white blood cells

Can engulf bacteria, memory cells that "remember" past invaders, create antibodies.

mitochondria

Cell organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use- ATP!

vacuole

Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, enzymes, and carbohydrates.

neuron

Cell that carries messages throughout the nervous system.

hormone

Chemical messenger molecules secreted into the blood by endocrine glands that regulate the activities of other target cells; hormones lock-and-key with receptors on cell membrane of target cell.

carbohydrates

Class of nutrients that includes sugars and starches; used to make ATP energy.

genetic instructions

DNA

DNA vs. RNA

DNA: deoxyribose sugar, thymine, double strand RNA: ribose sugar, uracil, single strand.

osmosis

Diffusion of water.

small intestine

Digestive organ where most chemical digestion and absorption of food takes place.

pancreas

Endocrine organ that regulates blood sugar by secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon.

control group

Gets none of the independent variable. Serves as a basis for comparison.

excretory system

Group of organs including the kidneys, liver, skin, intestines, and lungs that eliminate wastes.

feedback

Helps keep body within its normal, healthy range for things like temperature, pH, blood glucose, water levels. Negative feedback involves turning a process "ON" to make a correction and then turning process "OFF" once body is back to its homeostatic set point.

cytoplasm

Holds organelles in place; jelly-like substance inside of ALL cells.

skeletal and muscular systems

Made of bones, muscles, etc. and in charge of locomotion (movement).

homeostasis

Maintaining a balanced internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level; dynamic equilibrium.

diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration (molecules are spreading out until equal). Happens naturally (no ATP energy needed).

stomate

Openings in leaves to exchange photosynthetic gases: water vapor, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.

gene expression

Process by which a gene turns "ON", goes through DRAaP, produces its product, and the product carries out its function.

photosynthesis

Process by which plants and algae use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.

cellular respiration

Process that combines food energy (glucose) with oxygen in order to convert it into a more usable form (ATP). Happens in mitochondria.

offspring

Product of reproduction, a new organism produced by one or more parents. People have kids! Dogs have puppies! Cats have kittens! Use this word instead-

ribosome

Site of protein synthesis in the cell.

diffusion through a membrane

Small molecules (oxygen, water, glucose, amino acids) can diffuse whereas large molecules (starch, protein) can't.

receptor molecule

Specific-shaped protein molecules embedded in the cell membrane that can receive chemical messages from other cells.

guard cells

Structures in leaves of plants that open up and close the stomates in plants and allow for gas exchange.

endocrine system

The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

nervous system

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells, brain, and spinal cord.

simple sugars

The building blocks of carbohydrates (e.g. glucose).

dynamic equilibrium

The constant small corrections that normally occur to keep an organism's internal environment within the limits needed for survival; a.k.a. homeostasis.

dependent variable

The experimental factor that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

optimum

The ideal or best condition.

large intestine

The last section of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from food and the remaining material is eliminated from the body.

active transport

The movement of particles from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration that uses energy provided by ATP to push molecules together.

sequence of bases

The order of the DNA code in an organism (e.g. AATCCGTA) determines the proteins that are made...DNAaP!

cell theory

The theory that all living things are made of cells, that cells are the basic units of organisms, and that cells come only from existing cells.

independent variable

The variable we can change in a controlled experiment.

synthesis

To make; when small molecules combine to form more complex molecules.

dehydration

Water diffuses out of cell to the point that the cell is unable to maintain homeostasis; salt can cause this.

reading a graduated cylinder

With water and all liquids 1) read on a flat surface, 2) read at eye level, 3) read at the bottom of the curved surface of the liquid called the meniscus. This one reads 37 mL.

sufficient

enough

function

job

organization of life

organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism

basic (alkaline)

pH above 7.

acidic

pH below 7.

neutral

pH of 7; in the middle so neither acidic or basic (alkaline).

structure

parts

concentration

the amount