Biology Reference Sheet

The cell

Prokaryotic (no nucleus) and eukaryotic (has a nucleus)

Controls what enters and leaves the cell; provides structure and protection

Contains DNA and controls cell activities; the 'control center' of the cell

Produce energy (ATP) through cellular respiration; the 'powerhouse' of the cell

Chloroplasts (and a cell wall and large central vacuole)

Synthesize (build) proteins by reading mRNA instructions

A network of membranes that transports materials; rough ER has ribosomes, smooth ER does not

Packages, modifies, and ships proteins and lipids — the 'post office' of the cell

The diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration

Mitosis produces 2 identical diploid cells (growth/repair); meiosis produces 4 unique haploid cells (gametes)

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase (PMAT)

Remember: PMAT

Gregor Mendel

An Augustinian friar who studied pea plants

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or trait

A different version of the same gene (e.g., brown eyes vs. blue eyes)

Dominant alleles are expressed when one copy is present (Aa); recessive alleles are only expressed with two copies (aa)

Predicting the probability of offspring genotypes and phenotypes from a genetic cross

Genotype is the genetic makeup (alleles); phenotype is the physical expression (observable traits)

Deoxyribonucleic acid — the double-helix molecule that carries genetic instructions for life

Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C)

A pairs with T, and G pairs with C

Purines pair with pyrimidines

Ribonucleic acid — single-stranded, uses uracil instead of thymine, and has ribose sugar

mRNA (messenger), tRNA (transfer), and rRNA (ribosomal)

The process of copying DNA into mRNA in the nucleus

The process of building a protein from the mRNA code at the ribosome

46 (23 pairs)

A change in the DNA sequence that may alter the protein produced

A community of living organisms interacting with their nonliving environment

A linear sequence showing how energy flows from one organism to another (producer → consumer → decomposer)

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem

An organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis (e.g., plants, algae)

An organism that breaks down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem

Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next; the rest is lost as heat

A large region characterized by a specific climate and distinct plant and animal communities

A close, long-term interaction between two different species

Mutualism (both benefit), commensalism (one benefits, other unaffected), parasitism (one benefits, other harmed)

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection

Carl Linnaeus

The two-part naming system using genus and species (e.g., Homo sapiens)

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

Multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic (cannot make own food), no cell walls

Fungi are heterotrophs (absorb nutrients from other organisms), have chitin cell walls, and do not photosynthesize

Transports blood, oxygen, nutrients, and waste throughout the body via the heart, blood vessels, and blood

Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle

Brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide through breathing

In the alveoli (tiny air sacs)

Breaks down food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body

Sends electrical signals throughout the body to coordinate movement, thought, and bodily functions

Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and Peripheral Nervous System

Provides structure, protects organs, allows movement, produces blood cells, and stores minerals

206

Defends the body against pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.) and disease

A system composed of several interacting parts where removing any one part causes the system to cease functioning, suggesting purposeful design

Michael Behe proposed this concept

Microevolution is small changes within a species (observed); macroevolution is large-scale change from one kind to another (debated)

The process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment

The original distinct types of organisms created by God, within which variation and speciation can occur

Irreducible complexity — it has about 40 protein components that must all be present to function

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

In the chloroplasts, specifically in the thylakoid membranes and stroma

Chlorophyll (primarily chlorophyll a)

Light-dependent reactions (thylakoids) and the Calvin cycle (stroma)

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and sunlight

Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂)

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP (energy)

In the mitochondria

Glycolysis (cytoplasm), Krebs cycle (mitochondrial matrix), and the electron transport chain (inner mitochondrial membrane)

Adenosine triphosphate — the primary energy currency of all cells

About 36-38 ATP

Anaerobic respiration that produces small amounts of ATP without oxygen (e.g., lactic acid or alcohol fermentation)

They are complementary: photosynthesis stores energy in glucose; respiration releases that energy as ATP

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Biological catalysts (usually proteins) that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed

Amino acids

Nucleotides

A sequence of three mRNA nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid

DNA → RNA → Protein (the flow of genetic information)