BIOL 1610 Assignment 1:

remember no class on the assignment day

Define the following terms for lecture unit 1, Lectures 1 – 7. The place to get the definitions is
from lecture notes or the text book, do not use an online search. You should have a working
knowledge of the following vocabulary words for the midterms and final:

Lecture 1
Biology- scientific study of life
cell theory- Cells are the basic living units or building blocks of organisms and all cells come from
other cells
Domain-taxonomic category above the kingdom level
Bacteria- most diverse and widespread prokaryotes
Archaea-of the prokaryotic domain and can be found in extreme environments
Eukarya-domain that includes all eukaryotic organisms
Eukaryote-A eukaryote is an organism with a complex cell or cells, in which the genetic material is
organized into a membrane-bound nucleus or nuclei.
Evolution-descent with modification
hierarchy of biological organization-ecosystem, community, population, organism, organ
systems, organs, tissues, cells, molecules
prokaryote-organism that has a prokaryotic cell
reductionism- Reducing complex to study the simpler components– mechanistic, looking at the
parts
science- a process of inquiry that includes repeatable observations and testable hypothesis•
Science: Latin to know, a way of knowing
steps of the scientific method-observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment, predicted
result

Lecture 2
Atom-smallest particle of an element
chemical bond-an attraction between two atoms
chemical reaction-the making and breaking of chemical bonds, leading to changes in the
composition of matter
compound-a substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio
covalent bond-a strong chemical bond in which two atoms share one or more pairs of valence
electrons
electron shell-an energy level of electrons at a characteristic average
electron-subatomic particle with a single negative electric charge and a mass about 1/2000 that of a
neutron or proton
element- A chemical element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by
ordinary chemical means
hydrogen bond- a hydrogen bond atom covalently bonded to one electronegative atom is also
attracted to another electronegative atom which is weak
ion-an atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, thus acquiring a
charge.
ionic bond- An electrical attraction between ions with opposite charges
isotope-one of several atomic forms of an element, each with the same number of protons but a
different number of neutrons, thus differing in atomic mass.
molecular formula- a formula giving the number of atoms of each of the elements present in one
molecule of a specific compound.
Molecule-two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Neutron-subatomic particle with no electrical charge found in nucleus of atom
Product-material resulting from a chemical reaction
Proton-subatomic particle with a single positive electrical charge found in the nucleus of an atom.
Reactant-starting material in a chemical reaction
structural formula-formula that shows arrangement of atoms and bonds in the molecule of a
compound
Valence-the bonding capacity of a given atom

Lecture 3
Acid- substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
Adhesion- clinging of one substance to another
Base- Any substance that reduces the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution
Buffer- resist changes to the pH of a solution when H+ or OH- is added to the solution; Solution
that contains a weak acid or base.
Cohesion- the linking together of like molecules, often by hydrogen bonds.
Heat- a measure of the total quantity of kinetic energy due to molecular motion in a body of matter.
hydrogen ion- The hydrogen atom leaves its electron behind and is transferred as a single proton
hydrophilic- Any substance that has an affinity for water (water-loving)
hydrophobic- Substances that have no affinity for water (Water-aversion)
Molarity- The concentration of a material in solution
mole (mol)- is equal in number to the molecular weight of a substance, but upscaled from daltons to
units of grams.
pH- stands for potential hydrogen
polar molecule-A molecule such as water with an uneven distribution of charges in different
regions of the molecule.
Solute-the substance that is dissolved
Solution-a liquid that is a homogenous mixture of 2 or more substances
solvent-The dissolving agent
temperature-measures the intensity of heat due to the average kinetic energy of molecules

Lecture 4
Alcohol-Organic compounds with hydroxyl groups
Aldehyde-A functional group characterized by a carbonyl group flanked by a hydrogen atom on
one side and a carbon on the other.
Amine-Organic compounds with amino groups
amino group-(-NH2) consists of a nitrogen atom attached to two hydrogen atoms and the carbon
skeleton.
carbonyl group-(=CO) consists of an oxygen atom joined to the carbon skeleton by a double bond.
carboxyl group-(-COOH) consists of a carbon atom with a double bond with an oxygen atom and a
single bond to a hydroxyl group.
carboxylic acid-Compounds with carboxyl groups
enantiomer-are molecules that are mirror images of each other– Enantiomers are possible if there
are four different atoms or groups of atoms bonded to a carbon.
functional group
geometric isomer- compounds with the same covalent partnerships that differ in their spatial
arrangement around a carbon-carbon double bond
hydrocarbon-organic molecules that consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
hydroxyl group-(-OH), a hydrogen atom forms a polar covalent bond with an oxygen which forms
a polar covalent bond to the carbon skeleton.
Isomer-compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structures and therefore
different chemical properties.
Ketone-If the carbonyl group is not on the end of the skeleton,
phosphate group-(-OPO32-) consists of phosphorus bound to four oxygen atoms (three with single
bonds and one with a double bond).
structual isomer- molecules with the same molecular formula but differ in the covalent
arrangement of atoms.
sulfhydryl group-(-SH) consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom and to the backbone.
Thiol-Organic molecules with sulfhydryl groups

Lecture 5
ATP-An adenine-containing nucleoside triphosphate that releases free energy when its phosphate
bonds are hydrolyzed.
amino acid-an organic molecule possessing both a carboxyl and an amino group. Serve as
monomers of polypeptides.
Carbohydrate-include both sugars and polymers.
dehydration reaction-chemical reaction in which 2 molecules become covalently bonded to
eachother with the removal of a water molecule.
Denaturation-a process in which a protein loses its native shape due to disruption of weak
chemical bonds and interactions, thereby becoming biologically inactive; in DNA it’s the separation
of the 2 strands of the double helix. Occurs under extreme conditions of pH, salt concentration, or
temperature.
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-nucleic acid molecule, usually a double stranded helix. Provides
direction for its own replication.
Deoxyribose-the sugar component of DNA nucleotides , having one fewer hydroxyl group than
ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides
Disaccharide- a double sugar consisting of 2 monosaccharides
double helix-DNA molecules have two polynucleotide strands that spiral around an imaginary axis
fat-constructed from two kinds of smaller molecules, glycerol and fatty acids
fatty acid- consists of a carboxyl group attached to a long carbon skeleton, often 16 to 18 carbons
long. Fatty acids may vary in length (number of carbons) and in the number and locations of double
bonds.
Gene-The amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
Glucose-one of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars (monosaccharides).
Hydrolysis-The covalent bonds connecting monomers in a polymer. In hydrolysis as the covalent
bond is broken a hydrogen atom and hydroxyl group from a split water molecule attaches where the
covalent bond used to be.
Lipid-fats, phospholipids, and steroids that mix poorly with water
Macromolecule-giant molecule that include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
Monomer-subunit that serves as the building block for a polymer
Monosaccharide-the simplest carbohydrate and is major fuel for cellular work.
nucleic acid- store and transmit hereditary information; two types are DNA and RNA
nucleotide-Nucleic acids are polymers of monomers
phospholipids-major components of cell membranes and have two fatty acids attached to glycerol
and a phosphate group at the third position.
Polymer-Three of the four classes of macromolecules form chainlike molecules
Polypeptide-Polymers of proteins
Polysaccharide-are polymers of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic
linkages.
Protein- the overwhelming enzymes in a cell and regulate metabolism by selectively accelerating
chemical reactions.
protein structure: Each type of protein has a complex three-dimensional shape or conformation.•
All protein polymers are constructed from the same set of 20 monomers, called amino acids.
Primary-its unique sequence of amino acids.
Secondary-hydrogen bonds at regular intervals along the polypeptide backbone.
Tertiary-the polypeptide continues to twist, fold and orient itself, until it reaches the final shape
Quaternary-results from the aggregation of two or more polypeptide subunits.
Purine-Purines have a six-membered ring joined to a five-membered ring.• The two purines are
adenine (A) and guanine (G).
Pyrimidine-Pyrimidines have a single six-membered ring. cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U)
ribonucleic acid (RNA)- single stranded ribose sugar (in sugar phosphate backbone)bases –
adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil functions in protein synthesis
ribose-sugar component of RNA nucleotides
steroids-lipids with a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused carbon rings.

Lecture 6
cell wall-contains cellulose; gives the shape and rigidity to the cell.
Centriole-bundle of microtubules used in mitosis. have nine triplets of microtubules arranged in a
ring.
Centrosome-structure present in the cytoplasm of animal cells that functions as a microtubule-
organizing center and is important during cell division.
Chloroplast-site of photosynthesis (conversion of light energy to chemical energy and production
of glucose); contains green pigment (chlorophyll).
Chromosome-when the cell prepares to divide, the chromatin fibers coil up to be seen as separate
structures
Cilia-minute hairlike organelles, identical in structure to flagella, that line the surfaces of certain
cells and beat in rhythmic waves, providing locomotion to ciliate protozoans and moving liquids
along internal epithelial tissue in animals.
cytoplasm/cytosol-the semifluid portion of the cytoplasm.
Cytoskeleton-The cell’s structural support, helps with motility and regulation• The cytoskeleton
is a network of protein fibers
Desmosome- (or anchoring junctions) fasten cells together into strong sheets, much like rivets.
endoplasmic reticulum- membrane system for the movement of various materials in the cell; the
site of chemical reactions; sometimes lined with ribosomes.
extracellular matrix-the meshwork surrounding surrounding animal cells
flagellum-composed of a core of microtubules wrapped in an extension of the plasma membrane
and has undulatory movement
gap junction-(or communicating junctions) provide cytoplasmic channels between adjacent cells.
Glycoprotein-any of a group of complex proteins, as mucin, containing a carbohydrate combined
with a simple protein.
golgi apparatus-finishes, sorts, and ships cell products
intermediate filament-intermediate in size, fibrous protein coiled into cables– reinforce the cell,
maintain cell shape– anchor nucleus and other organelles
light microcope-visible lightpasses through the specimen and then through glass lenses.– The
lenses refract light such that the image is magnified into the eye or a video screen.• The light
microscope enables us to see the overall shape and structure of a cell
lysosome-sacs of digestive enzymes that are involved in intracellular digestion
microfilament-are the smallest, two intertwined strands of actin,– enable cells to change shape and
move,– cell division (form furrow)
microtubule-largest, columns of tubulin– give the cell rigidity– act as tracks for organelle
movement– chromosome movement in cell division
mitochondria-power house of the cell, Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration, using chemical
energy in food to make ATP for cellular work
nuclear lamina- a network of intermediate filaments that maintain the shape of the nucleus.
Nucleolus-Here ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesized and assembled with proteins from the
cytoplasm to form ribosomal subunits.
Nucleus- contains a eukaryotic cell’s genetic library
Organelle-any of several kinds of membrane-enclosed structures with specialized functions
Peroxisome-generate and degrade H2O2; contain enzymes that transfer hydrogen from various
substrates to oxygen
plasma membrane-a microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins that forms the external
boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and that regulates the passage of
molecules in and out of the cytoplasm.
Plasmodesmata-a narrow thread of cytoplasm that passes through the cell walls of adjacent plant
cells and allows communication between them.
prokaryotic cell-has no nucleus or membrane bound organelles (endoplasmic reticulum,
mitochondria, plastids, or Golgi bodies). The cells of bacteria and blue-green algae are prokaryotic.
Ribosome- build a cell’s protein and is composed of two subunits that combine to carry out protein
synthesis.
rough ER-looks rough because ribosomes (bound ribosomes) are attached to the outside, including
the outside of the nuclear envelope.
smooth ER-looks smooth because it lacks ribosomes.
tight junction-membranes of adjacent cells are fused, forming continuous belts around cells.– This
prevents leakage of extracellular fluid.
vacuole-are membrane-bound sacs with varied functions in cell maintenance
vesicle-a fluid- or air-filled cavity or sac

Lecture 7
active transport-the movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher
concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy.
amphipathic molecule- molecule that has both polar and non-polar parts
concentration gradient- A gradual change in the concentration of solutes in a solution as a
function of distance through a solution
cotransport- The linked, simultaneous transport one substance across a membrane, coupled with
the simultaneous transport of another substance across the same membrane in the same direction.
Diffusion- The passive movement of molecules or particles along a concentration gradient, or from
regions of higher to regions of lower concentration
Endocytosis- the taking in of matter by a living cell by invagination of its membrane to form a
vacuole.
Exocytosis- a process by which the contents of a cell vacuole are released to the exterior through
fusion of the vacuole membrane with the cell membrane.
facilitated diffusion- the process of spontaneous passive transport of molecules or ions across a
biological membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins
gated channel- An ion channel in a cell membrane that opens or closes in response to a stimulus
such as a neurotransmitter or to a change in pressure, voltage, or light.
hypertonic solution- a particular type of solution that has a greater concentration of solutes on the
outside of a cell when compared with the inside of a cell.
hypotonic solution- any solution that has a lower osmotic pressure than another solution. In the
biological fields, this generally refers to a solution that has less solute and more water than another
solution.
integral protein- is any protein which has a special functional region for the purpose of securing its
position within the cellular membrane
isotonic solutions- two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable
membrane. This state allows for the free movement of water across the membrane without changing
the concentration of solutes on either side
ligand- an ion or molecule attached to a metal atom by coordinate bonding.
Osmosis- the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable
membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the
solute concentrations on the two sides.
passive transport- movement of ions and other atomic or molecular substances across cell
membranes without need of energy input
peripheral protein- a group of biologically active molecules formed from amino acids which
interact with the surface of the lipid bilayer of cell membranes
phagocytosis- the ingestion of bacteria or other material by phagocytes and amoeboid protozoans.
Pinocytosis- the ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell
membrane.
receptor–mediated endocytosis
selective permeability- a property of cellular membranes that only allows certain molecules to
enter or exit the cell
sodium–potassium pump
transport protein