Living Environment
Regents Review Terms
This power point corresponds with the green living
environment workbook
Topics 5,6 and 9 are not included
By: Demitra Tzakas
Topic 1- Similarities and
Differences Among Living
Organisms
Important definitions
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Cells- basic units of structure and function
Metabolism- combination of all chemical reactions that occur in an organism
Homeostasis- maintenance of internal stability
Reproduction- living things pass hereditary information to new organisms of the same
type
Life Processes
• Cell respiration- breaking nutrients into smaller units to release the chemical energy
stored in them
• Synthesis- combining simple substances into complex substances
• Growth- increasing the size or number of cells
• Excretion- removing wastes from organisms
Organic and Inorganic molecules
• Organic molecules- contain carbon and hydrogen
• Inorganic molecules- do not contain both carbon and hydrogen
Organization
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Organelles- specialized structures
Tissues- groups of specialized cells in multicellular organisms
Organ- performs one of the life processes
Organ system- several organs working together to perform a life process.
Cell- Tissue-Organ-Organ System
Organelles inside the cell
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Nucleus- largest structure that controls the cell’s metabolism and contains DNA
Vacuoles- storage sacs within the cytoplasm
Ribosomes- make proteins
Mitochondria- energy source
Chloroplast- green structures in plant cells that contain chlorophyll used for photosynthesis
Cell membrane- thin structure that controls what enters and leaves the cell
Centrioles- help in cell division in animal cells
Cell wall- protective structure around a plant cell
E.R.- transport and manufacture material to other locations
Lysosome- keep animal cells clean by recycling materials
Golgi bodies- involved in intracellular secretion and transport.
Cytoplasm- holds organelles
Animal cell
Plant cell
Diffusion- molecules move from high to low concentration
Active transport- moving molecules from low concentration to high concentration
Molecules in cells
• Digestion- large molecules being broken down into simpler molecules
• Amino acids- result of digestion of proteins
• Simple sugars- result of digestion of starches
Nerve cells
Receptor molecules- receive messages
from other cells
Hormones- chemicals produced by nerve
cells are primarily responsible for
communication between cells
Human Body Systems
• Digestion- one-way passage through the body
• Respiration- uses oxygen to break down food molecules to release energy
• Circulation- involves involves the movement of materials inside the cell as well as the
movement between parts of a multicellular organism.
• Excretion- removal of all waste products of digestion
• Movement- interaction of muscles and bones-muscular and skeletal systems
• Coordination- Nervous system sends signals along nerves. Glands of the endocrine system
produce chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream.
• Immunity- ability to resist disease due to antibodies that can be made by having a
vaccination or catching the disease.
• Reproduction- organisms reproduce the same kind. Releases sex cells and hormones that
are needed for the making of offspring and regulation of their development.
Topic 2- Homeostasis in
Organisms
• Biochemical processes- chemical processes that occur in living things
• Photosynthesis- energy is stored in chemical bonds of organic molecules such as
carbohydrates. Light energy+ water+ carbon dioxide= glucose + oxygen. Carried out by plants
• Cellular respiration- completed in the mitochondria of living organisms. Glucose+ oxygen=
ATP+ water + carbon dioxide
Important terms
• Enzyme- special proteins that affect the rate of chemical reactions
• Gas exchange- obtaining oxygen from the environment and releasing carbon dioxide
• Catalyst- any substance that can affect the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being
changed or used up during the reaction.
• Optimum- highest point
• Dynamic equilibrium- keep the environment within the limits needed for survival
• Feedback mechanism- cycle in which the output of a system modifies or reinforces the
action taken by the system
• Stimuli- changes in the environment
Disease affecting homeostasis
• Disease- any condition that prevents the body from working as it should. Cause of
disease= inherited disorder( down syndrome, sickle cell disease), exposure to toxins(lead
poisoning, radiation poisoning), poor nutrition(scurvy, goiter), organ malfunction(heart
attack, diabetes), high-risk behaviors(lung cancer, drug addiction).
• Pathogen- viruses, bacteria, fungi and other parasites that interfere with our normal
functioning and make us seriously ill.
• Cancer- genetic mutations in a cell that result in uncontrolled cell division.
Immune system- body’s primary defense against disease causing pathogens
• Antigen- trigger a response from the immune system
• Antibodies- proteins that either attack the invaders or mark them for killing
• Microbes- microscopic organisms
• Vaccines- made of weakened or killed pathogens that help build antibodies for immunity
• AIDS- an example of a disease caused by an attack on the immune system
• Allergy- rapid immune system reaction to environmental substances that are normally
harmless
• Histamine- released by the immune system as a reaction
• Antihistamine- reduces the effects of the histamines and the symptoms they cause
Topic 3- genetic continuity
Hereditary and genes
• Heredity- passing of genetic information from one generation to the next through
reproduction
• DNA- hereditary information
• Chromosomes- found in the nuclei and contain DNA- double helix
Asexual reproduction- involves one parent
• Clones- identical copies of the parent
Sexual reproduction- involves two parents
• Sperm- sex cells produced by the male
• Egg- sex cell produced by the female
• Body cells- cells other than sex cells
Genetic recombination- when a sperm and egg combine to form a new cell with a complete
set of genetic instructions, a unique combination if genes result.
Subunits- smaller sections DNA molecules are made of
In DNA A-T and G-T, In RNA A-U and G-T
Genetic Engineering- new technology humans use to alter the instructions in organisms
• Selective breeding- process that produces domestic animals and new varieties of plants
with desirable traits
• Biotechnology- application of technology to biological science
Topic 4- Reproduction
and development
Asexual reproduction- identical to parent
Sexual reproduction- offspring receive half genes from one parent and half from another
• Sex cells-gametes(egg or sperm cells)
• Clone- identical copy
Cell division-orderly separation of one cell into two
• Mitosis- produces two cells that each a full set of identical genes and chromosomes
• Meiosis- each sex cell only has half the genetic information needed for a cell to function
properly- variation
Fertilization- when sperm and egg meet or combine
Female reproductive system
• Ovaries- produce gametes-egg cells
• Estrogen- hormone
• Oviducts- where fertilization occurs
• Uterus- where fetus develops
• Placenta- organ responsible for the passage of
nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s blood to
the fetus
Male reproductive system
• Testes- produce male gametes- sperm
• Testosterone- male hormone
Topic 7- Human impact
on ecosystems
• Renewable resources- can be replaced, ex: oxygen and sunlight
• Nonrenewable resources- cannot be replaced, ex: fossil fuels and minerals
• Pollution- a harmful change in the chemical makeup of soil, water, or air- can affect the
environment and disrupt ecosystems
• Soil formation- soils forms when weathering breaks down rocks and when organic
molecules are decaying plants and animals accumulate.
• Water cycle- water continually moves from earths surface to the atmosphere and back.
• Flow of energy in an ecosystem is presented by food chains, food webs and energy pyramids
• Carrying capacity- number of individuals of a species the environment can support
• Deforestation- destruction of forests
• Biodiversity- wide variety of different species living together in an ecosystem
Topic 8- scientific inquiry and
skills
• Scientific inquiry
-questioning
-observing and inferring
-experimenting
-collecting and organizing data
-finding evidence and drawing conclusions
-repeat the experiment several times
-peer review
Similar to the scientific method
Independent variable- factors that may influence the dependent variable
Dependent variable- what is being measured
Control- established reference point used as a standard of comparison
Good
Luck!