Flashcard 1
Three types of RNA
and their function.
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mRNA – makes “copy” of
DNA/gene and takes to
ribosome (transcription)
rRNA – makes up the
ribosome
tRNA – brings an amino
acid to the ribosome,
anticodon pairs with
mRNA codon (translation)
Flashcard 2
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
If DNA is….
 CGAAGCATT
What would be….
 Complementary
DNA
 mRNA
DNA – A, T, C, G
RNA – A, U, C, G
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COMPLEMENTARY DNA
(orig.) CGA AGC ATT
(new) GCT TCG TAA
COMPLEMENTARY mRNA
(DNA)
CGA AGC ATT
(mRNA) GCU UCG UAA
Flashcard 3
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Function of …
Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts – site of
photosynthesis

Mitochondria – site of
cellular respiration

Ribosome – site of protein
synthesis

** Site means location!**
Mitochondria
Ribosome
Flashcard 4
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Organic
Molecules are
polymers,
examples include:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic Acids

Made of
Examples
C: Monosaccharide
Sugar,
starch

P: Amino acids
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L: Fatty acids and
glycerol
N.A.: Nucleotides
Meat,
enzymes
fats, oil,
phosopholipids
DNA and RNA
Flashcard 5
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Function of the
Cell Membrane
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Selectively permeable
(regulates materials
coming in/out of the cell)
Gives cytoplasm a
boundary / shape
HOMEOSTASIS
(maintaining a constant
internal environment)
Flashcard 6

Differences between
Plant and Animal Cells
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Plant Cells – have cell
walls, chloroplasts, large
vacuoles
Animal Cells – have
Centrioles (used for cell
division)
*BOTH ARE
EUKARYOTIC! (have
membrane bound
organelles and a nucleus)
Flashcard 7

OSMOSIS
9% NaCl
91% water
5% NaCl
95% water
The cell will lose water!!!!
Cells lose water in
saltier environments
because of osmosis!!
The cell have more
water and less solute!
Osmosis – diffusion of
water (water moving
high to low)
Flashcard 8

Functions
Of Enzymes

“Lock and Key”

Acts as a “catalyst” (speed
up reactions)

Lowers activation energy

Enzymes are proteins 
Works best at “Optimum”
conditions! (this is different
for each enzyme)
Heat, pH can denature an
enzyme
Flashcard 9
*Opposites of each
other*
Photosynthesis
 Converts sunlight into
chemical energy
 CO2 + H20 + light 
glucose + O2
Respiration
 Converts sugars into cell
energy (ATP)
 C6H12O6 + O2  H2O +
CO2 + ATP
 Used by ALL
ORGANISMS!!

Photosynthesis
And
Cellular Respiration
Flashcard 10
What is a gene?
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Found on a
chromosome
Section of DNA
Code to make a
protein
Controls traits!
Flashcard 11
Mitosis
Vs.
 Meiosis

Mitosis (I-PMAT-C)
 Makes identical copy of
cell
 Produces 2 daughter cells
 Used by somatic body
cells
Meiosis
 Reduces chromosome
number by half
 Produces 4 daughter cells
 Makes haploid gametes
 Gametes = sex cells
 Crossing - Over
Flashcard 12
Recombinant DNA
also called
Genetic Engineering
How we make insulin
for diabetics
GMO = genetically modified
organism
DNA from two different
species!
 Plasmid
Human
gene

cleave

splice together

Gene+plasmid

Recombinant DNA
Flashcard 13

What happens in
Protein Synthesis
Every three letters
(codon) codes for 1
amino acid.
Making our bracelets!

DNA

transcription (mRNA)

translation (mRNA to protein)

protein made

causes trait
Flashcard 14
Gametes
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Sperm and eggs

Made by meiosis
Sex cells
Haploid (contains
only one copy of each
chromosome/half of
diploid)
Fuse together in
fertilization
Flashcard 15
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Karyotype
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Picture of
chromosomes (should
have a total of 46 (23
pairs)
Shows chromosomal
abnormalities (Ex.
Down’s Syndrome =
Trisomy 21)
Down syndrome is
caused by
NONDISJUNCTION
Usually follows an
amniocentesis
Flashcard 16
Asexual
Vs.
 Sexual
Reproduction

Sexual is better – more
diversity!!!!
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Asexual = one
parent; makes
IDENTICAL COPY!!
(budding, binary fission,
regeneration)

Sexual = Two
parents; genetic
diversity; uses
gametes (egg and
sperm)
Flashcard 17
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Homozygous
Dominant (AA)
Heterozygous (Aa)
Homozygous
recessive (aa)
* Recessive phenotype

Dominant Phenotype
Three
Genotypes
Flashcard 18

Paths of Inheritance
(be able to do
punnett squares)
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Dominant = one allele
dominant
Recessive = allele “hidden”
by dominant
Codominance= both alleles
equal, both show up!
Incomplete or Intermediate
Dominance = Neither allele
dominant, blending
together (red and white
make pink)
Sex-linked = on X
chromosome, no male
carriers
Flashcard 19
Gel Electrophoresis
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Separates DNA by
size (smallest goes
farthest)
Identifies paternity
and criminals
Flashcard 20
Viruses

Made of DNA or RNA
surrounded by a protein
coat

CAN NOT be killed by
anitbiotics!
Not living because they
cannot reproduce outside
a living organism (must
have a host)
Two reproductive cycles
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Lytic – fast, destroys cell
Lysogenic – slower, viral
genetic material hides in
cell
Flashcard 21
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Plants, Flowers
And Seeds
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Plants:
Nonvascular – no
xylem or phloem –
ex. Moss
Vascular – has xylem
and phloem
Gymnosperms –
cones (conifers)
Angiosperms –
flowers and fruits

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Vascular plants have vessels,
non-vascular(moss) do not
Xylem- water up the plant
Phloem- food(sugar) down
Flowers – reproductive organ
of angiosperm plants
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Male part = stamen/pollen
Female part = carpel or pistil
(produce egg)
Pollination = transfer of pollen
Seed = plant embryo + stored
food (endosperm). Surrounded
by fruit (forms ovary of plant.)
Flashcard 22
Food Web
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D
Secondary consumers
E
C
Primary Consumers
O
M
Producers
P *Arrows follow transfer for
energy
O
S *Producers have most
energy
E
R *Energy is lost as it move
up
S (10%rule)
Flashcard 23
Parts of the Cell
Nucleus – control center
Ribosome – makes protein
Lysosome – digestive enzymes
Vacuole – storage
Rough ER – modifies protein
Smooth ER – detoxifies alcohol
Golgi – packages and ships
Cell membrane – controls what
enters and leaves
Mitochondria – makes ATP
cellular respiration
Flashcard 24

Taxonomic Levels:
From most general/inclusive
to most specific/related
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Scientific names:
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Acer rubrum - red maple
(genus – species)
Lynx rufus - bobcat
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Domain (general / most
number of species
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Scientific name
Species
* Most specific/ may
interbreed
Flashcard 25
Bacteria
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Prokaryotic cells (no
nucleus; no membranebound organelles)
unicellular
Important for:

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decomposers,
for Nitrogen cycle,
for gene research
(recombinant DNA with
plasmids)
First cells to evolve
(prokaryotic and
anaerobic)
Flashcard 26
Evidence for Evolution
DNA similarity is the best
evidence that organisms
have a
COMMON ANCESTOR
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Biochemical analysis
(DNA, amino acids,
proteins)
Fossil record
Anatomy (if similar bone
arrangement =
homologous
Development /
embryology
* More in common =
more related*
Flashcard 27
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Natural Selection
(Darwin)
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ADAPTATION – an
inherited trait that
helps an organism
survive – they are
born with it!!!!!
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Variation in
populations
Overpopulation of
offspring
Competition for
survival/mates
Survival/reproduction
of best adapted /
fittest.
Flashcard 28
Levels of
Organization in the
BIOSPHERE
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Biotic – anything living
Abiotic – non living
factors – temp., soil,
sun
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Biosphere (all of life on
earth)
Biome (ex. Desert,
grassland)
Ecosystem (all abiotic and
biotic factors)
Community (only
biotic/living)
Population (members of
one species)
Niche (total way of life for
organism, its job)
Flashcard 29
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Life Processes
Every living thing
does these!
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Synthesis – to make (ex.
protein synthesis)
Transport – to move (ex.
osmosis)
Excretion – getting rid of
wastes
Respiration – to make ATP
from sugar (aerobic or
anaerobic)
Nutrition – food getting
(producer or consumer)
Growth and Development
Reproduction – to make more
cells or organisms
(mitosis/asexual or sexual)
Regulation – to maintain
homoestasis
Flashcard 30
Innate Behaviors
Inborn and genetic
Genetic and Inborn
 Automatic (reflex and
instinct)
 Courtship - mating
 Territoriality
 Aggression
 Dominance hierarchy
 Biological rhythms
(migration, clocks)
 Some communication
(need to sing in birds)
Flashcard 31
Symbiosis
 Mutualism
 Commensalism
 Parasitism
Two species “living
together” permanently
 Mutualism (+ ,+) both
benefit


Commensalism (+, 0)
one isn’t helped or
harmed
Parasitism (+, -) One is
harmed
Flashcard 32
Biomagnification
DDT in our bald eagles
Mercury in our fish

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Pesticides and
contaminants “move up
the food chain”
Chemical contaminants
are stored and magnified
in organisms higher up
the food chain because
predators accumulate
pesticides in the bodies of
their prey.
Flashcard 33
Learned Behaviors
Change with experience and
practice.
 Classical conditioning
(learning by association)
 Operant conditioning
(trial and error learning)
 Insight / reasoning
 Language
Flashcard 34
Carbon Cycle
Carbon Cycle
 - Respiration releases
carbon as CO2 (carbon
dioxide)
 Photosynthesis
removes carbon and
makes sugar (C6H12O6)
Human Impact
 Burning Fossil fuels
releases CO2
 Deforestation increases
the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere
Flashcard 35
Environmental Problems

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Overpopulation – cause
of all environmental
problems
Global warming – too
much CO2 in atmosphere
increases average global
temperature ->flooding,
climate change
Ozone depletion –
CFC’s destroy ozone
layer -> increase UV
radiation exposure ->
increases cancer and crop
damage
Flashcard 36
Behaviors as Adaptations
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Instinctive behaviors
improve survival rates.
Protective behaviors
(spray, teeth bared) turn
predators away and
defends resources
Parental behaviors
(advanced in birds and
mammals) increase
survival of young.
Communication and
courtship allow mate
recognition