Biology Reference Sheet

The cell

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic

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

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

Generate ATP through cellular respiration; the 'powerhouse' of the cell

Chloroplasts

Synthesize 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 DNA sequence that contributes to a functional product, such as a protein or functional RNA

An alternative DNA sequence at the same gene locus

One dominant allele can determine the phenotype; a recessive phenotype requires two recessive alleles

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, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine

A-T and G-C

Purines pair with pyrimidines

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

mRNA, tRNA, rRNA

The process of using DNA as a template to make RNA

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

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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 passes as organisms eat one another

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

About 10% of one trophic level's energy becomes biomass available to the next level

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

A close, long-term interaction between two different species

Mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

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

Carl Linnaeus

A two-part scientific name made from the genus name and specific epithet

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum (or Division), 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

Heterotrophs with chitin walls, no photosynthesis

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

Uses electrochemical signals to coordinate movement, sensation, thought, and body functions

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

Structure, protection, movement, blood cell production

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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 means change within a species or kind; macroevolution means large-scale change between kinds

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

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

In the chloroplasts, specifically in the thylakoid membranes and stroma

Chlorophyll a

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

CO₂, H₂O, and sunlight

Glucose and oxygen

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP

Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol; later aerobic stages occur in mitochondria

Glycolysis (cytosol), citric acid cycle (mitochondrial matrix), and electron transport (inner mitochondrial membrane)

Adenosine triphosphate — the primary energy currency of all cells

About 30-32 ATP

A pathway that regenerates NAD+ so glycolysis can continue without oxygen

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 specifies an amino acid or stop signal

DNA → RNA → Protein