Living Environment Regents Review Terms

By: Demitra Tzakas

This power point corresponds with the green living environment workbook

Topics 5,6 and 9 are not included

Topic 1- Similarities and Differences Among Living Organisms

Important definitions

• 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

• 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• 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

Independent variable- factors that may influence the dependent variableDependent variable- what is being measuredControl- established reference point used as a standard of comparison

Similar to the scientific method

Good Luck!