text
stringlengths
2
2.33k
source
stringclasses
826 values
If NADH cannot be metabolized through aerobic respiration, another electron acceptor is used. Most organisms will use some form of fermentation to accomplish the regeneration of NAD+, ensuring the continuation of glycolysis. The regeneration of NAD+in fermentation is not accompanied by ATP production; therefore, the po...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-chapter-summary
The breakdown and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids connect with the pathways of glucose catabolism. The carbohydrates that can also feed into glucose catabolism include galactose, fructose, and glycogen. These connect with glycolysis. The amino acids from proteins connect with glucose catabolism through...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-chapter-summary
acetyl CoA : the combination of an acetyl group derived from pyruvic acid and coenzyme A which is made from pantothenic acid (a B-group vitamin)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
activation energy : the amount of initial energy necessary for reactions to occur
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
active site : a specific region on the enzyme where the substrate binds
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
allosteric inhibition : the mechanism for inhibiting enzyme action in which a regulatory molecule binds to a second site (not the active site) and initiates a conformation change in the active site, preventing binding with the substrate
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
anabolic : describes the pathway that requires a net energy input to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
anaerobic cellular respiration : the use of an electron acceptor other than oxygen to complete metabolism using electron transport-based chemiosmosis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
ATP : (also, adenosine triphosphate) the cell’s energy currency
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
ATP synthase : a membrane-embedded protein complex that regenerates ATP from ADP with energy from protons diffusing through it
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
bioenergetics : the concept of energy flow through living systems
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
catabolic : describes the pathway in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones, yielding energy as an additional product of the reaction
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
chemiosmosis : the movement of hydrogen ions down their electrochemical gradient across a membrane through ATP synthase to generate ATP
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
citric acid cycle : a series of enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions of central importance in all living cells that harvests the energy in carbon-carbon bonds of sugar molecules to generate ATP; the citric acid cycle is an aerobic metabolic pathway because it requires oxygen in later reactions to proceed
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
competitive inhibition : a general mechanism of enzyme activity regulation in which a molecule other than the enzyme’s substrate is able to bind the active site and prevent the substrate itself from binding, thus inhibiting the overall rate of reaction for the enzyme
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
electron transport chain : a series of four large, multi-protein complexes embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane that accepts electrons from donor compounds and harvests energy from a series of chemical reactions to generate a hydrogen ion gradient across the membrane
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
endergonic : describes a chemical reaction that results in products that store more chemical potential energy than the reactants
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
enzyme : a molecule that catalyzes a biochemical reaction
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
exergonic : describes a chemical reaction that results in products with less chemical potential energy than the reactants, plus the release of free energy
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
feedback inhibition : a mechanism of enzyme activity regulation in which the product of a reaction or the final product of a series of sequential reactions inhibits an enzyme for an earlier step in the reaction series
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
fermentation : the steps that follow the partial oxidation of glucose via glycolysis to regenerate NAD+; occurs in the absence of oxygen and uses an organic compound as the final electron acceptor
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
glycolysis : the process of breaking glucose into two three-carbon molecules with the production of ATP and NADH
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
heat energy : the energy transferred from one system to another that is not work
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
in vitro : taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
kinetic energy : the type of energy associated with objects in motion
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
metabolism : all the chemical reactions that take place inside cells, including those that use energy and those that release energy
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
noncompetitive inhibition : a general mechanism of enzyme activity regulation in which a regulatory molecule binds to a site other than the active site and prevents the active site from binding the substrate; thus, the inhibitor molecule does not compete with the substrate for the active site; allosteric inhibition is ...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
oxidative phosphorylation : the production of ATP by the transfer of electrons down the electron transport chain to create a proton gradient that is used by ATP synthase to add phosphate groups to ADP molecules
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
potential energy : the type of energy that refers to the potential to do work
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
substrate : a molecule on which the enzyme acts
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
thermodynamics : the science of the relationships between heat, energy, and work
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/4-key-terms
The process of photosynthesis transformed life on earth. By harnessing energy from the sun, photosynthesis allowed living things to access enormous amounts of energy. Because of photosynthesis, living things gained access to sufficient energy, allowing them to evolve new structures and achieve the biodiversity that is ...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-chapter-summary
Only certain organisms, called autotrophs, can perform photosynthesis; they require the presence of chlorophyll, a specialized pigment that can absorb light and convert light energy into chemical energy. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water to assemble carbohydrate molecules (usually glucose) and releases oxyge...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-chapter-summary
In the first part of photosynthesis, the light-dependent reaction, pigment molecules absorb energy from sunlight. The most common and abundant pigment is chlorophylla. A photon strikes photosystem II to initiate photosynthesis. Energy travels through the electron transport chain, which pumps hydrogen ions into the thyl...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-chapter-summary
Using the energy carriers formed in the first stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle reactions fix CO2from the environment to build carbohydrate molecules. An enzyme, RuBisCO, catalyzes the fixation reaction, by combining CO2with RuBP. The resulting six-carbon compound is broken down into two three-carbon compounds,...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-chapter-summary
absorption spectrum : the specific pattern of absorption for a substance that absorbs electromagnetic radiation
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
autotroph : an organism capable of producing its own food
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
Calvin cycle : the reactions of photosynthesis that use the energy stored by the light-dependent reactions to form glucose and other carbohydrate molecules
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
carbon fixation : the process of converting inorganic CO2gas into organic compounds
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
chlorophyll : the green pigment that captures the light energy that drives the reactions of photosynthesis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
chlorophylla : the form of chlorophyll that absorbs violet-blue and red light
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
chlorophyllb : the form of chlorophyll that absorbs blue and red-orange light
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
chloroplast : the organelle where photosynthesis takes place
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
electromagnetic spectrum : the range of all possible frequencies of radiation
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
granum : a stack of thylakoids located inside a chloroplast
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
heterotroph : an organism that consumes other organisms for food
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
light-dependent reaction : the first stage of photosynthesis where visible light is absorbed to form two energy-carrying molecules (ATP and NADPH)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
mesophyll : the middle layer of cells in a leaf
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
photoautotroph : an organism capable of synthesizing its own food molecules (storing energy), using the energy of light
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
photon : a distinct quantity or “packet” of light energy
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
photosystem : a group of proteins, chlorophyll, and other pigments that are used in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis to absorb light energy and convert it into chemical energy
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
pigment : a molecule that is capable of absorbing light energy
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
stoma : the opening that regulates gas exchange and water regulation between leaves and the environment; plural: stomata
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
stroma : the fluid-filled space surrounding the grana inside a chloroplast where the Calvin cycle reactions of photosynthesis take place
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
thylakoid : a disc-shaped membranous structure inside a chloroplast where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place using chlorophyll embedded in the membranes
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
wavelength : the distance between consecutive points of a wave
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/5-key-terms
Prokaryotes have a single loop chromosome, whereas eukaryotes have multiple, linear chromosomes surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes consisting of two sets of 22 homologous chromosomes and a pair of nonhomologous sex chromosomes. This is the 2n,or diploid, state. Human gametes have ...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-chapter-summary
The cell cycle is an orderly sequence of events. Cells on the path to cell division proceed through a series of precisely timed and carefully regulated stages. In eukaryotes, the cell cycle consists of a long preparatory period, called interphase. Interphase is divided into G1, S, and G2phases. Mitosis consists of five...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-chapter-summary
Each step of the cell cycle is monitored by internal controls called checkpoints. There are three major checkpoints in the cell cycle: one near the end of G1, a second at the G2–M transition, and the third during metaphase.
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-chapter-summary
Cancer is the result of unchecked cell division caused by a breakdown of the mechanisms regulating the cell cycle. The loss of control begins with a change in the DNA sequence of a gene that codes for one of the regulatory molecules. Faulty instructions lead to a protein that does not function as it should. Any disrupt...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-chapter-summary
In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell division, the genomic DNA is replicated and each copy is allocated into a daughter cell. The cytoplasmic contents are also divided evenly to the new cells. However, there are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell division. Bacteria have a single, circular DNA c...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-chapter-summary
anaphase : the stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are separated from each other
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
binary fission : the process of prokaryotic cell division
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
cell cycle : the ordered sequence of events that a cell passes through between one cell division and the next
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
cell cycle checkpoints : mechanisms that monitor the preparedness of a eukaryotic cell to advance through the various cell cycle stages
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
cell plate : a structure formed during plant-cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles fusing at the metaphase plate; will ultimately lead to formation of a cell wall to separate the two daughter cells
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
centriole : a paired rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
cleavage furrow : a constriction formed by the actin ring during animal-cell cytokinesis that leads to cytoplasmic division
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
cytokinesis : the division of the cytoplasm following mitosis to form two daughter cells
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
diploid : describes a cell, nucleus, or organism containing two sets of chromosomes (2n)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
FtsZ : a tubulin-like protein component of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton that is important in prokaryotic cytokinesis (name origin:Filamentingtemperature-sensitive mutantZ)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
G0phase : a cell-cycle phase distinct from the G1phase of interphase; a cell in G0is not preparing to divide
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
G1phase : (also, first gap) a cell-cycle phase; first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
G2phase : (also, second gap) a cell-cycle phase; third phase of interphase where the cell undergoes the final preparations for mitosis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
gamete : a haploid reproductive cell or sex cell (sperm or egg)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
gene : the physical and functional unit of heredity; a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific peptide or RNA molecule
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
genome : the entire genetic complement (DNA) of an organism
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
haploid : describes a cell, nucleus, or organism containing one set of chromosomes (n)
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
homologous chromosomes : chromosomes of the same length with genes in the same location; diploid organisms have pairs of homologous chromosomes, and the members of each pair come from different parents
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
interphase : the period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2phases; the interim between two consecutive cell divisions
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
kinetochore : a protein structure in the centromere of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
locus : the position of a gene on a chromosome
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
metaphase : the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are lined up at the metaphase plate
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
metaphase plate : the equatorial plane midway between two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
mitosis : the period of the cell cycle at which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
mitotic phase : the period of the cell cycle when duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and the cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes mitosis and cytokinesis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
mitotic spindle : the microtubule apparatus that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
oncogene : a mutated version of a proto-oncogene, which allows for uncontrolled progression of the cell cycle, or uncontrolled cell reproduction
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
origin : the region of the prokaryotic chromosome at which replication begins
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
prometaphase : the stage of mitosis during which mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
prophase : the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle begins to form
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
proto-oncogene : a normal gene that controls cell division by regulating the cell cycle that becomes an oncogene if it is mutated
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
quiescent : describes a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell division
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
S phase : the second, or synthesis phase, of interphase during which DNA replication occurs
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
septum : a wall formed between bacterial daughter cells as a precursor to cell separation
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
telophase : the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by new nuclear envelopes
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
tumor suppressor gene : a gene that codes for regulator proteins that prevent the cell from undergoing uncontrolled division
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/6-key-terms
Nearly all eukaryotes undergo sexual reproduction. The variation introduced into the reproductive cells by meiosis appears to be one of the advantages of sexual reproduction that has made it so successful. Meiosis and fertilization alternate in sexual life cycles. The process of meiosis produces genetically unique repr...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/7-chapter-summary
Sexual reproduction requires that diploid organisms produce haploid cells that can fuse during fertilization to form diploid offspring. The process that results in haploid cells is called meiosis. Meiosis is a series of events that arrange and separate chromosomes into daughter cells. During the interphase of meiosis, ...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/7-chapter-summary
Meiosis and mitosis share similarities, but have distinct outcomes. Mitotic divisions are single nuclear divisions that produce daughter nuclei that are genetically identical and have the same number of chromosome sets as the original cell. Meiotic divisions are two nuclear divisions that produce four daughter nuclei t...
https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/7-chapter-summary