ecology
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is a simple, linear sequence of energy flow between organisms, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains showing multiple feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
What is the cell membrane?
The cell membrane is a protective barrier that controls what enters and exits the cell.
What is the role of ATP synthase in cellular respiration?
ATP synthase synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport chain.
What is the role of the 5' cap in mRNA processing?
The 5' cap protects mRNA from degradation and aids in ribosome recognition for translation initiation.
How do abiotic and biotic factors interact in an ecosystem?
Abiotic factors (like temperature and water) influence living organisms (biotic factors), while living organisms can impact abiotic factors (like oxygen levels and soil quality) in an ecosystem.
What is DNA?
DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information.
What is passive transport?
Passive transport is the movement of molecules across the membrane without energy, like diffusion.
How does the Calvin cycle contribute to photosynthesis?
The Calvin cycle fixes carbon dioxide into glucose using ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions.
How does the lac operon regulate gene expression in prokaryotes?
The lac operon uses a repressor protein that inhibits transcription in the absence of lactose and activates transcription when lactose is present.
Define "ecosystem service" and give two examples.
What are lipids?
Lipids are fats and oils that store energy and make up cell membranes.
What is active transport?
Active transport uses energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient.
Why is oxygen produced during photosynthesis but consumed during cellular respiration?
Oxygen is a byproduct of water splitting in the light reactions of photosynthesis, while it is consumed as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain during respiration.
What is the function of the sigma factor in prokaryotic transcription?
The sigma factor binds to RNA polymerase, guiding it to specific promoters to initiate transcription.
How do invasive species impact ecosystems?
Invasive species disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting natives, spreading diseases, and altering habitats, reducing biodiversity.
What is ATP?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the energy currency of the cell.
What is osmosis?
Osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane from low to high solute concentration.
Oxygen is a byproduct of water splitting in the light reactions of photosynthesis, while it is consumed as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain during respiration.
Oxygen is a byproduct of water splitting in the light reactions of photosynthesis, while it is consumed as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain during respiration.
Define genotype and phenotype.
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism, while phenotype is the observable traits resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment.
Define the term "carrying capacity" in an ecological context.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can support sustainably, based on available resources like food, water, and shelter.
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
What is a phospholipid bilayer?
A phospholipid bilayer is the structure of the cell membrane, with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
How do light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Increased light intensity and higher CO₂ concentration both increase the rate of photosynthesis, up to a saturation point, after which the rate levels off.
What is a Punnett square used for in genetic studies?
A Punnett square is used in genetic studies to predict the probability of an offspring inheriting specific traits from its parents based on their genotypes. It helps visualize the possible genetic combinations.