It’s All About That Base
What are the three levels of organization of life?
Chemical, Biological, Ecological
Which three functions of life keep things... moving?
Metabolism, Growth, Reproduction
What’s the single unit of a carbohydrate called?
Monosaccharides
What’s the building block of proteins?
Amino acids
Why are enzymes like speed-dating for molecules?
They help reactants meet faster by lowering activation energy
Name the type of animal tissue responsible for transmitting signals in the body.
Nervous tissue
What’s homeostasis, and why is it like your body’s "Goldilocks moment"?
Keeping internal conditions "just right" for survival
What’s the phospho-lipid buzz all about?
They’re lipids with a phosphate group, critical in cell membranes.
Which nucleic acid is the "single strand that loves to help"?
RNA
Temperature can be a catalyst’s BFF or its worst enemy. Why?
Extreme heat denatures enzymes, but the right temperature speeds reactions.
What are the main differences between vascular and epidermal tissues in plants?
Vascular tissues transport water, nutrients, and food, while epidermal tissues cover plant parts, regulating water loss and gas exchange
Metabolism might sound complicated, but what does it boil down to?
Extracting energy and nutrients to power life processes.
Why do unsaturated fats keep it "bendy," while saturated fats stay "stiff"?
Unsaturated fats have double bonds causing kinks, while saturated fats lack them.
What bonds hold the protein chain gang together?
Peptide bonds
What’s the "break it down, build it up" duo in metabolism?
Catabolism (breakdown) and anabolism (synthesis)
Explain the concept of a biome and how it differs from an ecosystem.
A biome is classified by species living in a location with specific conditions, while an ecosystem is a single environment including biotic and abiotic factors
Which characteristic of life might also describe the plot of a sci-fi survival movie?
Evolutionary adaptation
When two monosaccharides condense into one, what’s produced?
A disaccharide and water.
Why does a protein’s shape mean everything?
Shape determines function—like a key in a lock
Where does all the enzyme action really happen?
At the active site
What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
Decomposers recycle nutrients by consuming dead plant and animal material.
What’s the "waste management system" of life?
Excretion
Triglycerides are the "heavy hitters" of energy storage. What else do they do?
Provide insulation
What’s the one big difference between DNA and RNA that’s just uracil-y funny?
RNA uses uracil instead of thymine
Why does enzyme activity take a pH vacation at extremes?
Extremes in pH can denature enzymes by altering their shape