VOCAB
Define a control group
What is a group in the experiment in which a variable is not being tested
Define mutation
What is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can occur due to errors during cell division or exposure to environmental factors, and can potentially alter the traits of an organism depending on the nature of the change
What is the function of the cell membrane?
What is to act as a barrier, selectively allowing certain molecules to enter and exit the cell, effectively separating the cell's internal environment from its surroundings while maintaining the cell's shape and regulating the movement of nutrients, waste products, and other substances through specialized transport proteins embedded within it.
What is DNA
What is a molecule that contains the genetic code that is unique to every individual
What is the Prophase
What is the nuclear membrane disappears and the nuclear material resolves itself into chromosomes.
Define ATP
What is the source of energy for use and storage at the cellular level
What is a nucleotide
What is the basic building block of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA)
What is the function of the nucleus
What is to store and protect the cell's DNA
What is a Silent Mutation
What are mutations, or changes, to a gene's DNA sequence that have no effect on the amino acid sequence coded for by that gene
What is the Metaphase
What is the stage where replicated chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell, also known as the metaphase plate, before being separated into two daughter cells during cell division
Define an independent variable.
What is Genetic Diversity
What is the variety of different genes within a species, which results in individuals having different traits, allowing a population to adapt to changing environments
What is the function of the chloroplast?
What is to produce energy through photosynthesis and oxygen-release processes, which sustain plant growth and crop yield
What is a Frameshift Mutation
What is a genetic mutation caused by a deletion or insertion in a DNA sequence that shifts the way the sequence is read.
What is the Anaphase
What is the stage of cell division (mitosis or meiosis) where replicated chromosomes separate and are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell
Define a dependent variable
What is the variable that is measured and observed in an experiment, and is considered to be affected by changes in the independent variable
What is a Translation
What is the process by which a cell makes proteins using the genetic information carried in messenger RNA (mRNA)
What is the function of the mitochondria
What is to generate energy for the cell by converting chemical energy from food into a usable form called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a process called oxidative phosphorylation
What does "semi-conservative" mean in DNA Replication
What is when a DNA molecule replicates, each new double helix consists of one strand from the original DNA molecule (the "parent" strand) and one newly synthesized strand, essentially "conserving" half of the original DNA in each new copy
What is the Telephase
What is when chromosomes move in opposite directions so two new cells can be formed from one.
Define Mitosis
What is the process by which a single cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells
What is a Transcription
What is the process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA
What is the function of ribosomes
What is to synthesize proteins by translating the genetic code carried by messenger RNA (mRNA) into a sequence of amino acids, which then fold to form functional proteins
What are some causes of DNA mutations
What are errors during DNA replication during cell division, exposure to environmental mutagens like radiation or chemicals, viral infections, and even spontaneous occurrences within the cell
What is Cytokinesis