Term Visuals Preview

This page exercises the new term-visuals system. Hover over any highlighted term to see its tooltip with an icon. Click terms with a small orange dot (●) before them to open the full diagram in a popover.

Cell biology

A eukaryoteA cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles inside. is a kind of cell with a nucleus. Inside each cell, a mitochondriaThe organelle that makes ATP — the cell's energy source. produces ATP through cellular respiration, and the cell-membraneThe flexible outer boundary of every cell — controls what enters and leaves. controls what enters and leaves the cell. Plant cells also contain a chloroplastThe organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis happens. for photosynthesis. The nucleusThe control center of a eukaryotic cell — holds the DNA. contains the cell's DNA and directs all activity. Every membrane-bound structure inside a cell is a kind of organelleA small part inside a cell that does a specific job..

Genetics

Genetic information is stored in dnaThe molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life. Shaped like a twisted ladder., organized into chromosomeDNA wound up tightly into a compact X or rod shape. You see chromosomes when a cell is about to divide.s. Each gene has different forms called alleleA version of a gene. The gene for eye color has alleles for blue, brown, and other colors.s, which can be dominantAn allele that hides the other when both are present. Written with a capital letter, like B. or recessiveAn allele that's hidden when paired with a dominant one. Written with a lowercase letter, like b. Only shows when both alleles are recessive.. A person's genotypeThe two alleles a person has for a trait, written like Bb, BB, or bb. is their genetic makeup; their phenotypeThe trait you can see — like brown eyes, blue eyes, pink flowers, or type-A blood. is how those genes show up physically. A punnett-squareA grid that shows all the possible offspring genotypes when two parents are crossed. helps predict the offspring of two parents.

Evolution

Living things change over time through evolutionHow species change over time through inherited traits and natural selection.. The main mechanism is natural-selectionProcess where organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce more., where individuals with helpful traits — called an adaptationA trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. — survive and reproduce more than others. Over many generations, this can lead to speciationThe formation of new species when populations become separated and evolve differently. — the formation of new species.

Ecology

In any ecosystemAll the living and non-living things in one area, working together., energy flows from producerAn organism that makes its own food from sunlight (like a plant).s through different levels of consumerAn organism that gets energy by eating other organisms.s, ending with decomposerAn organism that breaks down dead things and recycles nutrients.s. The non-living parts of an environment, like sunlight and temperature, are abioticA non-living factor in an ecosystem (water, sunlight, temperature, soil). factors. The living parts are bioticA living factor in an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria). factors. A populationAll the organisms of one species living in one area at one time. is all the members of one species living in the same place.

Biochemistry

Cells need energy to function. They get it in the form of atpThe energy molecule — powers nearly everything cells do., which is produced from glucose during cellular-respirationCells break down glucose with oxygen to make ATP energy.. Plants and other producers make their own glucose through photosynthesisPlants use light, CO2, and water to make glucose and oxygen.. The molecules that speed up these reactions are called enzymeA protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in the body.s.

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