General biology concepts spanning cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology tested on the CLEP Biology exam. Front: the term. Back: a plain-language definition.
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- Cell membrane
- The outer boundary of a cell that controls what enters and exits, composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.
- Nucleus
- The membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's DNA and controls cell activities.
- Mitochondria
- The organelle responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration, providing energy for the cell.
- Chloroplast
- The organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs, capturing light energy to make glucose.
- Ribosome
- The cellular structure that synthesizes proteins by reading messenger RNA and joining amino acids together.
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- A network of membrane-bound tubes involved in protein synthesis and transport within the cell.
- Golgi apparatus
- The organelle that packages and ships proteins and lipids to their destinations inside or outside the cell.
- Lysosome
- An organelle filled with digestive enzymes that breaks down waste materials and cellular debris.
- Prokaryote
- A cell without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, typically a bacterium or archaeon.
- Eukaryote
- A cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, including animal, plant, and fungal cells.
- DNA
- A double-stranded molecule that carries genetic instructions for all living organisms.
- Gene
- A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or trait.
- Allele
- One of two or more alternative forms of a gene at the same location on a chromosome.
- Dominant allele
- An allele that is expressed in the phenotype even when paired with a recessive allele.
- Recessive allele
- An allele that is only expressed in the phenotype when two copies are present.