General Science: Life and Biological Flashcards

What is the primary function of mitochondria in a cell?

Answer: Producing ATP (energy) through cellular respiration

Mitochondria are known as the 'powerhouses of the cell' because they produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through cellular respiration, converting the chemical energy in glucose into a form cells can use.

What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy?

Answer: Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, using chlorophyll in chloroplasts.

What molecule carries genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms?

Answer: DNA

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

What is the function of white blood cells in the human body?

Answer: Defending the body against infections and foreign invaders

White blood cells (leukocytes) are key components of the immune system. They identify, attack, and destroy pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances that enter the body.

What is natural selection?

Answer: A process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully

Natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin, is the mechanism of evolution where individuals with heritable traits better adapted to their environment have higher survival and reproductive rates, passing those advantageous traits to offspring.

What is the role of the cell membrane?

Answer: To control what enters and exits the cell

The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is a selectively permeable barrier that controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell, maintaining the cell's internal environment.