STAAR Bootcamp 1 (2026–2027)
Study Guide – Core Standards
Review, Practice Questions & Exam
Preparation (Complete Revision Pack)
biomolecule
The molecules of life that include: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Glucose
A type of sugar, chief source of energy for living organisms.
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the
removal of a water molecule.
Deoxyribose sugar
sugar used in DNA to make up the "backbone"
fatty acids
Building Blocks of Lipids
Lipids
Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen.
Nitrogenus Bases
Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine
nucleic acids
large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses. ex. DNA and RNA
Nucleotide
structural components or building blocks of DNA and RNA
Carbon
C6
Polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
enzyme inhibitors
A substance that blocks the action of an enzyme
Enzyme
Proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies.
Substrate
a molecule that an enzyme reacts with.
Organelle
specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell
Photosynthesis
process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water
and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and
starches
, active transport
the transport of molecules that require the use of energy in the form of ATP to cross the
cell membrane
aerobic cellular respiration
A chemical process in which oxygen is used to make energy from carbohydrates
(sugars)
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
concentration gradient
difference in the concentration of a substance from one location to another
Endoplasmic Reticulum
A system of membranes that is found in a cell's cytoplasm and that assists in the
production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids.
energy conversion
A change from one form of energy to another
Golgi apparatus
stack of membranes in the cell that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins from the
endoplasmic reticulum
Lysosome
An organelle containing digestive enzymes
mRNA
Molecules that carry the genetic information from DNA in the nucleus, to the cytoplasm
where proteins are made
plasma membrane
A selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of the cells
Synthesis
combining parts into a whole
Thymine
the nucleotide that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide adenine in DNA.
Mitochondria
Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production
Ribosome
Cytoplasmic organelles at which proteins are synthesized.
Vacuole
Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates
Bacteriophage
kind of virus that infects bacteria
Capsid
protein coat surrounding a virus
host
an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite
lysogenic cycle
a viral reproductive cycle in which the viral DNA is added to the host cell's DNA and is
copied along with the host cell's DNA. (Long process)
lytic cycle
cycle of viral infection; results in replication of virus and cell destruction (Fast process)
Study Guide – Core Standards
Review, Practice Questions & Exam
Preparation (Complete Revision Pack)
biomolecule
The molecules of life that include: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Glucose
A type of sugar, chief source of energy for living organisms.
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the
removal of a water molecule.
Deoxyribose sugar
sugar used in DNA to make up the "backbone"
fatty acids
Building Blocks of Lipids
Lipids
Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen.
Nitrogenus Bases
Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine
nucleic acids
large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses. ex. DNA and RNA
Nucleotide
structural components or building blocks of DNA and RNA
Carbon
C6
Polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
enzyme inhibitors
A substance that blocks the action of an enzyme
Enzyme
Proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies.
Substrate
a molecule that an enzyme reacts with.
Organelle
specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell
Photosynthesis
process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water
and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and
starches
, active transport
the transport of molecules that require the use of energy in the form of ATP to cross the
cell membrane
aerobic cellular respiration
A chemical process in which oxygen is used to make energy from carbohydrates
(sugars)
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
concentration gradient
difference in the concentration of a substance from one location to another
Endoplasmic Reticulum
A system of membranes that is found in a cell's cytoplasm and that assists in the
production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids.
energy conversion
A change from one form of energy to another
Golgi apparatus
stack of membranes in the cell that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins from the
endoplasmic reticulum
Lysosome
An organelle containing digestive enzymes
mRNA
Molecules that carry the genetic information from DNA in the nucleus, to the cytoplasm
where proteins are made
plasma membrane
A selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of the cells
Synthesis
combining parts into a whole
Thymine
the nucleotide that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide adenine in DNA.
Mitochondria
Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production
Ribosome
Cytoplasmic organelles at which proteins are synthesized.
Vacuole
Cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates
Bacteriophage
kind of virus that infects bacteria
Capsid
protein coat surrounding a virus
host
an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite
lysogenic cycle
a viral reproductive cycle in which the viral DNA is added to the host cell's DNA and is
copied along with the host cell's DNA. (Long process)
lytic cycle
cycle of viral infection; results in replication of virus and cell destruction (Fast process)
