USABO 2022 mass deck
Mycorrhizae - correct answer-Symbiotic organisms (aka symbionts) with plants that live on
their roots, helping the plant gain nutrients
Nerve net - correct answer-A nervous system that moves neural signals in all directions from
the stimuli, found in invertebrates like hydra
Malpighian tubules - correct answer-Tubes in an insect that help with osmoregulation and
excretion; they move waste into the main gut for removal. "Kidneys" of arthropods, they
absorb ammonium and convert it into uric acid, then into the main gut for removal.
Nematocysts - correct answer-Specialized cells for stinging (like on jellyfish)
Contractile Vacuole - correct answer-A special type of vacuole in a cell which can contract
itself for osmoregulation
Flame cells - correct answer-Specialized cells for waste removal (excretion), found in simple
organisms like flatworms (specifically planaria)
Cambium - correct answer-One type of meristem tissue, which is inbetween xylem and
phloem
Divergent evolution - correct answer-Natural selection happening to only 1 group of a
common ancestor species, which makes the group become a different species
Lipid derived hormones: - correct answer-- Includes sex hormones, aldosterone, and cortisol
- LIPIDS —> nonpolar —> insoluble in water
- Remain in circulation for a long time (1 hr); transported by blood proteins
- Are ketones (w/ ketone group) or alcohols (OH group)
- diffuse through the cell membrane
Amino-acid derived hormones: - correct answer-- Name ends w/ "-ine"
- VERY small hormones
- Made from tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp)
- Polar —> water soluble
Peptide hormones: - correct answer-- Made from polypeptide chains (like proteins)
- Binds to receptors on cell membranes
- Polar —> water soluble
Function of cortisol - correct answer-lowers immune defenses, raises the blood sugar level,
and inhibits the release of histamine (allergic reaction neurotransmitter)
Histamine - correct answer-- neurotransmitter
- released when IgE binds to mast cells
,- also released by eosinophils
- causes symptoms of allergic reactions (itchiness, contracted muscle, dilated capillaries)
ACTH / Adrenocorticotropic hormone - correct answer-Secreted by pituitary gland
Peptide hormone
Facilitates CORTISOL production —> negative feedback loop
CRH / Corticotropin releasing hormone - correct answer-Secreted by hypothalamus (big
boss!)
Peptide hormone
Facilitates ACTH production
Monocyte - correct answer-Large white blood cell; precursor to macrophages
lymphatic organs - correct answer-spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, tonsils + adenoid,
appendix, peyer's patch (small intestine)
Kidney function - correct answer-HOMEOSTASIS - regulate blood volume/pressure, solute
concentration, pH
CELLS - stimulate red blood cell production via erythropoietin production
Erythropoietin (EPO) - correct answer-hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the
production of red blood cells by bone marrow
Path of blood in kidneys - correct answer-1. Renal arteries
2. Nephrons
3. Renal Vein
glomerulus & bowman's capsule - correct answer-Glomerulus --> sieve, lets toxins out of
blood
Capsule --> bowl, captures toxins (aka filtrate)
Continuous transcription & translation (at the same time) - correct answer-Prokaryotic cells
Polycistronic (one finished mRNA --> many proteins) - correct answer-Prokarytoic cells
Uses 70S ribosome - correct answer-Prokaryotic cells
Shine Dalgrono Sequence - correct answer-Sequence in prokaryotic mRNA that 30S subunit
of ribosome binds to
formylated Methienine (fMet) - correct answer-Start codon of prokaryotic cells
mRNA processing - correct answer-Eukaryotic cells
5`capping (weird guanosine)
3` polyadenlyation (AAAAAAA...)
Intron & exon splicing
,Monocistronic (one finished mRNA --> one protein) - correct answer-Eukarytoic cells
Uses 80S ribosome - correct answer-Eukaryotic cells
43S PIC (pre-initiation complex) - correct answer-Part of 40S ribosome subunit that binds to
eukarytoic mRNA (from the 5' cap)
Ribosome direction on mRNA - correct answer-5' to 3'
Kozak sequence - correct answer-plays a role in the initiation of TRANSLATION (mRNA
binding to ribosomes)
fancier start codon
NOT ribosomal binding site — that's the 5' cap
Chaperonins - correct answer-Protein complex that helps protein folding
Creates hydrophillic, safe environment to fold
Binds to parts of the polypeptide chain
Central nervous system - correct answer-brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - correct answer-the sensory and motor neurons that connect the
central nervous system to the rest of the body
sympathetic nervous system - correct answer-fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system - correct answer-rest and digest
Unique properties of mammals - correct answer-Mammary glands
Hair (yes, only mammals have true hair!)
4-chambered heart
Lungs
Teeth variety
4 parts of an operon - correct answer-PROG
promoter (DNA sequence)
repressor (blocking protein)
operator (DNA sequence)
gene (DNA sequence)
lac operon - correct answer-allows lactose-digesting enzymes to form when:
1. lactose is high (lac repressor)
2. glucose is low (CAP site)
"ZendaYA"
lacZ —> lacY —> lacA
b-galactosidase —> lactose permease —> transacetylase
, lacZ - correct answer-encodes B-galactosidase
lacY - correct answer-gene that encodes lactose permease
lacA - correct answer-encodes transacetylase
Meristematic cells - correct answer-Plant version of stem cells
Can specialize into any other type of cells
Actively reproduce by mitosis
Found in:
1. apical (roots & shoots, primary growth)
2. lateral (cambium, secondary growth)
Parenchyma cells - correct answer-- Thin cell walls (b/c they only have 1 cell wall)
- Found in vascular bundles, leaves, and epidermis
- Loosely packed
- Can specialize into photosynthesis —> chlorenchyma cells
- Can specialize into opening/closing stomata —> guard cells
Collenchyma cells - correct answer-- Thicker cell wall, but only 1 cell wall
- Found in growing shoots & leaves
Sclerenchyma cells - correct answer-- Dead cells
- Have lignin & 2 cell walls
- Provide structure
Biomass pyramid - correct answer-Diagram representing the biomass in each trophic level of
an ecosystem
**can be inverted !!
Energy pyramid - correct answer-A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves
from one feeding level to another in a food web
**10% rule !!
Amphipathic - correct answer-having both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region
polar & nonpolar end
Ethidium bromide - correct answer-a DNA stain (indicator); glows orange when it is mixed
with DNA and exposed to UV light; abbreviated EtBr
cathode - correct answer-Negative electrode
anode - correct answer-Positive electrode
Mycorrhizae - correct answer-Symbiotic organisms (aka symbionts) with plants that live on
their roots, helping the plant gain nutrients
Nerve net - correct answer-A nervous system that moves neural signals in all directions from
the stimuli, found in invertebrates like hydra
Malpighian tubules - correct answer-Tubes in an insect that help with osmoregulation and
excretion; they move waste into the main gut for removal. "Kidneys" of arthropods, they
absorb ammonium and convert it into uric acid, then into the main gut for removal.
Nematocysts - correct answer-Specialized cells for stinging (like on jellyfish)
Contractile Vacuole - correct answer-A special type of vacuole in a cell which can contract
itself for osmoregulation
Flame cells - correct answer-Specialized cells for waste removal (excretion), found in simple
organisms like flatworms (specifically planaria)
Cambium - correct answer-One type of meristem tissue, which is inbetween xylem and
phloem
Divergent evolution - correct answer-Natural selection happening to only 1 group of a
common ancestor species, which makes the group become a different species
Lipid derived hormones: - correct answer-- Includes sex hormones, aldosterone, and cortisol
- LIPIDS —> nonpolar —> insoluble in water
- Remain in circulation for a long time (1 hr); transported by blood proteins
- Are ketones (w/ ketone group) or alcohols (OH group)
- diffuse through the cell membrane
Amino-acid derived hormones: - correct answer-- Name ends w/ "-ine"
- VERY small hormones
- Made from tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp)
- Polar —> water soluble
Peptide hormones: - correct answer-- Made from polypeptide chains (like proteins)
- Binds to receptors on cell membranes
- Polar —> water soluble
Function of cortisol - correct answer-lowers immune defenses, raises the blood sugar level,
and inhibits the release of histamine (allergic reaction neurotransmitter)
Histamine - correct answer-- neurotransmitter
- released when IgE binds to mast cells
,- also released by eosinophils
- causes symptoms of allergic reactions (itchiness, contracted muscle, dilated capillaries)
ACTH / Adrenocorticotropic hormone - correct answer-Secreted by pituitary gland
Peptide hormone
Facilitates CORTISOL production —> negative feedback loop
CRH / Corticotropin releasing hormone - correct answer-Secreted by hypothalamus (big
boss!)
Peptide hormone
Facilitates ACTH production
Monocyte - correct answer-Large white blood cell; precursor to macrophages
lymphatic organs - correct answer-spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, tonsils + adenoid,
appendix, peyer's patch (small intestine)
Kidney function - correct answer-HOMEOSTASIS - regulate blood volume/pressure, solute
concentration, pH
CELLS - stimulate red blood cell production via erythropoietin production
Erythropoietin (EPO) - correct answer-hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate the
production of red blood cells by bone marrow
Path of blood in kidneys - correct answer-1. Renal arteries
2. Nephrons
3. Renal Vein
glomerulus & bowman's capsule - correct answer-Glomerulus --> sieve, lets toxins out of
blood
Capsule --> bowl, captures toxins (aka filtrate)
Continuous transcription & translation (at the same time) - correct answer-Prokaryotic cells
Polycistronic (one finished mRNA --> many proteins) - correct answer-Prokarytoic cells
Uses 70S ribosome - correct answer-Prokaryotic cells
Shine Dalgrono Sequence - correct answer-Sequence in prokaryotic mRNA that 30S subunit
of ribosome binds to
formylated Methienine (fMet) - correct answer-Start codon of prokaryotic cells
mRNA processing - correct answer-Eukaryotic cells
5`capping (weird guanosine)
3` polyadenlyation (AAAAAAA...)
Intron & exon splicing
,Monocistronic (one finished mRNA --> one protein) - correct answer-Eukarytoic cells
Uses 80S ribosome - correct answer-Eukaryotic cells
43S PIC (pre-initiation complex) - correct answer-Part of 40S ribosome subunit that binds to
eukarytoic mRNA (from the 5' cap)
Ribosome direction on mRNA - correct answer-5' to 3'
Kozak sequence - correct answer-plays a role in the initiation of TRANSLATION (mRNA
binding to ribosomes)
fancier start codon
NOT ribosomal binding site — that's the 5' cap
Chaperonins - correct answer-Protein complex that helps protein folding
Creates hydrophillic, safe environment to fold
Binds to parts of the polypeptide chain
Central nervous system - correct answer-brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - correct answer-the sensory and motor neurons that connect the
central nervous system to the rest of the body
sympathetic nervous system - correct answer-fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system - correct answer-rest and digest
Unique properties of mammals - correct answer-Mammary glands
Hair (yes, only mammals have true hair!)
4-chambered heart
Lungs
Teeth variety
4 parts of an operon - correct answer-PROG
promoter (DNA sequence)
repressor (blocking protein)
operator (DNA sequence)
gene (DNA sequence)
lac operon - correct answer-allows lactose-digesting enzymes to form when:
1. lactose is high (lac repressor)
2. glucose is low (CAP site)
"ZendaYA"
lacZ —> lacY —> lacA
b-galactosidase —> lactose permease —> transacetylase
, lacZ - correct answer-encodes B-galactosidase
lacY - correct answer-gene that encodes lactose permease
lacA - correct answer-encodes transacetylase
Meristematic cells - correct answer-Plant version of stem cells
Can specialize into any other type of cells
Actively reproduce by mitosis
Found in:
1. apical (roots & shoots, primary growth)
2. lateral (cambium, secondary growth)
Parenchyma cells - correct answer-- Thin cell walls (b/c they only have 1 cell wall)
- Found in vascular bundles, leaves, and epidermis
- Loosely packed
- Can specialize into photosynthesis —> chlorenchyma cells
- Can specialize into opening/closing stomata —> guard cells
Collenchyma cells - correct answer-- Thicker cell wall, but only 1 cell wall
- Found in growing shoots & leaves
Sclerenchyma cells - correct answer-- Dead cells
- Have lignin & 2 cell walls
- Provide structure
Biomass pyramid - correct answer-Diagram representing the biomass in each trophic level of
an ecosystem
**can be inverted !!
Energy pyramid - correct answer-A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves
from one feeding level to another in a food web
**10% rule !!
Amphipathic - correct answer-having both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region
polar & nonpolar end
Ethidium bromide - correct answer-a DNA stain (indicator); glows orange when it is mixed
with DNA and exposed to UV light; abbreviated EtBr
cathode - correct answer-Negative electrode
anode - correct answer-Positive electrode
