Final study guide

Mj wilson
Biology
12/10/23

Strategies for success and helpful tips:

● Read the Key Concepts at the end of each chapter, and anything that is not clearly
understood should be re-read in more detail in the chapter.
● Study all old vocabulary and make sure you really know the term and can define it in your
own words. Creating flashcards is a good way to test yourself.
● Study all old notes taken from class, any information that is not crystal clear should be
re-visited by reading through that section in the chapter and coming to see me before the
exam.
● Study all old chapter reviews at the back of each chapter, these are valuable “big picture”
concepts from each chapter.
● Finally, don’t get bogged down too heavily with the details, spend most of your time making
sure you understand the Big Picture.

Unit 1: Introduction to Biology

1. What is biology?
-Biology is the scientificstudy of life. Its the study of everything that is alive and
everything that was alive before..
2. Why is it important to study biology?
-Biology helps us to better understand the living world and the way that all living matter
evolves, interacts, and adapts to life.
3. What are all of the defining characteristics of life? Use the acronym CHARGE to name and
describe them all including examples of each.
- For something to be considered living… There are 6 main occurrences.
- First is cellular organization, then is the ability to reproduce, growth &
development, energy use, homeostasis, response to their environment, and the
ability to adapt to the environment.
4. Design a simple experiment using the steps of the scientific method. Include independent,
dependent variables, a control group, and constants.
-In the scientific study of how long a student sleeps, can affect their test scores heavily.
The independent variable would be the amount of time the student sleeps at night, and the
dependent variable would be the score that the student got on the test.
5. Describe the differences between observations and inferences.
-In an observation there is something being noticed or being done through looking or even
doing something in an observational situation. Whereas an inference is an observation being
made by having logical reasoning until it is believed.
6. Explain the difference between an independent vs. dependent variable.
- The independent variable is the variable that is being changed in the
experiment. while the dependent variable is the one that is being
measured.
Unit 2: Chemistry of Life
1. Describe the structure of atoms.
-The basic structure of atoms are protons, electrons, and neutrons.
2. Explain the difference between ions vs. isotopes
- Isotopes are atoms that have the same amount of protons as ions but they have a
different amount of neutrons. An ion is an atom that has gained or lost electrons.
3. Explain the difference between covalent vs. ionic bonding
- The difference between covalent and ionic bonding is that in ionic bonding, one
atom donates electrons to the other. In covalent bonding, the two atoms share
electrons.
4. What is the difference between compounds and molecules?
- The difference between molecules and compounds is that a molecule is the
combining of two or more atoms by a chemical reaction, and a compound is the
formation of different types of atoms.
5. Define polarity and describe how water’s polarity contributes to its special properties.
- Polarity means that there are differences to opposite sides of a molecule or cell.
And water's polarity contributes to its special properties because it allows it to
dissolve other polar substances very easily. For example when a polar substance is
put in water, the positive ends of the molecules are attracted to the negative ends
of the water molecules, and vice versa.
6. Define each of the following: reactants, products, activation energy, endo and exothermic
reactions
- Reactants are the substances in chemical reactions. Products are known as the end
substances in chemical reactions. Activation energy is the amount of energy that’s
required to cause a chemical reaction. An endothermic reaction is any chemical
reaction that absorbs heat from its environment. Finally an exothermic reaction is
a chemical reaction that releases energy by light or heat.
7. Explain how enzymes work (substrate, active site etc.). Are they reusable?
- Enzymes work by combining with molecules to start a chemical reaction. Yes,
enzymes are reusable.
8. What is the pH scale? Where do acids and bases fall on this scale?
- The pH scale is a measurement of how acidic/basic water is. Anything lower
than a 7.0 is acidic.
9. Make a table of the 4 macromolecules: carbs, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. List the
monomers of each macromolecule along with their functions and examples of each.. Be able
to identify the structure of all four macromolecules!!!!!

Macomolecules Monomers Function

Carbohydrates monosaccharide Carbohydrate provide energy, store

energy, build macromolecules, and
spare protein and fat for other uses.

Proteins Amino Acids Proteins help repair and help build

tissue in the body
 Macomolecules Monomers Function

Lipids glycerol and fatty Lipids help re regulate hormones,

acids they help to transmit nerve
impulses, and they store energy in
the form of body fat.

Nucleic acids Nucleotides Nucleic acids (deoxyribonucleic

acids) and (ribonucleic acids) carry
genetic information that is read in
cells to make the RNA and proteins
with the way living things function.

10. What happens in dehydration synthesis? What happens in hydrolysis? What does this have
to do with the 4 macromolecules?
- Dehydration synthesis happens when two molecules are put together to form a
larger molecule, then follows the removal of water.
Unit 3: Cell Structure and Function
-***Know ALL of the organelles and structures in a eukaryotic cell and their functions.
What are all organelles in a eukaryotic cell?
- Organelles in eukaryotic cells include, the Mitochondria, Endoplasmic reticulum,
Nucleus, Golgi apparatus, Ribosomes, Lysosomes, Cell membrane,Vesicles, vacuoles,
Chloroplasts, and the Cytoskeleton.
1. Cytoskeleton differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
- The difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells, is that eukaryotic
cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and prokaryotic cells dont. The nucleus is
where eukaryotes store their genetic information.
2. Describe the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.
- Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic cells, so they have a lot of things in
common both plants and animal cells have a membrane-bound nucleus that contains
their genetic material .
3. What does the term selective permeability mean as it relates to cell membranes?
- Selectively permeability means that membranes can choose to allow or not allow
certain materials to go in or out of a cell.
4. How is the cell membrane related to the cell’s ability to maintain homeostasis?
- The cell membrane is related to the cells ability to maintain homeostasis because it
regulates materials that want to leave or enter a cell.
5. What are the 3 parts of the cell theory?
- All living organisms are composed of one or more cells, A cell is the most basic unit
of measure, and all cells are made from pre-existing cells.
6. What did Schwann, Schleidan, and Virchow contribute to the cell theory?
7. Contrast hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solutions.
8. What is passive transport? Does it require energy? Is it going from high to low or low to
high concentration?
9. What is active transport? Does it require energy? Is it going from high to low or low to high
concentration?

Unit 4: Cell Division

1. Why can’t a cell grow indefinitely?
- A cell can't grow forever because they lose a little bit of their DNA every time they
divide. So after about 40 to 50 times that the cell divides, they lose too much DNA
to keep dividing.
2. How is cell division in plants different than in animal cells and prokaryotic cells?
- the difference between the cell division of plant cells and animals cells is the way
that cytokinesis happens. In plants, a new cell wall is formed between the two new
daughter cells, where as in animal cells, the cell membrane of the parent's cell forms
a cleavage furrow to produce two new daughter cells.
3. Draw the cell cycle and label what happens in each stage. Be sure to include what the
chromosomes are doing in each stage.
4. What is the difference between chromosomes and chromatin is the genetic material in each
of these forms.
-Chromatin is the DNA and proteins that make up a chromosome. Chromosomes are the
other parof DNA in a cell.
5. Explain how cancer works and what it has to do with cell cycle regulation.
- Cancer starts with large changes in cells or a small group of cells in the body. The changes make
cells start to grow and multiply too much and causes abnormalities.