Bio 11A
General Biology
Study Guide
Unit III Review Questions
Ch. 13: Natural Selection
1. What observations did Darwin make on his 5 yr voyage aboard the HMS Beagle?
2. What text influenced Darwin's ideas regarding evolution and why?
3. What was the prevailing view regarding the earth and life in Darwin's time?
4. Describe the " tree of life" and what evolutionary concepts it represents.
5. What do each of the following parts of the "tree of life" represent: tips of twigs, trunk
and branches, forks where two branches diverge?
6. What are 4 different kinds of evidence supporting evolution? Describe each kind and
give an example.
7. Why is natural selection considered the "mechanism of evolution"?
8. What were the key observations from nature that led Darwin to develop the theory of
natural selection?
9. Explain the phrase "natural selection is differential success in reproduction".
10. Describe the Peppered moth example of natural selection.
11. Why are populations the units of evolution?
12. What is the modern synthesis view of evolution?
13. describe the 3 modes of natural selection. Give an example for each mode.
Ch. 20: Structure and Function
1. Describe dynamic soaring in the albatross.
2. How does a bird wing illustrate the concept of structure fits function?
3. Describe the three levels of structural hierarchy in all animals?
4. What structural adaptations enhance chemical exchange between animals and their
environment?
5. What is interstitial fluid?
6. Explain the concept of homeostasis?
7. Describe the process of negative feedback?
8. Describe the mechanism used by the human body to control body temperature.
Ch. 21: Nutrition and Digestion
1. List the organs of the human alimentary canal and the accessory glands.
2. How does food move through the digestive system? What are sphinctors and what role
do they play in digestion?
3. What enzyme is present in saliva and what does it breakdown? What is a bolus?
4. What enzyme is present in stomach juice and what does it breakdown? What is acid
chyme?
5. What is the major organ of chemical digestion and absorption? What are bile salts and
how do they help in fat digestion?
6. What structures in the small intestine increase the surface area for absorption?
7. What is the first organ to receive the absorbed nutrients from the intestine? Why is this
important?
8. What is the “food pyramid”? What are the six food groups in the food pyramid?
9. What is Phen-Fen and what damage can it cause the body? What is serotonin and
how is it related to eating?
10. Why are eating disorders more common in girls and young woman?
11. What are the symptoms associated with Bulimia? With Anorexia?
Spring 2002
Don Bard, Instructor
Bio 11A
General Biology
Study Guide
Ch. 23: Circulation
1. What is the purpose of the circulatory system in multi-cellular animals?
2. What is interstitial fluid? Explain why diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from blood to
cells is indirect.
3. Describe the difference between open and closed circulation systems.
4. Why is the mammalian circulatory system called a “two-circuit” system? What are the
two circuits?
5. Why is the heart enclosed in a fluid filled sac?
6. Describe the two kinds of chambers that make up the heart. Describe the two kinds of
valves within the heart? What function does the valves provide for circulation?
7. Describe the three kinds of blood vessels; veins, arteries and capillaries, and give one
adaptation for each.
8. Explain the terms diastole and systole.
9. Explain the cardiac cycle and the action of the valves at each stage of the cycle.
10. What is responsible for creating the heart sounds? What is a heart murmur?
11. What are the three cellular components of blood? What is plasma?
12. What are stem cells and why are they called totipotent?
Ch. 24: The Immune System
1. What is infection? Describe at least five mechanical barriers to infection?
2. What is phagocytosis? What cells perform this activity?
3. What is interferon? What triggers the release of interferon?
4. What is inflammation? What is histamine and what actions result from it’s release?
5. What two functions are performed by the human lymphatic system?
6. Why is immunity called a “specific” defense mechanism? What activates the immune
system? What is an antibody?
7. What are four ways that antibodies enhance the destruction of specific invaders?
8. What are the two cell types that make up the immune system? Where are they made?
What type of immunity is each type of cell involved in?
9. Describe the immune response called “clonal selection”. What two sets of cells result
from clonal selection and what does each set do?
10. Describe the process of “memory” in the immune system?
11. What is “humoral immunity”?
12. What is “cell-mediated immunity”? What is an APC?
13. What are helper T cells and what role do they play in the immune system?
14. What are cytotoxic T cells? What is perforin and what does it do to cells?
Spring 2002
Don Bard, Instructor