Biology 2420
Pre-Class Test
1. What is pH, how do we measure it and is the scale linear or exponential?
2. Why is pH important in biological systems, and what are its effects on
several important biological molecules.
3. What properties are common to Polar Compounds and why are these
properties important in all biological systems?
4. What are the four levels of protein structure and describe each?
5. Describe the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane and the
characteristics of permeability which are predicted because of this model.
6. What is the difference between active and passive transport thru a cell
membrane? ( be very specific)
7. What is the most common active transport system cells use to generate a
membrane potential.
8. What are the three stages of cell signaling? Describe these stages in
detail.
9. What is the function of the G protein in the above system of cell
signaling and how does it interact with other proteins to cause effects in the
cell.? (describe completely)
10. Describe the function of a ligand-gated ion channel (in detail).
11. What is the Endoplasmic Reticulum and describe some of its
functions?
12. What is the Golgi Apparatus and what is its function?
13. What are mitochondria and what is their function?
14. Where is the Electron Transport Chain located and what is it’s
purpose?
15. What is Chemiosmosis and give two examples where it is used?
16. Describe transcription and translation in detail for both eukaryotes and
prokaryotes.
17. What is an operon and what is its purpose? Please describe in detail, at
least one example of an operon.
18. Describe the replication of DNA including all of the different enzymes
involved and their functions.
19. Describe the process of energy production using glucose as the energy
source. Be sure to include the three major steps and the products each
generates.
20. Describe the four major groups of polymers found in living systems,
the monomers that are used to make them, and the type of reaction used in
the polymerization.
21. Describe osmolality in regards to the cell defining hypo, hyper and
isotonic.