Final Exam Review – some helpful hints
The closed-book exam will consist of matching and multiple choice questions which draw from your
knowledge, intelligence and creativity. Know the material below and you will be in great shape for the
upcoming exam!
Review of Concepts
-----------------In terms of cell biology, what is difference between a eukaryote and a prokaryote? Think about
organelles and function. Classification of Life.
In 1 or 2 words, what does each organelle do; function?
Know your taxonomy: DKPCOFGS. Remember that Drunk King Philip Came Over From Greece Stoked
How do you devise a good experiment? What is a good design?
Know atomic theory. What is an atom composed of? How is the atom arranged (structure)?
Know the ways that atoms are bonded together to make molecules.
Know how molecules interact with each other (bonding). Structural vs. Molecular formula. Isomerism
(in general).
Understand what makes Water so special for life.
Know the pH scale; acids and bases.
Understand what makes Carbon so special for life (it’s special atomic properties).
Know the functional groups that make up organic molecules (carbohydrate, amino acid, protein, fatty
acid). Know the structure of these organic molecules.
Diffusion vs. Osmosis. Solution, solute and solvent. Tonicity.
Transport mechanisms.
Understand how we convert food to energy in our bodies. Catabolic vs. Anabolic processes. Substratelevel vs Oxidative Phosphoryation. Aerobic Cellular Respiration (know this well).
What is the 1st and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics?
Know dehydration synthesis, a condensation reaction.
What is an enzyme? What does it do? Thermodynamics vs. Kinetics; what is the difference?
Understand Photosynthesis. C3, C4, CAM.
How does the body communicate? Within the cell. Between cells throughout the body.
Know Mitosis and Meiosis. Gamete vs. Somatic cell. Chromosomes. Ploidy.
Understand cell determination and differentiation. Stem cells.
Understand Complete Dominance and the different types of Incomplete Dominance.
Understand a Pedigree chart and how to calculate genotype/phenotype ratios.
Know Nucleic Acids and Proteins. Transcription and Translation. DNA replication. Protein Synthesis.
Mutations. Cancer.
What is a virus? What makes something “alive.”
Understand restriction enzymes, cloning, gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, PCR.