Bio101
Midterm II Study Guide
10/25/12
A note about the course and how to study.
For the tests in my courses focus on being able to complete tasks/activities and solve problems.
You will need to do some memorization, however, more important is being able to apply that
knowledge. You should therefore practice any activities you have done as homework or in class.
You are very likely to be asked to do these tasks again. Strict memorization of vocabulary will
not allow you to succeed in this course.
This study guide is composed of two parts. The first part is composed of course objectives.
Course objectives are things that you should be able to do as a consequence of taking this course.
The second part consists of questions related to each of the chapters that you have read.
Part I: Course Objectives (midterm 2)
The course objectives are composed of three parts. 1 (bold) describes the learning objective,
what you should be able to do. The second part provides a sample question illustrating the type
of question/activity which would demonstrate that you have met that objective. The third part
(italics) lists the relevant chapter or chapters in your text. As an additional aid, at the top of
each section of the notes, I have placed the specific objectives addressed by that section of the
notes.
12. Predict the charge of an atom based upon its neutrons, protons, and electrons. Given an element (ie AL +3) and
the atomic number and atomic weight, determine the number of neutrons, protons, and electrons. Similarly,
given the number of electrons and protons, give the charge of the atom. Chapter 2
13. Predict whether a substance is polar or non-polar Given a chemical structure, determine whether a substance
is polar or non-polar Chapter 2
14. Predict whether a substance will dissolve in a polar or non-polar substrate Given a substance predict
whether the compound is likely to dissolve in oil or water Chapter 2
15. Describe the difference between covalent, ionic and hydrogen bonds. Given a specific bond in a substance
identify the type of bond formed and it's relative strength (ie. is it likely to come apart when dissolved in
water?) Chapter 2
16. Predict the orientation of molecules given their chemical properties. Given a compound with both a polar
and non-polar potion, predict the orientation of the chemical in oil and water Chapter 2
17. Describe the special properties of water. Explain why water is both an excellent solvent and why it has water
tension Chapter 2
18. Identify the components/monomers of the four basic macromolecules found in living organisms. Identify
the monomer of a given class of compound. Chapter 3
19. Identify the process used to add and remove monomers from the four basic macromolecules found in
living organisms. What role does water play in the synthesis and catalysis of carbohydrates ? Given the
structure of two monomers, show how they would connect using dehydration synthesis. Chapter 3
20. Identify the different roles for each of the four basic macromolecules found in living organisms. Given a
function of a cell predict which class of compound is required to carry out that function. Also determine the
possible consequences for the loss of a given class of chemical. Chapter 3
21. Identify the different roles for enzymes in a living organism and the importance of structure on the role
of enzymes. Predict the effect of a change in the pH on the function of a given cellular process. Chapter 3
22. Identify saturated and unsaturated fatty acids based upon their chemical structure. Given the chemical
structure of a fatty acid identify it as a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid Chapter 3
23. Predict the properties of saturated and unsaturated fats based upon their structure. Given an triglyceride
determine whether it is likely a solid or liquid Chapter 3
24. Distinguish between trans-fats and cis-fats. Draw a 6 carbon cis-fatty acid. Chapter 3
Bio101
Midterm II Study Guide
10/25/12
25. Identify the vital role that ATP plays in the cell and predict consequences from its loss. Given a cell, determine
whether it requires ATP. Chapters 5, 6
26. Predict when cellular respiration would be reduced and connect to its role in the cell. Which organelle
performs cellular respiration? Determine how the loss of cellular respiration would affect cell function Chapter
6
27. Predict when photosynthesis would be reduced and connect to its role in the cell. Which organelle performs
photosynthesis? Determine how the loss of photosynthesis would affect cell function. Chapter 7
28. Use the role and components of cell membranes to determine the effect of a change/loss in a component to a
change/loss of function. What functions would be lost if a cell membrane had no proteins? Chapter 4, 5, 11
29. Use the connection of genes ⇒ trait to help construct diagrams and predict outcomes of change in a
cell/organism. Given a gene, determine the effect of adding that gene to an existing genome, removing the
gene, or altering the gene. (note: this will link with later objectives) Chapters 10, 11 and throughout
30. Predict the role of cell organelles/components for a given purpose. what effect would removal of a given cell
component have on a given cellular function? If a process is not working properly, suggest an organelle that
may not be functioning properly. Why? chapter 4, 5, 6, 7
31. Connect all the functions and organelles of a cell through signal transduction. Chapter 11 as well as others
o Build and test a signal transduction pathway.
o Do the results of an experiment (GFP or knockout) support or not support a model of signal
transduction? How?
o Given a signal transduction model, design an experiment to test the model and provide results if
the model is supported and if it is not supported. How?
32. Track the process of protein synthesis and identify the steps (transcription and translation) -Draw the process
of protein synthesis as part of signal transduction identifying the components and processes. chapter 10
33. What are the components of DNA (nucleotides) and RNA (nucleotides) and how do these two molecules
differ in structure and function? chapter 10
Part II: Chapter questions ( 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 )
Chapter 2. Basic chemistry
 Think about the role of protons, neutrons, and electrons in determining the properties of
elements. What makes carbon, carbon? Why do some atoms have a charge? What is the
difference in the different isotopes of carbon (carbon-12, carbon-13, carbon-14)?
 The number of electrons that an element has helps determine the number and type of
bonds that an element can make. How many bonds are H, C, N, and O likely to make?
 What is the difference between ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonds? What makes water
so very good at making hydrogen bonds? Keep an eye out for hydrogen bonds later as we
talk about biological molecules/polymers.
Chapter 3. Biochemistry
 How many covalent bonds do carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen usually make?
 What is hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis? What biological compounds use these
reactions?
 What are polysaccharides made of? What do cells use them for?
 Can you identify a saturated and unsaturated fatty acid? What trait do fats/lipids have that
most other biological compounds don't have?
 How do proteins shape and amino acids affect it's function? What role do hydrogen
bonds have in the shape and reactivity of proteins?
 What kind of bond holds the two strands of DNA together? What are the nucleotides in a
DNA molecule? What are the nucleotides in RNA?
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Bio101
Midterm II Study Guide
10/25/12
Chapter 4. Parts of the cell (also includes information from chapter 3)
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What role do each of the cell components play in the cell? Be ready to predict the consequences if a cell
component is missing or not working properly.
What role do the macromolecules (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates) play in each of the cell
components.
Chapter 5. Enzymes and membranes
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What role does ATP play in the cell?
What actions require ATP?
What are enzymes made out of?
What do enzymes do in the cell? What affects enzyme function (think back to the last midterm)?
What are membranes made out of?
What role do membranes play for the cell (see the chapter summary as well as thinking about
signal transduction)
Chapter 6&7. Respiration and photosynthesis
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What are the organelles involved in cellular respiration and photosynthesis?
What are the reactants and end products of cellular respiration and photosynthesis?
What cells do cellular respiration and photosynthesis?
Chapter 10. Molecular genetics: making proteins
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What are the components of DNA and RNA?
What are the different types of RNA (mRNA, rRNA, tRNA)?
How does DNA code for proteins? (process of transcription and translation)
o How does the code for a protein move from DNA to the final protein?
o What is the role of ribosomes?
What are the different types of proteins? (note: part of variation section. May not be included in
this midterm)
Chapter 11. Molecular genetics: genetic control
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What is the role of an promotor in transcription?
How does a cell respond to an environmental stimulus (signal transduction)?
What is the consequence of a malfunctioning signal transduction pathway?
We will discuss clones and molecular engineering later, so keep this in mind as you study this
chapter.