GCHS BIOLOGY 11-12
1st Semester 2011 Final Study Guide
Below are the objectives we covered throughout the first semester of biology. Use your notes, textbook,
handouts, and resources on Mrs. Busse’s website or wikispace to help you organize your review. Plan your
preparation for the final so that you review a small portion each day/week. Preparing for a final or an exam
means you need to “DO” something with the information (ie Cornell Notes, creating outlines, flash cards, or
concept maps). Just reading through your notes or the textbook will NOT help you in preparing.
Unit 1: Scientific Method and Ecology
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The major characteristics used to classify things as living or nonliving.
How to classify factors as either abiotic or biotic.
The levels of organization within Ecology (organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere).
How ecologists define species.
How to identify relationships among types of organisms (symbiosis, predation, and competition).
How to trace the flow of energy through living systems using food chains, food webs and energy pyramids.
How to differentiate between the different types of consumers (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, and
decomposer).
The reactants and products for cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
How to explain the concept of the niche.
Threats to biodiversity (Habitat destruction, introduced species, pollution, population growth [human], and
overexploitation).
The components of a good experimental design. (PHERC/Scientific Method)
Unit 2: Cells Theory and Structure
1. The three principles of the cell theory.
2. About some of the major experiments and contributions that led to the development of the cell theory.
3. Similarities and differences between cell types (prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic; animal vs. plant) in terms of structure
and function.
4. The structure and function of the major cell parts (cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, DNA, ribosomes,
cytoplasm, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, mitochondria, golgi apparatus, vesicle,
vacuole, lysosome, centriole, and cytoskeleton).
5. How the structure (lipids, proteins) of the cell membrane enables movement of substances into/out of the cell
(diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, and active transport).
6. What are stem cells and the controversy about their use?
7. Microscope parts and function.
Unit 3: Cellular Reproduction
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Reasons for why cells need to divide (growth, reproduction, replacement).
The relationship between cell division and reproduction (asexual vs. sexual).
The stages of a somatic cell’s life cycle (interphase [G1, S, G2], mitosis, cytokinesis).
The similarities and differences between mitosis and meiosis (steps, products, purpose).
Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of reproduction.
Identifying the position of a cell in the cell life cycle based on a diagram or written description.
Identifying the impacts of variations within the cell cycle (ex. Cancer)
Unit 4: DNA/Genetics
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The structure of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
The process by which DNA is produced from a DNA template (DNA replication).
The process by which RNA is produced from a DNA template (transcription).
The structure of proteins.
The process by which proteins are produced from an RNA template (translation).
The variety of proteins found in living organisms and their functions.
Several causes for mutation within DNA.
Transcribing and translating a sample of DNA to determine the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
Describing the relationship between DNA sequence, protein structure, and protein function (mutations).
Just memorizing the definitions of the terms will not get you an “A.” UNDERSTANDING the terms and knowing how to
use terms to EXPLAIN a concept will get you an “A.” *Think of your short answer questions throughout the semester*
Scientific Method and Ecology Terms:
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Ecology:
Biotic:
Abiotic:
Biosphere:
Species:
Population:
Community:
Ecosystem:
Biome:
Autotroph:
Producer:
Photosynthesis:
Heterotroph:
Herbivore:
Carnivore:
PHERC/Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Independent/Dependent Variable
Control Variable
Control Group
16) Omnivore:
17) Detritivore:
18) Decomposer:
19) Trophic Level:
20) Ecological Pyramid:
21) Organism:
22) Symbiosis:
23) Predation:
24) Competition:
25) Mutualism:
26) Commensalism:
27) Parasitism:
28) Food Chain:
29) Food Web:
30) Niche:
Cells Theory and Structure Terms
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Cell TheoryOrganelleProkaryoteEukaryoteCell MembraneCell WallNucleusCentrioleRibosomeEndoplasmic ReticulumGolgi ApparatusOsmosis
Diffusion
Hypertonic
Hypotonic
Isotonic
14) Vacuole15) Lysosome16) Mitochondria17) Chloroplast18) Active Transport19) Passive Transport
21) Flagella23) Animal Cell Characteristics24) Plant Cell Characteristics-
Cellular Reproduction Terms
1) Anaphase2) Centriole3) Gene4) Mitosis5) Spindle Fiber6) Cancer7) Centromere8) Interphase9) Prophase10) Telophase10) Cell Cycle12) Chromosome13) Metaphase14) Sister Chromatid-
Genetics Terms
1) Amino acids2) codon3) DNA4) messenger RNA (mRNA)5) protein6) ribosomal RNA (rRNA)7) RNA8) transfer RNA (tRNA)9) transcription-
15) Tetrad16) Sex Chromosome17) Gamete
18) Fertilization19) Zygote20) Diploid21) Haploid22) Interphase23) Prophase 124) Metaphase 125) Anaphase 126) Telophase 127) Cytokinesis28) Prophase 229) Metaphase 230) Anaphase 231) Telophase 2-
10) anticodon11) complementary13)
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nucleotidesreplicationribosomestop codontranslation-