General Biology – Final Exam Review
Mary Stangler Center for Academic Success
This review is meant to highlight basic concepts from the units covered in this course. It does not cover all concepts presented by
your instructor. Refer back to your notes, unit objectives, labs, handouts, etc. to further prepare for your exam.
1. Define Scientific theory:
2. List the Steps of the Scientific method:
3. Properties of Life –The following is a mnemonic you can use to remember the characteristics of living organisms. Fill
in the blanks to describe the characteristics of all living organisms.
C: composed of _____________________
H: maintain ________________________
O: ________________________ into levels of complexity
G: _______________________ & reproduce
G: based on __________________ code
E: change over time/_________________________ adaptations
E: obtain & use __________________________
S: respond to ______________________ /environment
4. Hierarchal Organization – put the following in order from simple to complex (or lowest to highest )
Atoms, biosphere, Cell, Community, Ecosystem, Macromolecules, Molecules, Organ, Organ system, Organelles,
Organism, Population, Species, Tissue.
5. Evolution & Natural Selection –define the following:
◦ Evolution:
◦ Natural Selection:
6. Chemistry – define and fill in the table:
◦ Atom:
Subatomic Particle
Charge
Location
Molecular weight
Proton
Neutron
Electron
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 1
7. Chemistry – define and answer:
◦ Element:
◦ Which 4 make up 96.3% of body weight?
8. Chemistry – Define the following:
◦ Isotope:
◦ Ion:
9. Chemistry – Define the following:
◦ Covalent bond
10. Chemistry – Define the following:
◦ Ionic bond:
11. Chemistry – Define the following:
◦ Hydrogen (H-bonds)
12. Water is the most abundant molecule of life. Why is it so essential?
13. Acids, Bases, pH, and Buffers – Define the following:
◦ Acidic solutions:
◦ Basic solutions:
◦ pH:
◦ Buffer:
14. Reactions – Define the following:
◦ Oxidation reaction:
◦ Reduction reaction:
15. Organic Molecules – Answer and define the following:
◦ What is an organic molecule?
◦ Monomer:
◦ Polymer:
16. Macromolecules (polymers), four macromolecules make up living things – Fill in the chart.
Polymer
Monomer
Major Function(s)
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 2
17. Parts of the Cell – Define structure and/or function of each where applicable:
◦ Cell membrane :
◦ Cytoplasm:
◦ Organelles:
◦ Nucleus:
◦ Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER):
18. Parts of the Cell cont… - Define structure and/or function of each where applicable:
◦ Ribosome:
◦ Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) :
◦ Golgi:
◦ Mitochondria:
19. Membrane Transport = Movement of substances across the cell membrane – fill in the table to compare and
contrast passive and active transport. Refer to energy use, concentrations gradient, and the main types for each
one.
Passive transport
Active transport
20. Osmosis & Tonicity - Concentration of solute inside a cell vs. the conc. of water or solution surrounding it – Define
the following:
◦ Isotonic solution:
◦
Hypertonic solution:
◦
Hypotonic solution:
21. Laws of Thermodynamics – Define the following:
◦ 1st Law:
◦
2nd Law:
◦
Metabolism :
◦
Calorie:
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 3
22. Enzymes and Substrates – Define the following:
◦ Enzyme (proteins):
◦
Substrate (reactant):
◦
Active site:
23. Reactions – Write the equation for the following:
◦ Cellular Respiration:
◦
Photosynthesis:
24. ATP/ADP – Name the following molecules and describe what they are used for.
◦ ATP :
◦ ADP:
◦ P:
25. Aerobic Respiration – list the steps and give a very brief explanation of what happens at the step. Cellular
Respiration –produces ATP in the presence of oxygen
◦ 1.
◦
2.
◦
3.
◦
4.
26. Anaerobic Respiration - define the following:
◦ Fermentation
27. Photosynthesis – explain its purpose and define the cell parts or steps in the process.
◦ Photosynthesis:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Chloroplast:
Thylakoid membrane:
Grana :
Stroma :
Pigments:
Light reactions:
◦
Calvin Cycle (carbon fixation):
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 4
28. Cell Division – Answer and define the following:
◦ Why do our cells divide?
◦ Mitosis:
◦ Meiosis:
◦ Cytokinesis :
29. Chromosomes – Answer and define the following:
◦ How many total pairs?
◦ Diploid (2n):
◦ Haploid (n):
◦ Homologous chromosome:
◦ Sister chromatids :
30. Mitosis – list the 4 stages and give a very brief explanation of what happens during each.
◦ 1.
◦
2.
◦
3.
◦
4.
31. Meiosis – list the stages of meiosis I and meiosis II and give a very brief explanation of what happens during each.
Meiosis I
◦ 1.
◦
2.
◦
3.
◦
4.
Meiosis II
◦ 1.
◦
2.
◦
3.
◦
4.
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 5
32. Heredity & DNA – define the following:
◦ Trait:
◦ Gene:
◦ Allele:
◦ Homozygous:
◦ Heterozygous:
33. Heredity & DNA – define the following:
◦ Genotype:
◦ Phenotype:
◦ Dominant allele (R):
◦ Recessive allele (r):
34. Pedigrees – Describe each of the following pedigrees; refer to type of chromosome involved, if carriers are present
and whether male or female, when traits are seen (every generation vs. skipping), etc.
◦ Dominant autosomal :
◦
Recessive autosomal :
◦
Sex-linked :
35. Nondisjunction - Chromosomes not lined up properly during meiosis. Describe possible results of a nondisjunction.
Name two disorders involving sex chromosomes and one involving chromosome 21.
◦ Nondisjuction:
◦ What is XO?
◦ What is XXY?
◦ What autosomal disorder results from an extra chromosome 21?
36. DNA and RNA - compare and contrast:
◦ DNA:
◦
RNA:
37. DNA to Protein - Protein synthesis takes place in every cell. Describe the steps of making a protein.
◦ Transcription:
◦
Translation:
38. Proteins from amino acids - As amino acids are dropped off at the ribosome by tRNA they form a protein. When all
amino acids are added the protein will break free and fold into its specific shape.
◦ How can there be so many different kinds of proteins if there are only 20 amino acids?
◦
Rev. 5.16.2012 pg. 6