Free Response – Midterm Review
1. Explain the structure and function of enzymes by responding to the prompts
below:
a. Enzymes are categorized as one particular type of macromolecule
with an identifiable structure. Identify this macromolecule and
describe their makeup.
b. What are two factors that may greatly affect an enzyme’s function?
Explain.
c. How do enzymes affect a chemical reaction?
2. Aerobic cellular respiration involves four steps. The three main steps are
shown on the illustration below, labeled 1, 4 and 7.
a. Describe where each of the three steps takes place in a cell;
b. Identify the reactants and products of each step of cellular respiration.
c. Summarize the purpose of aerobic cellular respiration.
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Biology
Midterm Review
3. The illustration below represents the process of photosynthesis. Respond to
the prompts below by referring to this illustration as needed.
a. Identify the processes labeled as F and G in the illustration above.
b. A, B, and C represent the major reactants of photosynthesis – identify
these reactants.
c. J and K represent the major products of photosynthesis – identify
these products
d. In two sentences, summarize the purpose of photosynthesis.
4. Summarize the process of transcription. Include the following within your
response: Where it occurs, a description of the product and how it is
produced, and where the product “goes” after it is produced?
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Biology
Midterm Review
5. Summarize the process of translation. Include the following within your
response: Where it occurs, what structures are involved, and what is the
final product?
6. Stanley Miller performed a set of experiments that are well known today.
Below is an illustration of his experiments.
Photo by: Ned Shaw, Indiana University
a. What was Stanley’s hypothesis?
b. #1 in the illustration is heating water. What does this water represent from
early Earth?
c. #2 represents the chamber where molecules existed, and where lightning
(electric sparks) affected these molecules. What type of molecules did Stanley
include in this chamber?
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Biology
Midterm Review
7. Viruses reproduce via a lytic cycle or a lysogenic cycle.
a. Describe the events of the lytic cycle.
b. Name the type of virus that can complete both the lytic and lysogenic cycles.
8. Identify three different types of nucleic acids by responding to the following
prompts:
a. Compare and contrast the component nucleotides of DNA and RNA
b. Describe the purpose for each of the following: DNA, mRNA, and tRNA
9. Describes proteins by responding to the following prompts:
a. What are the main three structures found in all amino acids and which
structure gives each amino acids its’ distinct characteristics?
b. What connects amino acids together to form a protein, and what is the
process used to connect the monomers?
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Biology
Midterm Review
10. Below is a chart with data about the molarity of solutions found in a beaker and
within a bag placed into the baker – as shown in the illustration below.
Beaker solution
Solution inside bag
Experiment 1
Distilled Water
0.2 M sucrose
Experiment 2
0.4 M sucrose
0.6 M sucrose
Experiment 3
1.8 M sucrose
1.0 M sucrose
Experimental set-up
a. Describe the relationship, between the solutions in the bag and the
beaker, for each experiment. Use the terminology hypotonic, isotonic,
and/or hypertonic in your descriptions.
b. The molecular formula of glucose is C12H22O11 and its molar mass is
342g/mol. Given that
M = m/V
where M is molarity (mol/L)
m = number of moles of solute
V = volume of solvent (Liters)
Determine the following molarities: (show all your work)
i. in the bag: 684g sucrose in 500 ml water
ii. in the beaker: 342g sucrose in 250 ml water
c. Explain the direction of movement of the sucrose, and of the water in
example b above. Include the terms hypotonic, isotonic, and/or
hypertonic, as well as osmosis and diffusion.
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Biology
Midterm Review
11. Volume of a cube = (length x width x height of one side) x 6 (number of sides)
Cube #1
One side of cube
# of sides to cube
Height
a.
b.
c.
d.
20 cm x 20 cm
6
20cm
Cube #2
10cm x 10cm
6
10cm
Cube #3
5cm x 5cm
6
5cm
What is the surface area of each cube? (show all your work)
What is the volume of each cube (show your work)
What is the surface area to volume ratio for each cube? (show your work)
Relate c (surface area to volume ratio) to limits on cell size
12. In eukaryotes, mRNA is processed after it is produced.
a. How is the 5’ end of the mRNA altered and why?
b. How is the 3’; end of the mRNA altered and why?
c. Introns are removed and exons are retained. Why?
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Biology
Midterm Review
13. One gene found in humans is approximately 1,626 base pairs long
a. Without accounting for any start, stop or other codes, approximately how
many amino acids are included in this protein? (show your work)
b. One type of mutation for this gene is a deletion mutation. If 5 amino acids
are deleted, how many base pairs are deleted with this gene mutation?
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Biology
Midterm Review