Biology Midterm Review Guide: 2014-15
Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper- this will be turned in on the day of the exam.
The Cell
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What is the difference between a plant and animal cell
What is the difference between a prokaryote and eukaryote cell
Why is the phospholipid bilayer important
Diffusion- which way do particles move in an experiment
a. Define diffusion
b. What happens at equilibrium
c. Define Osmosis
Lab safety
What is the structure (look like) and function of following parts of cell
a. Nucleus
b. Nucleolus
c. Endoplasmic Reticulum
d. Cell wall
e. Ribosomes
f. Golgi Apparatus
g. Cilia
What are the principles of cell theory
How should one look at a slide on the microscope at high power
Photosynthesis/Cell Respiration
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define and give and example of: autotroph, heterotroph, consumer, producer
What types of energy conversion occur in photosynthesis
Plants absorb light by? and appear green because of?
Experiment
a. Define the independent variable & dependent variable
b. Be able to read a graph- no question
c. What Gas is released by photosynthesis
5. What are the equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration? How are they similar yet
different?
6. How is energy released in ATP?
7. What are the products and reactants of cellular respiration
8. Yeast and fermentation – what type aerobic or anaerobic?
9. How do muscle cramps develop?
10. What foods are made from fermentation?
Ecology
1. Food web /pyramids
a. Define the types of organisms- producers, consumers, decomposers, omnivores
b. What will happen to other organisms if the food web is disrupted
c. Define producer, 1st, 2nd or 3rd order consumers
d. What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors- examples
e. Be able to read pyramid of numbers and energy- how is energy flow represented
2. Human population growth
a. Graphs: Draw and explain J-shape / exponential, S-shape / carrying capacity
b. What are causes for rapid human growth in last 150 years
3. Symbiosis: define and examples of commensalism, mutualism, parasitism, predator-prey
4. Human disturbances
a. Define: Ozone layer depletion, biological magnification
b. Define: Acid rain, deforestation
5. Ecological succession: primary v. secondary – what is the difference
6. Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biome: define each in relations to one another
7. Calculate density of a population- what is the formula
8. Conservation
a. What methods are used to increase biodiversity and protect endangered species
b. What are threats to biodiversity
9. Path of energy in living things- Comes from where and goes through life how?
10. Chemical cycles: Carbon, nitrogen, and water- what does each do?
Biology Midterm Review Guide: 2014- 15 ANSWER KEY
The Cell
1. What is the difference between a plant and animal cell
Plant
Animal
Membrane and cell wall
Plasma membrane
Mitochondria and chloroplast
Mitochondria
Cytoplasm, nucleus
Cytoplasm, nucleus
Most organelles
Most organelles
1. What is the difference between a prokaryote and eukaryote cell
– prokaryotic lacks a nucleus and most other organelles
- eukaryotic cell has a membrane bound nucleus and organelles
2. Why is the phospholipid bilayer important- regulates the transport of substances across it
3. Diffusion- which way do particles move in an experiment
a. Define diffusion- net movement of the particles of a substance from where they are more
concentrated to where they are less concentrated
b. What happens at equilibrium- reached when the movement of particles in one direction is equal
to the number of particles moving in the other
c. Define osmosis- passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane
4. Lab safety- be familiar with class rules for: fire use, acid use, glass breakage
5. What is the structure (look like) and function of following parts of cell
a. Nucleus: center of cell, circular; the part that houses the cell's genetic material in the form of DNA
b. Nucleolus: ball-like mass of fibers and granules in a cell nucleus
c. Endoplasmic Reticulum: may be smooth or rough ribbon-like; network of membranes within a
cell's cytoplasm that produces a variety of molecules
d. Cell wall: box like structure; strong wall outside a plant cell's plasma membrane that protects the cell
and maintains its shape
e. Ribosomes: small dot structures- cluster of proteins and nucleic acids that constructs proteins in a cell
f. Golgi apparatus: flattened stack of ovals; cellular organelle that modifies, stores, and routes cell
products
g. Cilia: short structures projecting from a cell and containing bundles of microtubules that move a cell
through its surroundings or move fluid over the cell's surface
7. What are the principles of cell theory
- All living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living
things, cells come from pre-existing cells
8. How should one look at a slide on the microscope at high power: set in on low power and find the
object, go to medium and then high keeping the organism in the center of the field of view, only use the fine
adjustment on high power.
Photosynthesis / Cell Respiration
1. Define and give and example of:
-autotroph- organism that makes its own food; plant
-heterotroph- organism that obtains food by eating other organisms; animal
-consumer- gains energy from eating another organism
-producer- an organism that makes its own food and produces organic molecules that serve as food for
other organisms in an ecosystem
2. What types of energy conversion occur in photosynthesis: sun light into chemical energy
3. Plants absorb light by? pigments called chlorophyll and appear green because of? Chlorophyll /
chloroplast
4. Experiment
a. Define the independent variable & dependent variable
Independent- the variable being manipulated; dependent- the variable that may change from the
independent variable being manipulated
b. Be able to read a graph
c. What gas is released by photosynthesis: oxygen
5. What are the equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration? How are they similar yet
different?
Cell respiration: 6O2 + C6H12O6  6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Solar Energy  6O2 + C6H12O6
6. How is energy released in ATP? When chemical bonds are broken between phosphates energy is
released
7. What are the products and reactants of cellular respiration: in # 5. Products (outputs) are on left side
of chemical equations, reactants (inputs) are on the left side
8. Yeast and fermentation – what type aerobic or anaerobic? Anaerobic because do not need oxygen
9. How do muscle cramps develop? Build up of lactic acid during fermentation in muscles due to lack of
oxygen
10. What foods are made from fermentation? Cheese, alcoholic beverages, breads.
Ecology
1. Food web /pyramids
a. Define the types of organisms- producers, consumers- see #1 photosynthesis
decomposers - organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
omnivores- consumer that eats both producers and consumers
b. What will happen to other organisms if the food web is disrupted- decrease or increase other
organisms
c. Define producer- see photosynthesis #1
1st order consumers- consumer that feeds directly on producers
2nd order consumers- consumer that eats primary consumers
3rd order consumers- consumer that eats secondary consumers
d. What is the difference between abiotic- nonliving like rocks, weather and biotic factors- living
factors like number of prey
e. Be able to read pyramid of numbers and energy- how is energy flow represented- energy
decreases as go up orders due to heat loss
2. Human population growth
a. Graphs: Draw and explain J-shape / exponential, S-shape / carrying capacity
b. What are causes for rapid human growth in last 150 years: sanitation, medicine, technology
3. Symbiosis- close interaction between species in which one species lives in or on the other and
examples of
-commensalism- symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits, while the other organism is neither
harmed nor helped
-mutualism- type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms involved benefit
-parasitism- relationship in which a parasitic organism obtains its food at the expense of a host organism
-predator-prey- : interaction in which one organism consumes another
4. Human disturbances
a. Define: Ozone layer - atmospheric gas (O3) that absorbs ultraviolet radiation, shielding
organisms from its damaging effects
biological magnification- process by which pollutants become more concentrated in successive
trophic levels of a food web
b. Define: Acid rain- precipitation that contains nitric and/or sulfuric acids
deforestation- clearing of forests for agriculture, lumber, or other uses
5. Ecological succession: primary v. secondary – what is the difference
primary succession: process by which a community arises in a virtually lifeless area with no soil
secondary succession: change following a disturbance that damages an existing community but leaves
the soil intact
6. Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biome: define each in relations to one another
7. Calculate density of a population- what is the formula: # of individuals / sq. area or volume
8.
Conservation
a. What methods are used to increase biodiversity and protect endangered species- zoned reserve: area of land that is relatively undisturbed by humans and is surrounded by buffer
zones that are minimally impacted by humans
- buffer zone: area of a reserve that is minimally impacted by humans
- sustainable development: use of natural resources in a way that allows them to renew themselves and
be available for the future
b. What are threats to biodiversity- overexploitation: practice of harvesting or hunting to such a degree that remaining individuals may
not be able to replenish the population
9. Path of energy in living things- Comes from where and goes through life how?
Starts with sun then plants then other organisms. The amount of the sun’s energy decreases as go up
food chain due to heat loss and mass building.
10. Chemical cycles:
- Carbon- recycles oxygen and carbon dioxide,
- nitrogen- places nitrogen from atmosphere into soil and living things and back into atmosphere,
- water- recycle water in various physical states