Life Science Test Study Guide
1. What is a cell?
Cells are the basic units of structure and function in all living things.
2. What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms? Give examples of each.
Unicellular – made up of one cell
Examples: Bacteria, Amoebas, Paramecium
Multicellular- made up of many cells
Examples: Humans, Plants, Animals
3. Describe a prokaryotic cell.
 They do not have a nucleus, and their DNA is scattered randomly throughout the cell.
 They don’t contain as many organelles as eukaryotic cells. They contain cytoplasm, a cell
membrane, and ribosomes.
 They are less complicated and smaller that eukaryotes.
 All Bacteria and Achaea are prokaryotes.
4. Describe a eukaryotic cell.
 They have a nucleus where DNA of the cell is stored.
 They have many organelles that work together to help the cell function.
 Eukaryotic cells are much more complex than prokaryotic cells.
 They can be just one cell or can make up more complex multicellular organisms.
 All plants, animals, humans, fungi, and protists are composed of eukaryotic cells.
5. Give examples of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Prokaryotes: Bacteria, Archaea
Eukaryotes: Animals, Fungi, Protists, Plants, Humans
6. An organism lacking a nucleus and membrane bound organelles would be called what? Prokaryote
7. What is the broadest classification in taxonomy? Domain
8. Name all 3 Domains and characteristics of each.
Eukarya: have a nucleus (eukaryotic), most are multicellular, can be autotropic or heterotrophic
Archaea: don’t have a nucleus (prokaryotic), live in extreme habitats, reproduce asexually, unicellular
Bacteria: don’t have a nucleus (prokaryotic), can be found anywhere, reproduce asexually, unicellular
9. Name all 6 kingdoms. Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya, Protista, Animalia, Fungi, and Plantae
10. Define abiotic and biotic factors? Abiotic-nonliving things
Biotic- living things
11. Give 5 examples of abiotic factors. Give 5 examples of biotic factors.
Biotic: Trees, Plants, Animals, Fungi, Protists
Abiotic: Air, Temperature, Water, Sunlight, Soil, Rocks
12. What is the difference between a heterotroph and an autotroph? Give examples of each.
Autotroph: organisms that make their own food or producers
Examples: Algea, Plants, Trees, Shrubs
Heterotroph: organisms that feed off of or consume other things for energy
Examples: Humans, Animals, Most Bacteria, and Fungi
13. What is the primary source of energy in an ecosystem? Sunlight
14. What is the formula for speed? S = D/T
15. What is the purpose of gravity in our solar system? Governs the motion of all objects in our solar system.