SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Lecture (BIOL 107)
Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Study guide for exam preparation
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In preparation for the scheduled exams (see syllabus) make yourself very familiar with
following terms, key topics and concepts
the listed units and chapters refer to the lecture course-required textbook “Biology:
Concept & Connections”; Campbell, Reece, Taylor & Simon; 8th edition
Exam 2
Chapter 4: A Tour of the Cell
Know:
1. the basic statements of the cell theory
2. the major structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Which one have
a nucleus?
3. the definition of organelle
4. examples of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
5. the major organelles of eukaryotic cells and their unique biological function within the cell
(incl. rER, sER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondrion, chloroplast, lysosome, peroxisome)
6. the path of a newly synthesized protein from the point of origin (= ribosome) to the surface
of a cell
7. the core statements of the endosymbiotic theory and rehearse the evidences which support
it
8. the three major fibrous protein components of the cytoskeleton and its monomeric proteins,
i.e. actin, tubulin, intermediate fiber protein
9. at least one biological function of the microfilaments, microtubules and of the intermediate
fibers
10. the difference and similarities between cilia, flagella and microvilli. What is/are their
function(s) in cells?
Chapter 5: Energy & The Working Cell
Know:
1. the two laws of energy
2. the definition for energy
3. the different forms of energy and their manifestation in biological organism (name at
least one example for each form of energy)
4. the difference between an endergonic and exergonic chemical reaction
5. the meaning of “free energy coupling” in living organisms
6. the three major components and the biological function of the ATP molecule
7. the exergonic chemical reaction ATP undergoes to release free energy
8. the abbreviation for redox
9. the difference between oxidation and reduction
10. the structures and functions of important cellular redox molecules as they apply to
catabolic and anabolic chemical reactions
(incl. NAD+, NADP+, FAD, ubiquinone, heme-iron, iron-sulfur)
11. important examples and the function of cellular antioxidants, incl. vitamin E and
vitamin C
12. the chemistry of dehydrogenation reactions and the function of dehydrogenase enzymes
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SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Lecture (BIOL 107)
Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Chapter 6 (pp96-103): Enzymes
1. Know what enzymes are made up from, what they are doing in living organisms
2. Know how the terms: activation energy, active site, co-factors, co-substrates, substrate,
product, relate to enzymes and enzyme function
3. Know which factors impact enzyme activity.
4. Know the different forms of enzyme inhibition (feedback, competitive, non-competitive,
5. Rehearse how knowledge about enzymes relates to toxicology, experimental drug design
and drug testing
Chapter 6: Cellular Respiration
1. Be able to explain the meaning heterotrophic
2. Know the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration
3. Know how physiological respiration (breathing) relates to cellular respiration
4. Be able to write down the net equation of cellular respiration (input versus output)
5. Know the cellular location of glycolysis
6. Know the cellular uptake mechanism for glucose and the important role of the hormone
insulin
7. Be able to name the first glycolytic enzyme = hexokinase/glucokinase and the chemical
reaction it catalyses
8. Know the end product of the preparative phase of glycolysis by name; how many
carbon atoms does it have?
9. Know the final end product of glycolysis by name; how many carbon atoms does it
have?
10. Know the net ATP production number of glycolysis per one molecule of glucose
11. Know how many NADH + H+ molecules are generated during glycolysis for each
molecule of glucose catabolized
12. Rehearse the chemical reaction which links glycolysis with the Krebs cycle; also
rehearse the role of the enzyme (= pyruvate dehydrogenase) which catalyses this
important step
13. Be able to name the first chemical reaction and the first chemical product of the Krebs
cycle
14. Know how many NADH + H+ as well as FADH2 molecules are generated per each
cycle of the Krebs cycle
15. Be sure you know where within a cell the Krebs cycle takes place
16. Understand the role of the molecule coenzyme A within the Krebs cycle
17. Know at which step of the Krebs cycle ATP is generated; how many molecules per
cycle?
18. Know the enzymatic step within the Krebs cycle where FADH2 is generated and name
the enzyme which catalyses this unique chemical reaction
19. Know the name of the carbon waste product of the Krebs cycle (= CO2) and rehearse
the steps within the cycle where it is released; how many molecules per each cycle?
How many molecules of carbon dioxide are released for each molecule of glucose
catabolized?
20. Know the meaning of decarboxylation reaction and how it relates to the release of
carbon dioxide during the Krebs cycle
21. Know the alternative name for the Krebs cycle (= citric acid cycle); where does this
name come from?
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SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Lecture (BIOL 107)
Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
22. Understand the ultimate role of the electron transport chain regarding the electron and
proton-loaded redox molecules NADH + H+ and FADH2
23. Know where within the mitochondria the electron transport chain (ETC) is located
24. Rehearse the four major complexes of the ETC and their basic position within the
chain; which complex becomes reduced by NADH + H+; which complex becomes
reduced by FADH2
25. Be able to describe the basic statement of the chemio-osmotic theory; what does this
theory explain? who developed the core idea of this theory?
26. Know the important role of ubiquinone (Q10) within the ETC; what does this
mitochondrial redox molecule do?
27. Be able to name the final electron acceptor molecule of the ETC; what is the ultimate
chemical end product forming at complex 4 of the ETC (think of water)
28. Know the name of the enzyme which uses the proton gradient established across the
inner mitochondrial membrane to form (synthesize) ATP and rehearse the working
principle of the ATP synthase enzyme
29. Know some examples of important inhibitors of the ETC and be sure you understand
how their interaction with components of the ETC explains their toxicity and
biohazardous nature; how does cyanide work different to a so-called uncoupler
molecule, such as DNP or CCCP
30. Rehearse the consequences of lack of oxygen (anaerobic conditions) to cellular
respiration (which pathways are shut down; which one is primarily used to make ATP)
31. Compare lactic acid fermentation with alcoholic fermentation regarding end products,
NADH + H+ regenerating enzymes and consequences for the anaerobic cell
32. Be able to name important applications and uses of anaerobic fermentation in
biotechnology, industry and our world cultures
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