Biology End of Course Test Review Guide
NAME___________________________________
Content Domain I: Cells
A. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
1.
Define prokaryote and name the kingdoms that contain prokaryotes.
2.
Define eukaryote and name the kingdoms that contain eukaryotes.
3.
List at least 5 characteristics that separate living things from nonliving things
4.
Differentiate the cell membrane and cell wall in terms of function and presence in certain
organisms.
5.
What are organelles?
6.
Name the organelle whose function is described below.
a.
Contains DNA, which controls cell function
b.
Capture solar energy for photosynthesis
c.
Modify, sort, and ship proteins and lipids
d.
Location of protein synthesis
e.
ATP formation
f.
Transport of proteins
B. Comprehend the importance of homeostasis.
1.
What is homeostasis?
2.
What is selective permeability?
3.
Differentiate passive transport from active transport by defining each and giving at least 3
examples of each.
C. Characteristics of enzymes
1.
What are enzymes?
2.
The _____________ __________ of the enzyme fits into a molecule known as a
______________. Enzymes work like a lock-and-key mechanism.
3.
Enzymes work by lowering the _____________ ____________ of reactions.
D. Characteristics of the four major biomolecules. Complete the chart below.
Biomolecule
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Elements Composed Of
Examples
Subunits
Function
Biology End of Course Test Review Guide
NAME___________________________________
Content Domain II: Organisms
A. Energy is needed by all organisms to carry out processes
1. What is ATP and how it is useful to organisms?
2. How is ATP created?
3. Photosynthesis is a process that organisms called _____________ perform to trap energy from
the sub and use the energy to build carbohydrates. The trapped sun energy is used to convert the
raw materials _________ and _____ into _________ and ________. The key to the process is
the pigment _______________.
4. The two main reactions photosynthesis are the _______ __________ (When water molecules
are split, providing hydrogen and an energy source for the Calvin Cycle. Oxygen is given off.)
and the _________ ___________ (The series of reactions that form simple sugars using carbon
dioxide and hydrogen from water.)
5. The light reaction occurs in the __________________ of the chloroplasts while the dark reaction
occurs in the ________________. Another name for the dark reaction is the _______ _______.
6. Cellular respiration occurs in the cell’s _______________ to produce _____________ for use in
the cell.
B. Understanding the binomial nomenclature systems and its basis.
1.
What are the rules of binomial nomenclature?
2.
What is the branch of biology dealing with naming and grouping organisms?
3.
List the levels of classification from most broad to most specific.
C. Examining the basis and development of the current six kingdom classification system. Complete the chart
below.
Kingdom Name
Eubacteria
Archaebacteria
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Domain
Examples
Unicellular or
Prokaryote or
Method of
Multicellular?
Eukaryote?
Nutrition
Biology End of Course Test Review Guide
NAME___________________________________
Content Domain III:Genetics
A. Distinguish between DNA and RNA and explain the role of DNA in storing and transmitting cellular
information.
1.
DNA is a type of nucleic acid. Its main function is _________________________. It’s made of
smaller subunits called nucleotides which are composed of 3 parts:
____________________, ____________________, ____________________.
The shape of DNA is known as a ____________ ____________.
2.
List the 4 bases in DNA and how they pair.
3.
DNA has the unique ability to make an exact copy of itself in a process called ______________.
4.
RNA molecules are also made of nucleotides, but the base ____________ replaces the base
_______________.
5.
During ____________________, a “copy” of the DNA is made in the form of _______________
which travels to the _________________ where proteins are synthesized.
6.
___________________ is the process of converting the information in mRNA into a sequence of
amino acids that make up _______________. _____________ brings the amino acids to the
ribosomes so that protein synthesis can occur.
B. Using Mendel’s laws, explain the role of meiosis in reproductive variability and describe the relationships
between changes in DNA and appearance of new traits.
1.
Compare/ contrast:
a. dominant / recessive traits
b. genes / alleles
c. homozygous / heterozygous allele pairs
d. monohybrid / dihybrid crosses
2.
e. genotype / phenotype
Name the Mendelian law that is described:
a.
The dominant allele will prevent the recessive allele from being expressed. The recessive allele
will appear when it is paired with another recessive allele in the offspring.
b.
The gene pairs separate when gametes are formed, so each gamete has only one allele of each
pair.
c.
Different pairs of genes separate independently of each other when gametes are formed.
3.
What is meiosis?
a. Differentiate diploid and haploid cells.
b. Male gametes are known as __________ while female gametes are known as ____________.
When a sperm fertilizes an egg, a __________ results.
c. Meiosis allows for the shuffling of chromosomes and the genetic information they contain.
Whether by crossing over or by independent segregation of homologous chromosomes, the end
result is a reassortment of the genetic information. This is known as _______________
_________________.
4.
Changes in the sequence of a DNA molecule are known as _________________. Examples of
mutations are base pair substitutions (point mutations) and frameshift mutations.
C. Compare advantages of sexual and asexual reproduction in different situations.
1.
_____________ is the process in which nuclear material is divided equally between two daughter
cells. This keeps the number of chromosomes constant from one generation to the next and, in
eukaryotes, is the main process by which growth and tissue repair is accomplished.
2.
3.
Name the phase of mitosis described below:
 During _____________, the duplicated chromosomes become distinct and spindle fibers radiate
across the cell. The nuclear envelope starts to break up.
 During _____________, the duplicated chromosomes line up randomly in the center of the cell
between the spindles at the spindle equator.
 During _____________, the duplicated chromosomes are pulled to opposite ends of the cell.
Every chromosome that was present in the parent cell is now represented by the daughter
chromosome at the poles.
 During _______________, a nuclear membrane forms around the chromosomes at each end of
the cell. The spindle fibers disappear and the chromosomes disperse and become less distinct.
Each nucleus has the same chromosome number as the
parent cell. The process of mitosis is now complete.
At the end of telophase, the cytoplasm begins to divide in a process known as ______________.
How does this differ in plant vs. animal cells?
D. Examine the use of DNA technology in forensics, medicine, and agriculture.
1.
There are many uses of DNA technology such as skin grafting, DNA fingerprinting, and genetic
engineering. What happens during the use of recombinant DNA technology?
Biology End of Course Test Review Guide
NAME___________________________________
Content Domain IV: Ecology
A. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.
1.
What is ecology?
2.
Define:
a.
Biosphere
b.
Biome
c.
Ecosystem
d.
Community
e.
Population
f.
organism
3.
Differentiate biotic and abiotic factors.
4.
Define the following terms associated with populations:
a.
Population density
b.
Exponential growth (j-shaped curve)
c.
Logistic growth (s-shaped curve)
d.
Carrying capacity
5.
Compare and contrast density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors.
6.
Define niche and habitat.
7.
Name the terrestrial biome that is described.

The ________ biome is found north of the Arctic Circle, is nearly treeless, contains
permafrost, and animals such as the arctic hare.

The ________ biome is found in a wide band south of the tundra. Its primary vegetation is
coniferous trees and includes animals such as black bears and timber wolves.

The _____________________ are found in abundance in the Earth’s equatorial zone. It is
warm and rainy year-round and includes animals such as monkeys and parrots.

____________________ are found in abundance throughout Europe and the eastern United
States, between the taiga and the tropical biomes. The primary vegetation is deciduous trees
and animals include white-tailed deer and squirrels.

______________ biomes occur largely in parts of Africa, and the southwestern United States
and in parts of Australia, South America, and Asia. Vegetation includes small plants and cacti
and animals include many reptiles.

____________ cover most of South America, Africa, and Australia. Temperate grasslands
can be found in central United States, western Canada and across southern Asia. Animals
include grazers such as antelope and predators such as lions.
B. Explain the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems.
1.
Producers or ___________________ use the sun’s energy to create their own food while consumers
or __________________ must consume other organisms to obtain their energy and nutrients.
Organisms that feed on dead plants or animals or their waste products are known as
______________. Organisms are grouped into _____________ ____________ based on their source
of energy. Because energy cannot be recycled, there must be a way for it to move through an
ecosystem. As sunlight hits the Earth, energy flows first to the tissues of primary producers, then to
consumers, and finally to decomposers. This is called a __________ _________. It shows how
matter and energy flow through an ecosystem. A more complex interconnected system is known as a
____________ __________.
2.
Energy pyramids show how energy decreases at each succeeding trophic level. In fact, the total
energy transfer from one trophic level to another is only about _____%.
3.
Unlike energy, matter is recycled in an ecosystem. Matter cycles from one organism to another.
Examples of cycles of matter are: (Make sure you understand these terms!)
a.
Carbon Cycle (photosynthesis, respiration, fossil fuels)
b.
Water Cycle (precipitation, seepage, runoff, transpiration, evaporation, condensation)
c.
Phosphorous Cycle (decomposition, sedimentation)
d.
Nitrogen Cycle (fixation, decay)
C. Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems.
1.
What is succession?
2.
Compare and contrast primary and secondary succession.
3.
Define the following terms that are associated with succession:
a.
Pioneer species
b.
Climax community
D. Assess human activities that influence and modify the environment: global warming, population growth,
pesticide use, water and power consumption.
1.
Compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources.
2.
Differentiate extinct, threatened, and endangered species.
3.
Describe some concerns with the following types of pollution:
a.
Air (particulates, smog, acid rain, CO2, greenhouse effect, ozone layer)
b.
Water
E. Relate plant adaptations, including tropisms, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions.
1.
What is a tropism?
2.
Name the tropism that is described:
a. Response to the force of gravity.
b. Response to light.
c. Response to touch.
3.
Most plants control their growth in response to environmental stimuli by way of chemical
messengers known as _______________. Examples include auxins, gibberellins, and abscisic acid.
F.
Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions.
1.
Define adaptation.
2.
Define behavior.
Content Domain V: Evolution
A. Trace the history of the theory of evolution.
1. What is evolution?
2.
Briefly describe the contribution of each of the following scientists to the understanding of evolution:
i. Lamarck
ii. Lyell
iii. Wallace
iv. Darwin
B. Explain the history of life in terms of biodiversity, ancestry, and the rates of evolution.
1. Define the following terms:
i. Divergent evolution/ adaptive radiation
ii. Convergent evolution
iii. Biodiversity
iv. Speciation
v. Gradualism vs Punctuated Equilibrium
C. Explain how fossil and biochemical evidence support the theory of evolution.
1. What is the difference between radioisotope/ radioactive dating and relative dating?
2.
What is a phylogeny?
D. Relate natural selection to changes in organisms.
1. Natural selection is a mechanism that explains changes in a population that occur when organisms
with favorable _______________ for that particular environment survive, ____________ and pass
these variations on to the next generation.
2.
What is fitness?
3.
Differentiate stabilizing, directional, and disruptive selection.
E. Recognize the role of evolution to biological resistance.
1. What are two examples of biological resistance
Biology End of Course Test Review Guide
NAME___________________________________
Co-requisite Domain: Characteristics (and Nature) of Science
A. Identify tools, terms, and processes used in scientific inquiry, including laboratory safety and scientific
research.
B. Comprehend how scientific knowledge is developed.
C. Recognize how scientific information is properly verified and communicated.
Skills You Will Need on the EOCT


Graphing
(When working with graphs, carefully read the title and the label on each axis. Check for any
other information that might be included in the graph. When you think you have the answer,
double check the information given in the graph.)
Computation and estimation skills
o Differences between estimates and calculated answers
o Measurement errors
o Accuracy and precision
o Solve problems by substituting values into simple algebraic formulas