Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
Study Guide
For Exam 1
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The lecture exam will not include material from the activity and lab that is not
covered in lecture. You are responsible for all of the chapters that are assigned, but
the weight given to each section will be proportional to the time spent on each in
class.
Be sure to read all chapters and take the time to be sure that you understand the
material.
Hopefully, you are keeping up with Mastering Biology! All of those materials are
available for you to review after the due date. This is a very good way to study for
the exam.
This study guide is intended to help you focus your work as you accomplish the first
three steps listed above.
Chapter 1:
Inquiring about the World of Life
1. Briefly describe the unifying themes that characterize the biological sciences.
2. Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biological organization.
3. Explain how novel properties of life emerge from complex organization.
4. Describe the dilemma of reductionism.
5. Name two characteristics shared by all cells.
6. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
7. Describe the basic structure and function of DNA.
8. Discuss the goals and activities of systems biology.
9. Briefly explain the importance of regulatory mechanisms in living things.
Organizing the Diversity of Life
10. Distinguish among the three domains of life. List and distinguish among the three
kingdoms of multicellular, eukaryotic life.
11. Describe the key observations and inferences that led Charles Darwin to his
theory of evolution by natural selection.
12. Explain why diagrams of evolutionary relationships have a treelike form.
The Process of Science
13. Distinguish between discovery science and hypothesis-based science. Explain
why both types of exploration contribute to our understanding of nature.
14. Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative data.
15. Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning.
16. Explain why hypotheses must be testable and falsifiable but are not provable.
17. Describe what is meant by a controlled experiment.
18. Distinguish between the everyday meaning of the term ‘theory’ and its meaning to
scientists.
19. Describe an example that illustrates how science may be influenced by social and
cultural factors.
Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
20. Distinguish between science and technology. Explain how science and
technology are interdependent.
Chapter 2:
Elements and compounds
1. Distinguish between an element and a compound.
2. Identify the four elements that make up 96% of living matter.
3. Define the term trace element and give an example.
Atoms and molecules
4. Draw and label a simplified model of an atom. Explain how this model
misrepresents our understanding of atomic structure.
5. Distinguish between each of the following pairs of terms:
a. Neutron and proton
b. Atomic number and mass number
c. Atomic weight and mass number
6. Explain how the atomic number and mass number of an atom can be used to
determine the number of neutrons.
7. Explain how two isotopes of an element are similar. Explain how they are
different.
8. Describe a biological application that uses radioactive isotopes.
Electron distribution and chemical properties
9. Define the terms energy and potential energy. Explain why electrons in the first
electron shell have less potential energy than electrons in higher electron shells.
10. Distinguish between nonpolar covalent, polar covalent and ionic bonds.
11. Explain why strong covalent bonds and weak bonds are both essential in living
organisms.
12. Distinguish between hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions.
13. Give an example that illustrates how a molecule’s shape can determine its
biological function.
14. Explain what is meant by a chemical equilibrium.
Chapter 3:
The Properties of Water
1. With the use of a diagram or diagrams, explain why water molecules are:
a. polar
b. capable of hydrogen bonding with 4 neighboring water molecules
2. List four characteristics of water that are emergent properties resulting from
hydrogen bonding.
3. Define cohesion and adhesion. Explain how water’s cohesion and adhesion
contribute to the movement of water from the roots to the leaves of a tree.
4. Distinguish between heat and temperature, using examples to clarify your
definitions.
Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
5. Explain the following observations by referring to the properties of water:
 Coastal areas have milder climates than adjacent inland areas.
 Ocean temperatures fluctuate much less than temperatures on land.
 Insects like water striders can walk on the surface of a pond without breaking
the surface.
 If you slightly overfill a water glass, the water will form a convex surface
above the top of the glass.
 If you place a paper towel so that it touches spilled water, the towel will draw
in the water.
 Ice floats on water.
 Humans sweat and dogs pant to cool themselves on hot days.
The Solvent of Life
6. Distinguish between a solute, a solvent and a solution.
7. Distinguish between hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances.
8. Explain how you would make up a one molar (1M) solution of ethyl alcohol.
The Dissociation of Water Molecules
9. Name the products of the dissociation of water and give their concentration in
pure water.
10. Define acid, base, and pH.
11. Explain how acids and bases may directly or indirectly alter the hydrogen ion
concentration of a solution.
12. Using the bicarbonate buffer system as an example, explain how buffers work.
13. Briefly explain how the burning of fossil fuels may affect:
a. Acid precipitation
b. Ocean acidification
Chapter 4:
The Importance of Carbon
1. Explain how carbon’s electron configuration explains its ability to form large,
complex and diverse organic molecules.
2. Describe how carbon skeletons may vary, and explain how this variation
contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
3. Describe the basic structure of a hydrocarbon and explain why these molecules
are hydrophobic.
4. Distinguish among the three types of isomers: structural, geometric, and
enantiomer.
Chemical Groups
5. Name the major chemical groups found in organic molecules. Describe the basic
structure of each chemical group and outline the chemical properties of the
organic molecules in which they occur.
Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
ATP
Explain how ATP functions as the primary energy transfer molecule in living cells.
Chapter 5:
The Molecules of Life
1. List the four major classes of macromolecules.
2. Distinguish between monomers and polymers.
3. Draw diagrams to illustrate condensation and hydrolysis reactions.
Carbohydrates Serve as Fuel and Building Material
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5.
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7.
Distinguish between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Draw linear and ring structures of glucose and number the carbons correctly.
Describe the formation of a glycosidic linkage.
Distinguish between the glycosidic linkages found in starch and cellulose. Explain
why the difference is biologically important.
8. Describe the role of symbiosis in cellulose digestion by animals.
Lipids are a Diverse Group of Hydrophobic Molecules
9. Describe the building-block molecules, structure, and biological importance of fats,
phospholipids, and steroids.
10. Identify an ester linkage and describe how it is formed.
11. Distinguish between saturated and unsaturated fats.
12. Distinguish between cis and trans fat molecules.
13. Name the principal energy storage molecules of plants and animals.
Proteins have Many Structures, Resulting in a Wide Range of Functions
14. Distinguish between a protein and a polypeptide.
15. Explain how a peptide bond forms between two amino acids.
16. List and describe the four major components of an amino acid. Explain how amino
acids may be grouped according to the physical and chemical properties of the R
group.
17. Draw the general structure of an amino acid with an R group.
18. Be able to identify non-polar, polar and charged amino acids if provided with their
structure.
19. Explain what determines protein structure and why it is important.
20. Explain how the primary structure of a protein is determined.
21. Name two types of secondary protein structure. Explain the role of hydrogen bonds
in maintaining secondary structure.
22. Explain how weak interactions and disulfide bridges contribute to tertiary protein
structure.
23. List four conditions under which proteins may be denatured.
24. Explain how chaperonins may assist in proper folding of proteins.
25. Be able to identify the C-terminus and N-terminus of a polypeptide if given a
diagram showing the structure of a polypeptide.
Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
26. Understand which end of a growing polypeptide amino acids are added to as a
polypeptide is synthesized.
Nucleic Acids Store and Transmit Hereditary Information
27. List the major components of a nucleotide, and describe how these monomers are
linked to form a nucleic acid.
28. Distinguish between:
a. pyrimidine and purine
b. nucleotide and nucleoside
c. ribose and deoxyribose
d. 5 end and 3 end of a nucleotide
29. Understand that A-T and G-C base pair in DNA and that U replaces T in RNA.
30. Understand that AT base pairs are held together by two H bonds while GC base
pairs are held together by three H bonds and that, as a result, GC base pairs are held
together more tightly than AT base pairs.
31. Briefly describe the three-dimensional structure of DNA.
32. Explain how DNA or protein comparisons may allow us to assess evolutionary
relationships between species.
Chapter 6:
How We Study Cells
1. Distinguish between magnification and resolution.
2. Describe the principles, advantages, and limitations of the light microscope,
transmission electron microscope, and scanning electron microscope.
3. Explain why cell fractionation is a useful technique.
A Panoramic View of the Cell
4. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
5. Explain why there are both upper and lower limits to cell size.
6. Explain the advantages of compartmentalization in eukaryotic cells.
The Nucleus and Ribosomes
7. Describe the structure and function of the nuclear envelope, including the role of
the pore complex.
8. Briefly explain how the nucleus controls protein synthesis in the cytoplasm.
9. Explain the role of the nucleolus in protein synthesis.
10. Distinguish between free and bound ribosomes in terms of location and function.
The Endomembrane System
11. List the components of the endomembrane system, and describe the structure and
function of each component.
12. Compare the structure and functions of smooth and rough ER.
13. Explain the significance of the cis and trans sides of the Golgi apparatus.
14. Describe the cisternal maturation model of Golgi function.
15. Describe three examples of intracellular digestion by lysosomes.
Bio 2
Fall, 2009
Study Guide
16. Name three different kinds of vacuoles, giving the function of each kind.
Mitochondria and Plastids
17. Briefly describe the energy conversions carried out by mitochondria and
chloroplasts.
18. Describe the structure of a mitochondrion and explain the importance of
compartmentalization in mitochondrial function.
19. Distinguish among amyloplasts, chromoplasts, and chloroplasts.
20. Identify the three functional compartments of a chloroplast. Explain the
importance of compartmentalization in chloroplast function.
21. Describe the evidence that mitochondria and chloroplasts are semiautonomous
organelles.
22. Explain the roles of peroxisomes in eukaryotic cells.
The Cytoskeleton
23. Describe the functions of the cytoskeleton.
24. Compare the structure, monomers, and functions of microtubules, microfilaments,
and intermediate filaments.
25. Explain the structure and function of centrosomes, centrioles, and basal bodies.
26. Explain how the ultrastructure of cilia and flagella relate to their functions.
Cell Surfaces and Junctions
27. Describe the basic structure of a plant cell wall. Distinguish between the primary
cell wall, middle lamella, and secondary cell wall.
28. Describe the structure and roles of the extracellular matrix in animal cells.
29. Explain how the extracellular matrix may act to integrate changes inside and
outside the cell.
30. Name the intercellular junctions found in plant and animal cells and list the
function of each type of junction.