Name: _________________________________
Biology, Period ____
Midterm Review for Biology - 520
Chapter #1 - The Science of Biology (19 terms)
1.1 What Is Science?
Describe the steps used in scientific method.
 Hypothesis – If…then…
 Identify independent variable versus dependent variable
 Identify controlled variables
 Identify control group versus experimental group
1.2 Science in Context
Explain what a scientific theory is.
1.3 Studying Life
Identify the 8 characteristics of living things.
Convert within the metric system (cm – m - km; mL – L, g – kg)
Chapter #2 -The Chemistry of Life (39 terms)
2.1 The Nature of Matter
Identify the three subatomic particles found in atoms, and their location.
 Proton
 Neutron
 Electron
Explain how all of the isotopes of an element are similar and how they are different.
Define compound.
Describe the two main types of chemical bonds.
 Ionic
 Covalent
2.2 Properties of Water
Draw a water molecule showing the positive and negative sides.
Discuss the unique properties of water.
 Hydrogen bonding
 Adhesion
 Cohesion
Differentiate between solutions and suspensions.
Explain what acidic solutions and basic solutions are.
 pH
2.3 - Carbon Compounds
Describe the unique qualities of carbon.
Describe the structures (monomer), functions, and give an example of each of the four groups of
macromolecules.
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Nucleic Acids
 Proteins
2.4 - Chemical Reactions and Enzymes
Explain how chemical reactions affect atoms and chemical bonds.
Describe how enzymes affect chemical reactions.
Explain why enzymes work.
Identify the three things that affect enzyme activity.
Chapter #3 -The Biosphere (33 terms)
3.1 - What is Ecology
Describe the study of ecology.
Identify the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
3.2 - Energy, producers, and Consumers
Describe primary producers.
Describe how consumers obtain energy and nutrients.
 Identify primary, secondary, and tertiary level consumers.
3.3 - Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Trace the flow of energy through food web, a food chain, and food pyramid.
 Identify each tropic level.
3.4 Cycles in Nature
Describe the processes that describe how water cycles through the biosphere.
Describe the processes that describe how carbon cycles through the biosphere.
Describe the processes that describe how nitrogen cycles through the biosphere.
Explain why nutrients are important in living systems.
Describe how the availability of nutrients affects the productivity of ecosystems.
Chapter #4 - Ecosystems and Communities (33 terms)
4.1 - Climate
Differentiate between weather and climate.
Identify the 3 factors that influence climate.
 Greenhouse effect  global warming
 Latitude  3 climate zones
 Heat transport  atmosphere + ocean
4.2 - Niches and Community Interactions
Define niche.
State the Competitive Exlusion Principle.
Describe the role predation and herbivory play in shaping communities.
 Describe the role of a keystone species.
Descibe the three types of symbiotic relationships in nature.
 Mutualism
 Parasitism
 Commensalism
4.3 - Succession
Define succession.
Compare succession after a natural disturbance with succession after a human-caused
disturbance.
4.4 Biomes
Define biome.
Describe the effect of mopuntains on regional climate.
Describe and compare the characteristics of the major land biomes.
 Tundra
 Desert
 Tropical forest
 Temperate deciduous forest
 Temperate woodland & scrubland / Chaparral
 Coniferous forest / Boreal forest / Taiga
 Temperate grasslands / Prairies / Plains
 Tropical grassland & scrubland / Savanna
4.5 Aquatic Ecosystems
Discuss the factors that affect aquatic ecosystems.
Differentiate between the following aquatic ecosysmes:
 Freshwater: 1) Rivers & streams, 2) Lakes & ponds, 3) Wetlands
 Estuaries
 Marine: 1) Intertidal 2) Coastal 3) Open Ocean
Describe and compare the distinct ocean zones that make up marine ecosystems.
 Photic
 Aphotic
Chapter #5 -Populations (12 terms)
5.1 - How Populations Grow
List the 4 characteristics used to describe a population.
 Identify the 3 types of population distribution.
List and describe 4 factors that affect population growth.
Draw and describe exponential growth. Label carrying capacity.
Draw and describe logistic growth. Label carrying capacity.
5.2 - Limits to Growth
Identify 6 limiting factors that depend on population density.
Identify 2 limiting factors that do not depend on population density.
5.3 - Human Population Growth
Define deography.
Describe demographic transition.
Chapter #6 -Humans in the Biosphere (20 terms)
6.1 - A Changing Landscape
Describe human activities that can affect the biosphere.
6.2 - Using Resources Wisely
Describe biomagnification
6.3 - Biodiversity
Define biodiversity and explain its value.
Describe how biodiversity can be preserved.
6.4 Meeting Ecological Challenges
Explain the concept of ecological footprint.
Identify the role of ecology in a sustainable future
Chapter #7 - Cells (33 terms)
7.1 - Life is Cellular
State the cell theory.
Describe how the different types of microscopes work and what they are used to see.
 Compound
 Electron
Identify characteristics that distinguish between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
 Give an example of each type of cell.
7.2 - Cell Structure
Given a cell, label the organelles and give their function
 Nucleus
 Cytoplasm
 Mitochondria
 Endoplasmic reticulum
 Golgi Apparatus
 DNA
 Vesicle / Vacuole
 Ribosome
 Cell Membrane


Lysosomes
Chlorplast
7.3 Cell Transport
Describe passive transport and what determins if it is used.
 Diffusion
 Facilitated Diffusion
 Osmosis
Describe active transport and what determins if it is used.
 Molecular Transport
 Bulk Transport
7.4 Homeostasis and Cells
Define homeostasis.
Chapter #8 - Photosynthesis (15 terms)
8.1 - Energy and Life
Describe the role of ATP in cellular activity.
Explain where plants get the energy they need to produce food.
 Define autotroph
8.2 - Photosynthesis: An Overview
Explain the role of light and pigments in photosynthesis.
Explain the role of electron carrier molecules in photosynthesis.
Write the overall balanced equation for photosynthesis.
8.3 – The Process of Photosynthesis
Describe what happens during the light dependent reactions.
 What goes in
 What comes out
 Location
Describe what happens during the light independent / dark reactions.
 What goes in
 What comes out
 Location
Chapter #9 – Cellular Respiration and Fermentation (9 terms)
9.1 – Cellular Respiration: An Overview
Explain where organisms get the energy they need for life processes
Write the overall balanced equation for cellular respiration.
Compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration
9.2 – The Process of Cellular Respiration
Describe what happens during glycolysis.
 What goes in
 What comes out
 Location
 # ATP produced
Describe what happens during Krebs Cycle.
 What goes in
 What comes out
 Location
 # ATP produced
Explain how high energy electrons are used by the electron transport chain.
 What goes in
 What comes out
 Location
 # ATP produced
Identify how much ATP cellular respiration generates.
9.3 – Fermentation
Explain how organisms get energy in the absence of oxygen
Write the overall equation for lactic acid fermentation
Write the overall equation for alcoholic fermentation
Chapter #10 – Cell Growth and Division (27 terms)
10.1 – Cell Growth, Division, and Reproduction
Compare a sexual and sexual reproduction.
10.2 - The Process of Cell Division
Describe the role of chromosomes in cell division.
 Label a chromosome
Name the main events of the cell cycle.
 Name and describe the three stages of Interphase
 Name and describe the two phases of M phase
Draw and describe what happens during the four phases of mitosis.
Describe the process of cytokinesis in 1) plant cell 2) animal cells
10.3 - Regulating the Cell Cycle
Describe how the cell cycle is regulated
Explain how cancer cells are different from other cells.
10.4 Cell Differentiation
Describe the process of differentiation.
Define stem cells and explain their importance.