BI 211 Study Objectives
Chapter Six
1. Summarize the relationship between cell organization and homeostasis
2. Compare and contrast the general characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and contrast plant and
animal cells
3. Describe functions of cell membranes
4. Describe the structure and functions of the nucleus
5. Distinguish between smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum in terms of both structure and function
6. Trace the path of proteins synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum as they are subsequently
processed, modified, and sorted by the Golgi complex and then transported to specific destination
7. Describe the functions of lysosomes and peroxisomes
8. Compare the functions of mitochondria and chloroplasts
9. Describe the structure and functions of the cytoskeleton
10. Compare cilia and flagella, and describe their functions
11. Describe the extracellular matrix and cell wall
Chapter Seven
1. Evaluate the importance of membranes to the homeostasis of the cell, emphasizing their various
functions.
2. Explain how the properties of the lipid bilayer govern many properties of the cell membrane and
the cell (i.e. understand lipid bilayer structure!!).
3. Describe how membrane proteins associate with the lipid bilayer, and discuss the functions and
importance of membrane proteins.
4. Contrast the physical processes of passive and active transport, including diffusion, osmosis,
facilitated diffusion, & carrier-mediated active transport – which molecules will move across the
membrane freely? Which utilize facilitated diffusion? Active transport?
5. Solve simple problems involving osmosis; for example, predict whether cells will swell or shrink
under various osmotic conditions (iso vs. hyper vs. hypotonic) – why are plant cells able to
withstand water movement inward (i.e. – why won’t they burst?).
6. Compare endocytotic and exocytotic transport mechanisms.
Chapter Eight
1. Define energy, emphasizing how it is related to work and to heat.
2. Use examples to contrast potential energy and kinetic energy.
3. State the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and discuss the implications of these laws as
they relate to organisms.
4. Discuss how changes in free energy in a reaction are related to changes in entropy and enthalpy.
5. Distinguish between exergonic and endergonic reactions, and give examples of how they may be
coupled.
6. Compare the energy dynamics of a reaction at equilibrium with the dynamics of reaction not at
equilibrium.
7. Explain how the chemical structure of ATP allows it to transfer a phosphate group. Discuss the
central role of ATP in the overall energy metabolism of the cell.
8. Relate the transfer of electrons to the transfer of energy.
9. Explain how an enzyme lowers the required energy of activation for a reaction – what is an
enzyme-substrate complex and what is its importance?
10. Describe specific ways in which enzymes are regulated and affected (i.e. how does temperature,
pH, etc. affect enzyme function).
11. What is an inhibitor?/types of inhibitors?
Chapter Nine
1. Understand redox reactions and the use of H+ and electron transfer (what are FADH2, NADH and
how are they related to oxidation and reduction?).
2. What is phosphorylation (how does it relate to ATP?), dehydrogenation and decarboxylation?
3. Describe and understand the structure and function of the mitochondria – what is its job, and
what are its parts (matrix, christae)?
4. Define anabolism & catabolism and understand which is endergonic, and which is exergonic –
How do these processes relate to cellular respiration?
5. Define aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
6. Define oxidation and reduction (review).
7. Write the reaction of aerobic respiration (the molecular formula indicating reactants and
products!).
8. Show where in an aerobic respiration reaction which reactant becomes oxidized and which
becomes reduced.
9. List and give an overview of the four stages of aerobic respiration – know the steps, reactants
(what we begin each stage with) and products for EACH stage!!!!
10. Indicate where each stage of aerobic respiration takes place in a eukaryotic cell.
11. Add up the energy captured (as ATP, NADH, and FADH2) in each stage of aerobic respiration.
12. Understand the electron transport chain, and define chemiosmosis, and explain how a gradient
of protons is established across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
13. Describe the process by which the proton gradient drives ATP synthesis in chemiosmosis.
14. Summarize (BRIEFLY) how the products of protein and lipid catabolism enter the same
metabolic pathway that oxidizes glucose.
15. Compare and contrast anaerobic respiration and fermentation, including the mechanism of ATP
formation, the final electron acceptor, and the end products – how is this different from aerobic
respiration?
16. How efficient are alcohol fermentation and lactate fermentation – why don’t humans utilize
fermentation more readily?
Chapter 11
1. Identify the 4 types of cell communication discussed in class (direct, paracrine, synaptic,
hormonal)
2. List the 3 stages of cell signaling in order
3. Be able to describe the 4 types of receptors discussed in class (G-protein, tyrosine kinases, ion
channels, intracellular)
4. Describe what a transduction pathway is, and describe two examples (phosphorylation and
cAMP)
5. List and describe the things cells can do in response to receptors binding to ligands
6. Briefly describe the process of apoptosis
An important idea to keep in mind while studying:
Much of the information from Chapters 6-9 is interrelated ~
be able to draw connections between the chapters.
For example:
1. How does a selectively permeable membrane affect not only the cell as a whole, but also
cellular reactions such as respiration and photosynthesis ~ i.e. connect diffusion, facilitated
diffusion, active transport, etc. to what we were studying with our ETC and thylakoid
membranes in chapters 9 and 8.
2. How do the endergonic and exergonic processes we spoke of in Chapter 7 ultimately relate to
the formation of ATP energy and also glucose?
3. What are importance of enzymes and coenzymes ~ how are dehydrogenase, NADH, FADH,
NADPH important in our reactions?
4. Have a strong understanding of redox reactions ~ respiration is essentially a very long
oxidation/reduction reaction!