BIO 105 Test-Out Study Guide
This guide is designed to help you prepare for the BIO 105 Test-Out Exam. The primary purpose of this
guide is to help you prepare by becoming familiar with the content of the exam.
The following list of concepts represents a good guide to what students are expected to
comprehend/understand in order to be successful on the exam.
1. Scientific method and understanding science as a process/characteristics of life
*identify and understand the steps of the scientific method
*identify pseudoscience and understand the differences between pseudoscience and true
science
*identify characteristics of living things and understand the difference between something
that is living and something that is nonliving
2. Chemistry and how it relates to living things—atomic structure/bonding/pH/properties of water
*define atom and energy
*identify properties of atoms (protons, neutrons, and electrons) and the bonding of atoms
to form compounds
*identify and explain the different biochemical reactions (e.g. oxidation/reduction,
dehydration synthesis, hydrolysis, acid-base, and phosphorylation)
3. Organic molecules/macromolecules of life and how they are made, function, and are interconnected
*explain the importance of carbon as the central atom of living things
*identify monomers and polymers and how these are important in living things
*understand how monomers are used to build polymers
*understand the functions of each of the four macromolecules
4. Cell structure and function/differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
*describe the composition of cell membranes and how this composition is essential the
functioning of cells (e.g. diffusion).
*identify and describe the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
*identify and describe the functions of the different organelles found in all cells
*define osmosis, active transport, and diffusion (including the concept of tonicity) and relate
these concepts to cellular activity
5. Enzymes/enzyme function/energy
*explain the function of enzymes
*explain how enzymes work with substrates
*explain how coenzymes assist enzymes
*identify and explain how different factors can affect enzyme function
*explain the important of ATP and how living things use ATP
6. Cellular metabolism/aerobic respiration
*explain the fundamental components of cellular respiration (e.g. glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and
electron transport system) and understand how these components are connected as well
the importance of this system in living things
*explain the difference between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration
7. Photosynthesis
*explain the fundamental components of photosynthesis (e.g. light capturing events, light
dependent and light independent reactions).
*explain the relationship between respiration and photosynthesis
*explain why photosynthesis and respiration are two vital processes for living things
8. DNA replication/protein synthesis
*Describe DNA and RNA
*explain the importance of the structure of DNA in making proteins and in inheritance
*explain the components of protein synthesis (transcription and translation)
*explain what happens in this process if there are mutations in the DNA
9. Cell cycle/mitosis
*describe and explain the cell cycle (interphase and mitosis)
*identify and explain each phase of mitosis
*understand that chromosome number can differ between species
10. Meiosis
*describe and explain meiosis
*identify and explain each phase of meiosis
*understand the differences between mitosis and meiosis
11. Patterns of Inheritance
*define and understand the following: allele, gene, gamete, homozygous, heterozygous,
phenotype, genotype, dominant, recessive, monohybrid, dihybrid, codominance, incomplete
dominance, and chromosome
*be able to use a punnett square to identify parental and offspring phenotypes and
gentoypes
*be able to use a punnett square to complete a single factor cross, double factor cross, sexlinked cross, and a cross with multiple alleles
*explain the importance of Gregor Mendel and his laws
12. Population genetics
*explain the biological species concept
*describe how diversity comes to be and the importance of genetic diversity in populations
*describe and understand the founder effect and genetic bottlenecks
*describe eugenics
13. Microevolution/macroevolution
*explain the importance of Charles Darwin
*explain and understand the importance of natural selection
*identify misconceptions about the theory of evolution
*identify and explain the different pieces of evidence used to support evolution
*describe and understand differential survival, differential reproductive rates, and sexual
selection
14. Ecosystem dynamics/flow of energy/biogeochemical cycles
*define population, community, and ecosystem, and ecology and understand the
differences
*understand how energy flows through an ecosystem
*define and understand trophic levels
*define and understand pyramid of energy, pyramid of numbers, and pyramid of biomass
*explain the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycle and how humans have impacted
these cycles
*explain and understand limiting factors and carrying capacity and how these influence a
population
*explain the issues with the current growth of the human population
15. Taxonomy and the classification of living things
*how are living things classified (Domains, kingdoms, phylum, etc.)
*describe the difference between taxonomy and phylogeny
16. Origins of life
*describe and understand the Big Bang Theory
*describe the significance of Stanley Miller
*have a general understanding of the geologic time scale
17. General Characteristics of the Animal Kingdom and Plant Kingdom
18. General Characteristics of Organ systems of vertebrates (e.g. cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive,
lymphatic, and excretory)
The following are multiple choice questions that are indicative of the type of questions you will
encounter on the exam.
1. Which of the following results in producing genetic diversity among the gametes produced in
Meiosis?
a.
b.
c.
d.
synapsis
crossing over
non-disjunction
reduction division
2. Transcription takes place is the ___________ and results in the production of ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
nucleus; protein
mitochondria; protein
cytoplasm; mRNA
nucleus; mRNA
3. If a particular atom has 27 electrons, 27 protons, and 31 neutrons, its mass number would be
a.
b.
c.
d.
27
31
54
58
4. An outside source of energy (ATP) is required for
a.
b.
c.
d.
osmosis.
diffusion.
active transport.
breaking down proteins
5. What will the F1 genotypes be if the parents’ genotypes are Gg and gg?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Gg
GG and Gg
Gg and gg
gg