Biology Final Exam Study Guide: Semester 2
Investigation and Experimentation
Questions
1. Scientific method: What
does each of these entail?

Problem

Hypothesis

Methods

Results/Data

Discussion/Conclusion
2. Experimental Design:
Define the following:

Control group

Experimental group

Constants

Independent Variable

Dependent Variable
Answers
DNA
Questions
3. DNA Structure: Draw a
simple DNA strand and
label the following parts:
 Phosphate backbone
 Nucleotides
 Deoxyribose sugar
4. What is the central
dogma of molecular
biology?
5. Scientists: Describe their
major contributions to the
discovery of DNA:

Griffith

Hershey and Chase

Avery

Watson and Crick

Rosalind Franklin
Answers
6. Describe the base-pairing
rule and write the
complimentary strand for
the DNA below:

A-C-C-G-C-T-A-T-A-C
7. DNA Replication: Draw a
picture of DNA replicating
and label all the parts and
enzymes.
 Proofreading enzymes
 Helicase
 Ligase
 DNA polymerase
During what phase of the
cell cycle is this occurring?
Protein Synthesis
Questions
8. Transcription: Draw a
diagram of transcription.
Indicate where it is
occurring within the cell.
Label important
structures.
9. Translation: Draw a
diagram of translation.
Indicate where it is
occurring within the cell.
Label important
structures.
Answers
10. Structures: Describe the
function of each of the
following in protein
synthesis.

Codon

Anticodon

mRNA

tRNA

Uracil

rRNA/ribosome

RNA polymerase
11. Amino Acids: Use an
amino acid table to
decode the following
codons:
 AGU
 CAA
 ACA
 UUA
 UAG
12. Endomembrane
Transport System:
Create a flow chart that
shows the path that
proteins take as they are
being created, modified,
and packaged.
13. Types of Proteins:
Describe the following
types of proteins.

Enzymes

Structural proteins

Transport proteins

Motor proteins

Hormones

Storage proteins
14. Enzymes: Draw a simple
enzyme and label the
following:
 Enzyme
 Active site
 Substrate
 Product
Questions
15. Explain why prokaryotic
bacteria are used for DNA
technology.
DNA Technology
Answers
16. Recombinant DNA: Draw
a flowchart to illustrate
how recombinant DNA
can be made and used to
produce desired proteins.
17. Electrophoresis: Describe
how electrophoresis can
be used to “fingerprint”
DNA. Your description
should include the
following terms:







Restriction enzymes
DNA fragments
Electrode
Agar gel
Positive
Negative
Bands
Meiosis
Questions
18. Chromosome number:
What is the difference
between haploid and
diploid?
Answers
19. Meiosis I: Draw the
phases of meiosis I. Be
sure to label the
structures below:
 Homologous
chromosomes
 Centromere
 Daughter cells
 Metaphase plate
 Tetrads
Are the cells created
haploid or diploid?
20. Meiosis II: Draw the
phases of meiosis II. Be
sure to label the
structures below:
 Sister chromatids
 Centromere
 Daughter cells
 Metaphase plate
Are the cells created
haploid or diploid?
Genetics
Questions
21. Terms: Define the
following terms:

Allele

Phenotype

Genotype

Diploid

Haploid

Dominant

Recessive

Heterozygous

Homozygous

Karyotype
22. Punnett Squares: Create
Punnett squares and list
the genotypic and
phenotypic ratios for the
crosses below.
Red flowers are dominant
over yellow flowers.

A homozygous red
flower and a yellow
flower.
Answers

Two heterozygous red
flowers.

A heterozygous red
flower and a yellow
flower.
In a certain breed of
guinea pigs, straight hair
(H) is a dominant trait and
curly hair (h) is recessive.
Black eyes (B) for guinea
pigs is another dominant
trait while pink eyes (b) is
recessive.

A male who is
heterozygous for both
hair and eye color and
a female with curly
hair and who was
heterozygous for black
eyes.
23. Codominance: Explain the
genotypes for each blood
type and how this is an
example of codominance.
(Blood types = A, AB, B, O)
24. Incomplete dominance:
Red snapdragons crossed
with white snapdragons
produce pink
snapdragons. Show a
Punnett Square for this
cross and explain how it is
an example of incomplete
dominance.
25. Sex-linked traits: Explain
the difference between
sex-linked and autosomal
traits.
26. Pedigrees: Use the
pedigree on the right to
answer the questions
below.
This pedigree shows the
inheritance of color-blindness,
sex-linked trait found on the
“X” chromosome.

Based on the
pedigree, is this trait
dominant or
recessive?

What is the genotype
of the mother of the
colorblind girl in the
F3 generation?

Explain why colorblindness afflicts more
males than females.
Evolution
Questions
27. Evolution: Compare and
contrast microevolution
and macroevolution. Use
the following terms:
 Adaptations
 Alleles
 Natural selection
 Speciation
 Gene frequency
Answers
28. Natural selection: Does
natural selection affect a
population’s genotype or
phenotype? Explain.
29. Genetic drift: Describe
how genetic drift affects
the diversity of a
population and why.
30. Speciation: What are the
requirements for
speciation to occur? How
do we define a “species”?