De La Cruz 1
Natalie De La Cruz
Mr. Shafnisky
AP Biology Period 7
September 11, 2009
Chapter 1: Exploring Life (Study Guide)
Interactive Question 1.1
a. The biosphere consists of all the environments on earth. Most regions of land; most
bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers; and the atmosphere to an altitude of
several kilometers, compose the biosphere.
b. An ecosystem consists of all living things, in a particular area, along with all the
nonliving components of an environment.
c. A community or biological community is an entire array of organisms inhabiting a
particular ecosystem.
d. A population consists of all the individuals of a species living within the bounds of a
specified area.
e. Organisms are considered individual living things.
f. An organ is a specialized center of body function composed of several different types of
tissues. Organ systems (which compose organs) are a group of organs that work together
in performing vital body functions.
g. Tissues are an integrated group of cells with a common function, structure, or both.
h. A cell is a life’s fundamental unit of structure and function.
i. An organelle is one of several formed bodies with specialized functions, suspended in the
cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
j. A molecule is two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
Interactive Question 1.2
- All forms of life use essentially the same genetic code of nucleotides. This universal genetic
code permits the engineering of cells to produce proteins, of other organisms.
Interactive Question 1.3
a) A search as this one can consist of many professionals in the scientific world as well as other
professions. Psychologist, engineers, and ecologist are few of the professions involved in this
process. All professions need to have an understanding of high through put technology, bio
formatics, and interdisciplinary research.
b) Systems biology seeks to model biological systems and predict their responses as a variable.
This could cause many discoveries in the medical field; it could also be an increase in sources, or
simply an advantage on understanding our environment.
De La Cruz 2
Interactive Question 1.4
- The main criteria for separating plants, fungi, and animals into kingdoms are their molecular
structure and DNA sequencing. This can place them in one of three domains: bacteria, Achaea,
eukaryote.
Interactive Question 1.5
- Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains the competition that exists within species.
According to Darwin, individuals in a population vary in heritable traits, this leads to
overproduction and competition. This competition leads to unequal reproductive success, and
eventually to evolutionary adaptation. This can also be, identified as survival of the fittest.
Interactive Question 1.6
a) Predators learned to avoid coral snakes by a result of an inherited instinctive ability to
recognize the warning coloration of coral snakes.
b) The exact number of attacks can vary from time to time, depending on the factors
presented; making the information not consistent and unreliable. Therefore, there is no
way of calculating or predicting an exact total of attacks.
Structure You Knowledge
a) A cell is a life’s fundamental unit or structure and function.
b) DNA is the substance of genes, the units of inheritance that transmit information.
c) Emergent properties are due to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity
increases.
d) Feedback regulation is the output, or product, of a process regulates that very process.
e) The environment is composed of various organisms, which interact with each other to
maintain themselves.
f) Organisms depend on their environment to exchange or produce energy.
g) Bacteria, Archae, Eukarya are different denominations, but share a genetic code.
h) Darwin’s theory of evolution is natural selection, or the survival of the fittest.
Competition establishes the fittest in a species, permitting him to reproduce.
i) Structure and function is the base of biological organization.
j) Scientific inquiry is testable, and falsifiable. It gains credibility by surviving various
attempts to falsify it while testing eliminates (falsifies) alternative hypothesis.
k) Science and technology function to create options for society. Many studies rely on
technology, as well as many technologies are created because of science.
De La Cruz 3
Evolution Connection
A typical prokaryotic cell has about 3,000 genes in its DNA, while a human cell has about
25,000 genes. About 1,000 of these genes are present in both types of cells. Based on your
understanding of evolution, explain how such different organisms could have the same subset of
genes.
According to the information, all forms of life employ essentially the same genetic code.
Differences between organisms reflect differences between their nucleotide sequencing.
Organisms interact continuously, although very different. They may have evolved from a same
species
Scientific Inquiry:
Investigation: How do environmental changes affect a population?
Hypothesis: An environmental change can cause a strong population to change physically, (if
human mentally and emotionally), or it can cause the weakest ones to move entirely.
Investigation: How does acid precipitation affect trees?
Hypothesis: The tree roots, in taking poisonous chemicals, absorb acid precipitation moisture,
this destroys and harms cells, causing the tree to dry and rot.
Science, Technology, & Society
The fruits of wild species of tomato are tiny compared to the giant beefsteak tomatoes available
today. This difference in fruit size is almost entirely due to the larger number of cells in the
domesticated fruits. Plant molecular biologists have recently discovered genes that are
responsible for controlling cell division in tomatoes. Why would such a discovery be important
to producers of other kinds of fruits and vegtables? To the study of human development and
disease? To our basic understanding of biology?
This discovery is important to producers of other kinds of fruits and vegetables, because these
genes may be able to be applied to other fruits or vegetables, causing their surplus to increase, as
well as their increments. This is also important for the study of human development and disease,
because these genes may be able to control cell division in humans, and prevent certain
deficiencies. In addition, these genes may be able to cause certain diseases. In general, it
augments our understanding and ability to accept it or modify it.
De La Cruz 4
Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life (Study Guide)
Interactive Question 2.5
I showed the outer shell diagram unpaired, because no more than two electrons can occupy the
same orbital. Although there are four, each orbital must have at least one electron before pairs
can be formed. In this instance, Carbon is reactive.
Interactive Question 2.8
a) This is a non-polar covalent bond, because it is a bond between the same element,
therefore they share the same electro negativities.
b) This is a non-polar covalent bond, because Nitrogen shares three electrons, with three
hydrogen electrons.
c) This is a non-polar covalent bond, because nitrogen has four electrons, which it shares
with four hydrogen electrons.
d) This is a polar covalent bond, because although carbon shares two electrons with two
hydrogen single electrons, carbon remains with a single electron.
Structure Your Knowledge
2a)
atomic number: number of protons (subscript to the left)
mass number: the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atoms nucleus
atomic mass: the total mass of an atom, which is the mass in grams of one mole of the
atom.
2b) valence: the bonding capacity of an atom, generally equal to the number of unpaired
electrons in the atoms outermost shell
2c) The atomic number tells us the number of protons and electrons. This is important because it
lets us know if the atom is neutral in electrical charge.
3) The sharing of electrons between atoms falls on a continuum from non-polar covalent bonds
to ionic bonds. The different atoms cause this; one sharing might cause a non-polar covalent
bond, because there are no single electrons; another might form an ionic bond, because of a
difference of mass. Therefore, it is not a constant change.
De La Cruz 5
Evolution Connection:
The text states that the percentages of naturally occurring elements making up the human body
are similar to the percentages of these elements found in other organisms. How could you
account for this similarity among organisms?
It was explained in the previous chapter, that many organisms including humans share similar
genetic codes, but that they each have different nucleotide sequences. This may cause the
necessity of elements for survival to be the same. For example, humans rely greatly on oxygen
and water, as well as humans.
Scientific Inquiry
Hypothesis: Moths are able to detect a specific molecule despite the presence of other many
molecules.
Experiment:
Supplies: four large plastic (with very tiny holes) cages, 4 moths
Instruction:
1) Take the first two moths in separate cages and place them in an indoor garden.
You must make sure everything is closed. Release each moth at opposite sides
and have an individual observe its approach to the other moth.
2) Take the second two moths and place them in a rectangular insect cage (it has to
be at least 3 ft).
3) Try each experiment a second time with the alternate pair of moths.
Questions: Is it harder for each pair of moths, to find their mate in the indoor garden where there
are more molecules or, the insect cage, which has less?
Science, Technology & Society
Agriculture and Industry can affect our environment, although they are produced from existing
atoms. This happens because many of these atoms are mixed with other hazardous atoms. For
example, in agriculture, many individuals use pesticide. In industry, many elements are mixed
forming hazardous chemicals.