BIOLOGY
STAAR REVIEW
# 1 - Ecology
The Producers: Autotrophs
• An autotroph or producer is an organism that
uses energy from light (sun) or other
chemicals to produce its own food
(ex – Glucose).
The Producers: Autotrophs
• Examples: trees, grasses, shrubs, aquatic
plants, etc.
The Producers: Autotrophs
• Many organisms on the planet rely on
autotrophs for nutrients and energy.
The Consumers: Heterotrophs
• Heterotrophs (consumers) - cannot produce
their own food. They must obtain nutrients by
eating other organisms.
• Examples: Tigers, Birds, Fish, Insects, etc.
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1.
2.
Primary
Consumer
(1st order)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tertiary
(3rd order)
What is not
shown in this
food web?
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1. Plant 1
2. Plant 2
Primary
Consumer
(1st order)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tertiary
(3rd order)
What is not
shown in this
food web?
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1. Plant 1
2. Plant 2
Primary
Consumer
(1st order)
1. Mouse
2. Grasshopper
3. Rabbit
4. Squirrel
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tertiary
(3rd order)
What is not
shown in this
food web?
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1. Plant 1
2. Plant 2
Primary
Consumer
(1st order) 1°
1. Mouse
2. Grasshopper
3. Rabbit
4. Squirrel
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order) 2°
1. Mouse ***
2. Fox
3. Frog
4. Snake
Tertiary
(3rd order) 3°
What is not
shown in this
food web?
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1. Plant 1
2. Plant 2
Primary
Consumer
(1st order)
1. Mouse
2. Grasshopper
3. Rabbit
4. Squirrel
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order)
1. Mouse
2. Fox
3. Frog
4. Snake
Tertiary
(3rd order)
What is not
shown in this
food web?
Owl, Fox,Snake
1. Food Chain & Food Web Practice
Producers
1. Plant 1
2. Plant 2
Primary
Consumer
(1st order)
1. Mouse
2. Grasshopper
3. Rabbit
4. Squirrel
Secondary
Consumers
(2nd order)
1. Mouse
2. Fox
3. Frog
4. Snake
Tertiary
(3rd order)
What is not
shown in this
food web?
Owl
The Sun - our energy
source, & Decomposers
2. Biological Pyramids
• Biological Pyramids – As you go UP the food
chain, the number of organisms, amount of
energy and mass decrease.
2. Biological Pyramids
2. Biological Pyramids
As food chain goes
to each level, the
energy level
decreases.
90% is given off
through heat and
activity. Only 10% of
energy is passed on.
For Example:
The grass = 100% energy.
Grasshopper = 10% energy of the
grass. Frog = 10% energy of the
grasshopper.
3. Symbiosis
• Symbiosis – The relationship in which there is
a close and permanent association between
organisms of different species.
3. Symbiosis
3 Types of
Symbiosis:
Mutualism
+/+
Definition
A symbiotic relationship in
which both species
benefit.
Example
A flower and a bee
The flower gets
pollinated and bee
gets food.
3. Symbiosis
3 Types of
Symbiosis:
Definition
Example
Commensalism
+/0
A symbiotic relationship in
which one species benefits
and the other species is
neither harmed nor
benefits.
Barnacles on whales
Barnacles are carried
to different areas to
reproduce and whales
are not affected.
3. Symbiosis
3 Types of
Symbiosis:
Parasitism
+/-
Definition
A symbiotic relationship in
which a member of one
species benefits and the
other species is harmed.
Example
Tapeworm in a
human
The tapeworm lives in
the intestines and
takes nutrients from
the human.
Predator/Prey Relationships:
• A relationship that involves one organism
capturing and eating another organism.
• _________ - “Hunter”
• _________ - “Hunted”
Predator/Prey Relationships:
• A relationship that involves one organism
capturing and eating another organism.
• Predator - “Hunter”
• Prey - “Hunted”
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
1
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
1
B. Because Peccaries
are Omnivores
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
2. Energy used by producers in a
Grassland food web is provided by:
A. Sunlight
B. Photosynthesis
C. Oxygen
D. Carbon Dioxide
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
3
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
Plants 
Aphids 
Spiders 
Sparrows
4. In the food chain above, the spiders are:
A. Producers
B. Primary Consumers
C. Competitors
D. Secondary consumers
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
5.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
6.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - ECOLOGY
7.
# 2 - Cells
Cells
Remember:
Animal cell = round
shape
And NO cell wall!
Cells
Remember:
Plant cell = square or
rectangle shape
And has a cell wall!
1. Important Organelles:
• Nucleus – site of DNA, control center, contains
blueprints for life
1. Important Organelles:
• Mitochondria – ENERGY – “powerhouse” of
the cell
1. Important Organelles:
• Plasma Membrane (a.k.a. - cell membrane) –
Outer protective layer that allows water and
small molecules
to move in and
out of the cell.
1. Important Organelles:
• Ribosome – site of protein synthesis.
**Remember – the directions for what proteins will be made is in the DNA
1. Important Organelles:
• Chloroplast – site of photosynthesis
(autotrophs only)
1. Important Organelles:
• Lysosome - “Lysol”, the cleaner, recycler the
garbage man.
• Not seen as an
answer, but used
as a distracter in
the answer
choices.
Directions: Use the words on the left to fill in the Venn Diagram
ANIMAL CELL
Round shape
Nucleus
Cell Membrane
PLANT CELL
Cell Wall
Chloroplast
Mitochondria
Eukaryotic
Round shape, Cell wall, Chloroplast, Nucleus,
Cell membrane, Square shape, Mitochondria,
Eukaryotic
Square Shape
2. Diffusion and Osmosis:
• Diffusion – movement of molecules from an
area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration.
The red molecules
are moving from
HIGH to LOW
concentrations
across the
membrane.
2. Diffusion and Osmosis:
• Osmosis – movement of WATER from an area
of high concentration to an area of low
concentration.
In diffusion, we
only care about
what WATER
molecules are
doing!
2. Diffusion and Osmosis:
• Remember – water
can move in or out
of the cell freely
and can change the
volume of the cell
depending on what
type of solution you
put it in.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
1. When a sea urchin egg is removed
from the ocean and placed in
freshwater, the egg swells and bursts.
Which of these causes water to enter
the egg?
A. Coagulation
B. Sodium pump
C. Active transport
D. Osmosis
WATER is the key!
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
2.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
3.
Cells that need a lot of energy (to do a lot of
work) need MORE mitochondria than most cells.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
5.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - CELLS
6.
Generating heat requires energy!
# 3 - Genetics
1. Biochemistry
• Biochemistry – The sequence of DNA bases
give you your traits.
DNA Replication
DNA Bases:
• A – Adenine
• T – Thymine
• C – Cytosine
• G - Guanine
A & _____
T
DNA bases that pair together: _____
and _____
C & _____
G
DNA Replication
• DNA Replication: DNA makes a copy of itself
for mitosis.
During replication, if the DNA template strand is:
ATGGTCAATGGCTTA
then the complementary DNA strand would be:
__________________________
TACCAGTTACCGAAT
Protein Synthesis:
Translation & Transcription
Making a protein STEP #1:
Transcription: the DNA code is copied by the
mRNA, which brings it from the nucleus to
cytoplasm.
Translation & Transcription
RNA Bases:
• A – Adenine
• U – Uracil
• C – Cytosine
• G - Guanine
A & _____
U
RNA bases that pair together: _____
and _____
C & _____
G
Translation
During transcription, if the DNA template strand
is: A T G G T C A A T G G C T T A
then the complementary RNA strand would be:
U A C _____
C A G _____
U U A _____
CCG A
AU
_____
_____
Protein Synthesis:
Translation & Transcription
• Making a protein STEP #2:
• Translation: with help from ribosome, the
tRNA uses the mRNA sequence to assemble
the amino acids in the correct order to make
the proteins, as originally directed by the
DNA.
Translation
• The mRNA strand made during transcription was :
U A C _____
CAG U
U A _____
C C G A_____
AU
_____
_____
• So, during Translation, the tRNA
and the ribosome would
assemble the following strand
of amino acids:
(use the codon chart)
Tyr , ____
Gln , ____
Leu , ____
Pro , _____
Asn
_____
2. Mutations
• Mutation – a change in the DNA sequence of
a gene.
2. Mutations
• Mutations that show up on gametes can be
passed to offspring.
2. Mutations
• Mutations in body cells affect only the
individual organisms and will NOT be passed
on to offspring.
Mutations of skin cells
by the sun are not
passed on
2. Mutations
• Do not always have serious effects on
organisms.
Remember – mutations can be the source for evolution
3. Punnett Squares
• Punnett Squares – used to predict the
chances that offspring will inherit an allele for
a trait.
Try this one…
Tt Tt
tt
tt
3. Punnett Squares
Genetic terms
• Homozygous – alleles are the _________,
same
also
purebred Ex. FF, ff
known as _________.
different
• Heterozygous – alleles are ____________,
also
hybrid
known as _______.
Ex. Ff
3. Punnett Squares
Genetic terms
• Phenotype – “Physical” _____________.
appearance
Make-up
• Genotype – Genetic _______________,
represented by letters.
3. Punnett Squares
T
T TT
t
Tt
t
• Fill in the Punnett square and answer
the following questions:
Tt
• What is the probability of having a
child that is homozygous dominant for
this trait (alleles: ______
TT )? ______%
25
tt
• What is the probability of having a
child that is homozygous recessive for
tt
25
this trait (alleles: ______
)? ______%
• What is the probability of having a
child that is heterozygous for the trait
(alleles: ______)?
______%
Tt
50
4. Karyotypes
• Karyotypes – used to show genetic mutations
on a chromosome number. A normal human
karyotype has 23 pairs of chromosomes.
Normal
Karyotype
A
4. Karyotypes
Abnormal
Karyotypes
B
C
What chromosome # has the mistake?
B = _______
C = _______
#21
#23
4. Karyotypes
Abnormal
Karyotypes
A
B
What genetic disorder is represented on
Karyotype B? _____________________
Down’s Syndrome
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
1.
5-carbon sugar
A
T
T
A
C
G
G
C
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
2.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
3.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
5.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
6.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
7.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
8.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
9.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
10.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
11.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
12.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - GENETICS
13.
# 4 - Evolution
Evolution
• Evolution – change in an organism over time
due to its specific need for adaptation.
Evolution
• Adaptation –a structure, behavior, or internal
process that gives an organism a better
chance for survival in its environment.
REMEMBER –
Organisms that are
best adapted are more
likely to survive and
reproduce, passing on
their genes to offspring
Evolution
• Camouflage – an
adaptation that
allows species to
blend in with their
surroundings.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - EVOLUTION
1. Because of this animal’s adaptations, it would
be most successful at
A Competing with birds
B. Making it own food
C. Hiding from predators
D Running very rapidly
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - EVOLUTION
2. The table shows an amino acid comparison of
Cytochrome C, a protein involved in cellular respiration
in aerobic organisms. The two organisms in the table
that are least genetically related are the –
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - EVOLUTION
3.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - EVOLUTION
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - EVOLUTION
5.
# 5 - Taxonomy
1. Taxonomy
• Taxonomy – classification of living things.
Organisms are placed in groups based on
similar characteristics.
Levels of Classification
• The 7 levels of classification:
Broad
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Specific
Species
Levels of Classification
Broad
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Specific
Species
• Write out your own mnemonic device to remember the
levels of organization of life:
King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti
Scientific Names
• Scientific Names – Made up of the Genus and
species name.
– Ex. Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens
• First word is capitalized and second word is
lower case
• Both words are underlined or italicized
Important differences in living things
Characteristic
Term
Prokaryotic
Cell Type
_____________________
Smaller, simple cell;
no true nucleus
Complexity
_____________________
Made of one cell
How they get
nutrition
_____________________
Can make their own food
Unicellular
Autotrophs
Eukaryotic
_______________________
Larger, more complex cell; has a
true nucleus and other organelles
Multicellular
_______________________
Made of more than one cell
Heterotrophs
_______________________
Cannot make their own food
The 6 Kingdoms
1. Archaebacteria
“Extremists”
Most simple
kingdoms
Prokaryotic
Unicellular
2. Eubacteria
“True Bacteria”
Autotrophs and
Heterotrophs
How bacteria are helpful…
Live in digestive system to
aid in digestion.
DECOMPOSERS!
How bacteria are helpful…
Cause Strep throat and food
poisoning
harmful
The 6 Kingdoms
Eukaryotic
Unicellular and
Multicellular
3. Protists
Autotrophs and
Heterotrophs
Many live in
ponds and other
water sources
Many contain structure to aid in
movement
Cilia
__________
: short hair-like
structures
(ex - paramecium)

Flagella : long whip-like
__________
structure used for
movement
(ex - euglena)

Pseudopod : extension of the
_____________
cytoplasm
(ex – amoeba)

The 6 Kingdoms
4. Fungi
Unicellular/Multicellular
(mostly multicellular!)
How FUNGI are
helpful…
ONLY Eukaryotic.

ONLY Heterotrophs.
Sessile - cannot move from
place to place
Examples- Mushrooms,
mildew, mold.
Decomposers break
down dead organic
material.
Yeast are used to
produce bread and
alcoholic beverages.

The 6 Kingdoms
•Eukaryotic
•ONLY Multicellular.
•ONLY Autotrophs - can
make their own food through
Photosynthesis
5. Plants
•Sessile
•Reproduction
• Some plants produce
Cones or Seeds.
• Seeds are used by
many plants for
reproduction
• Dispersal by
wind, water, and
animals
3 main parts of a plant
• Stem - transports nutrients
throughout the plant.
• Leaf - traps the sunlight used
for Photosynthesis
• contains stomata used for
gas exchange.
•Root - absorbs
nutrients from
the soil
The 6 Kingdoms

6. Animals
Eukaryotic, ONLY Heterotrophic, ONLY Multicellular.
Invertebrate - no backbone present
o Porifera - sponges
o Cnidaria - jellyfish, sea anemones
o Platyhelminthes - flatworms
o Nematoda- roundworms
o Mollusca - snails, octopus, clams
o Annelida - segmented worms
o Echinodermata- starfish
o Arthropoda – spiders, insects, crustaceans
Vertebrate – backbone present
o Birds - dove, robin
o Reptiles- snake, lizard
o Amphibians- frogs, salamanders
o Fish - sharks, salmon, tuna
o Mammals - have fur, and includes dogs, cats, humans
# 6 – Human
Organ Systems
Human Organ Systems
• Organ Systems – each has a specific job to
carry out in order to live. Many times, systems
work together to accomplish body functions.
Human Organ Systems

Digestive System - includes
__________________
teeth, esophagus, small intestine,
large intestine
o breaks down nutrients to be
absorbed by the body

Nervous System - includes brain,
________________
spinal cord
o Sensory system
o Internal and External stimuli
Human Organ Systems

Endocrine System
___________________
o works with the brain and
reproductive organs to keep a
study balance of HORMONES in
your system

Circulatory System heart
___________________o circulates blood throughout the
body
Human Organ Systems

Integumentary System
________________________
o Skin, used to protect the body
from getting foreign objects in the
other systems

Muscular System
___________________________
o moves the bones and is contain in
most body systems (cardiac
muscles)
Human Organ Systems

Reproductive System
____________________________
o Used to produce offspring
o Males and Females

Immune System - lymph
_________________
o Helps to fight infections and
foreign bodies that enter the body.
Human Organ Systems

Respiratory System lungs
_____________________o Used to breathe
o Inhale Oxygen and exhale
Carbon Dioxide

Skeletal System - bones
_________________
o Support system that contains all
the bones
Human Organ Systems

Excretory System
_____________________kidneys
o Waste products
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
1.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
2.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
3. Because chewing begins the breakdown of food before it is swallowed,
digestion starts in the mouth and throat. Which of the following
systems aids most in this early stage of digestion?
A
B
C
D
Immune System
Excretory system
Muscular System
Respiratory System
NOTE – THIS QUESTION DID
NOT COPY PROPERLY. IT IS
LOCATED AT THE TOP OF
PAGE 15.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
5
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
7.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
8.
# 7 – Plants
#7 – Plants
Plant Adaptations to their Environment
• Stomata – pores in the epidermis, that allow gas exchange
during photosynthesis.
#7 – Plants
Plant Adaptations to their Environment
• Cuticle – protects leaf from drying out; found in areas where
water loss is high. Waxy leaves have a thick cuticle.
#7 – Plants
Plant Adaptations to their Environment
• Guard Cell – controls the opening and closing of stomata
#7 – Plants
Plant Adaptations to their Environment
• Roots – support, anchor, absorption of water and minerals
• Leaves - primary photosynthetic
organs of plants. Cacti leaves are
modified as spines.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
2.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
3.
This is the Stomata!
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
5.
Remember that
arid means dry so
there will be more
water loss, so the
plant will have very
small leaf blades.
Larger leaf blades
will lose a lot of
water!
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
6.
Having waxy leaves is
an adaptation for trying
to conserve water in an
arid environment!
SAMPLE QUESTIONS - PLANTS
7.
This is the Cuticle!
The thicker (more waxy) the
cuticle, the more a plant is
adapted to conserve water!
# 8 – Viruses
and Bacteria
#8 – Viruses and Bacteria
1. Viruses – Not living so they don’t fit into a
kingdom!
 Non-living
o Must have host cell to
replicate.
o HIV and many STDs are
viruses
o HIV affects the T- cells in your
body

2 main parts
o Capsid- protein coat
o Nucleic Acid- DNA or
RNA
#8 – Viruses and Bacteria
Diseases caused by VIRUSES
1. HIV
2. Common Cold
3. Warts
4. Influenza
5. Small Pox
#8 – Viruses and Bacteria
2. Bacteria – important characteristics
1. Prokaryotic
2. 3 Shapes
Bacillus, Coccus, Spirillium
3. Beneficial and Harmful
#8 – Viruses and Bacteria
Beneficial Bacteria
• E. coli – source of Vitamin K, helps in digestion.
• Lactobacillus – helps in Digestion of milk and dairy products.
#8 – Viruses and Bacteria
Harmful Bacteria – diseases they cause
1. Tooth Decay
2. Tuberculosis
3. Cholera
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
1.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
2.
Remember, Nucleic Acid = DNA or RNA
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
3.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
4.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
5.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
6.
THE END!
Good Luck on your
Biology STAAR Test!