Honors
Final Exam
Review
1. Know the correct order
of the scientific method.
Ask a question
Gather information
Form hypothesis
Perform experiment
Observe experiment
Record data
Report conclusion
2. What are the two most
important theories studied
in biology?
In biology, we mainly study
the cell theory and the
theory of evolution.
3. Know the 3 principles of
the cell theory.
• All living things are composed of one or
more cells.
• Cells are the basic unit of structure and
organization of all living organisms.
• Cells arise only from previously existing
cells, with cells passing copies of their
genetic material on to their daughter
cells.
4. Know the 8 characteristics
of living things.
• Made of more than one cells
• Responds to stimuli
• Maintains homeostasis
• Reproduces
• Grows and develops
• Displays organization
• Requires energy
• Adapts and evolves over time
5. Compare and contrast
dependent variables and
independent variables.
• Independent variable- what changes
in the experiment, what is being
tested
• Dependent variable- what measures
the change
6. Know the 4 types of macromolecules. What are
some characteristics of each? What are some
examples of each?
• Lipids-made of fatty acids, found in cell membranes
• Cholesterol, phospholipids
• Carbohydrates- simple and complex sugars, used for
energy storage
• Glucose, sucrose
• Proteins- made of amino acids, contains nitrogen,
produced by RNA in ribosomes
• Carboxl groups, amino groups
• Nucleic acids- made of nucleotides
• DNA, RNA, ATP
7. What is activation
energy?
Activation energy- energy
needed to initiate a chemical
reaction, speeds up chemical
reactions
8. What is an enzyme and
how does it affect chemical
reactions?
Enzyme- catalyst that lowers
the activation energy needed to
start a chemical reaction, reused over and over again
9. What is a monomer?
Monomers are small
molecules linked together
and used to build larger
molecules. ex. Amino acids
are linked together to build
proteins.
10. Compare and contrast
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells
• No membrane
bound nucleus
• Lacks membrane
bound
organelles
• Ex. Bacteria cells
Eukaryotic cells
• Nucleus
• Various specialized
organelles with
different functions
• Ex. Skin cells,
nerve cells
11.Compare and contrast
animal cells and plant cells.
Plant cells have the following:
• Cell walls made of cellulose
• Larger single vacuole to store water and
food
• Chloroplasts for absorption of sunlight
Animal cells lack these
12. Know the major organelles of
eukaryotic cells. Structures and functions
Mitochondria
“powerhouse” of the cell; converts sugars
into energy
Nucleus
control center of the cell; contains DNA
Nucleolus
located inside nucleus; makes ribosomes
Vacuole
Place of storage inside of cell, much
larger in plant cells
Chloroplasts
Capture light and convert it to energy
(photosynthesis), only found in plant cells
13.What is diffusion?
Diffusion- movement of
particles from an area of high
concentration to an area of
lower concentration
14. Describe the 3 types of
solutions in which cells are found.
• Isotonic solution- solution that has the same
concentration of water and solute, cell stays
the same
• Hypertonic solution- solution with a higher
concentration of solute on the outside of the
cell, causes the cell to shrivel
• Hypotonic solution- solution with a lower
concentration on the outside of the cell,
causes the cell to swell
15.Which of those three would
be the most ideal for cells to be
placed in?
Isotonic
16. Know the reactants and
products of photosynthesis and
cellular respiration.
Photosynthesis
Reactants
Products
Cellular Respiration
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ -----> 6CO₂ + 6H₂O
Reactants
Products
17.
What is mitosis?
Mitosis- the division of a
cell’s nucleus and nuclear
material
18. What are the 4 phases of mitosis in
order from start to finish? List some of the
occurrences of each phase.
Prophase
• Nuclear membrane breaks up and disintegrates
• Chromatin condenses to form chromosomes
• Spindle fibers form and centrioles move to opposite
“poles” of the cell
Metaphase
• Chromosomes are brought to the equator of the
cell by spindle fibers
Anaphase
• Sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles
by spindle fibers
Telophase
• Nuclear membrane starts to reform around the two
new nuclei
• Chromosomes relax/unwind
• Cleavage furrow starts to form ending mitosis
19. Be able to identify diagrams of
each phase.
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
20. What is the outcome
of mitosis?
Two identical diploid
daughter cells
21.Compare somatic cells with
sex cells.
• Somatic cells are body
cells and diploid.
• Sex cells are gametes and
haploid
22. Compare and contrast mitosis
and meiosis.
• Mitosis- occurs when making new
somatic cells, 2 identical daughter
cells in outcome
• Meiosis- occurs when making sex
cells, 4 different haploid cells in
outcome
23.How many divisions occur
in meiosis?
2 divisions- meiosis I and
meiosis II
24. Know the phases of meiosis I and
II in order and what occurs in each.
Prophase I
• Chromosomes condense
• Centrioles and spindle fibers start to form and move toward
the poles
• Homologous chromosomes pair up in process called
synapsis
• Crossing over occurs- exchanging of segments between the
chromosome pairs
Metaphase I
• Pairs of homologous chromosomes line up on the
equatorial plate
• Spindle fibers attach to centromere of each pair
Anaphase I
• Homologous chromosome pairs separate to opposite poles
of cell
Telophase I
• Homologous chromosomes reach each opposite pole
• Sister chromatids are not identical in each cell because of
crossing over
• Spindle fibers break down, nucleus forms back
• The 2 cells divide
Prophase II
• Chromosomes condense
• Spindle fibers form and grab each pair of sister
chromatids
Metaphase II
• Chromosomes line up in the middle of cell
Anaphase II
• Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite
pole
Telophase II
• Four nuclei form around chromosomes
• Spindle fibers break down
• 4 cells divide
25.What is the final result of
meiosis?
4 different haploid
daughter cells
26.What is fertilization?
Fertilization-process where
one haploid gamete
combines with another
haploid gamete to form one
diploid cell
27.Compare and contrast
homozygous and heterozygous
genotypes.
Homozygous Heterozygous
•Same alleles •Different alleles
in pair
in pair
•Purebred
•Hybrid
•Ex. AA or rr •Ex. Yy or Bb
28.What is another name for a
homozygous individual?
Heterozygous?
Homozygous- purebred
Heterozygous- hybrid
29. Be able to cross various monohybrid
crosses to determine the possible
offspring.
Y y
Y YY Yy
y Yy yy
30.What are alleles?
Allele- alternative form of
a single gene passed
down
ex. Pod Color- yellow or
green
31.What are the phenotypic
and genotypic ratios of a
heterozygous monohybrid
cross?
Phenotypic ratio- 3:1
Genotypic ratio- 1:2:1
32. What type of inheritance patterns are
found in blood typing? Be able to identify
examples of blood types when looking at
genotypes.
Blood typing involves codominance,
multiple alleles, and simple dominance
A- IᴬIᴬ or Iᴬi
B- IᴮIᴮ or Iᴮi
AB- IᴬIᴮ
O- ii
33.What is nondisjunction?
What are some disorders
caused by nondisjunction?
Nondisjunction is when chromosomes do not
separate correctly and some cells have the
wrong number of chromosomes after meiosis
Disorders caused by nondisjunction would
include Downs syndrome, Edward’s syndrome,
Turner’s syndrome, Klinfelters …
34.What is the central dogma
of biology?
DNA  RNA  protein synthesis
DNA codes for RNA which makes
proteins which expresses DNA
35.Compare and contrast DNA
and RNA nucleotides.
DNA
• Deoxyribose
sugar
• Bases- thymine,
adenine,
cytosine, guanine
• Double stranded
RNA
• Ribose sugar
• Bases- uracil,
adenine,
cytosine, guanine
• Single stranded
36. Know the processes of protein synthesis.
What are the monomers that make up
proteins? What are the roles of each of the
RNA strands in protein synthesis?
Transcription- mRNA travels to nucleus and
codes DNA into codons(3 bases) and takes
it back to ribosomes
Translation- tRNA uses codons to pair anticodons on amino acids. They travel around
cytoplasm picking up AAs and assemble
proteins.
37.Know the principles of
natural selection.
• Variation- individuals in a population will show
differences from one another
• Heritability- the variations are passed down to
offspring
• Overpopulation- populations will produce
more offspring than will survive
• Reproductive advantage- some variations
allow organisms to reproduce more offspring
than other variations
38.What are the three types of
adaptations we discussed in
class? Give an example of each.
• Camouflage- adaptation that allows them to blend
in with their environment, ex. Peppered moth and
bark to hide from predators
• Mimicry- one species evolves to resemble another
species, ex. Monarch and viceroy butterflies
• Antimicrobial resistance- certain species of bacteria
are now found to be resistant to medicines such as
penicillin
39. Know how to write a scientific name.
What language is used in writing scientific
names? What two levels of taxonomy are
used in writing scientific names?
Latin is used in binomial nomenclature.
Scientific names use the genus and
species of an organism.
Genus species
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens
40. Know the levels of taxonomy in order
from least exclusive to most exclusive.
• Domain- broadest of all taxa categories, contains one or
more kingdoms
• Kingdom- consists of related phyla or divisions
• Phylum/Division(plants and bacteria)- contains related
classes
• Class- contains related orders
• Order- contains related families
• Family-consists of similar related genera
• Genus- group of species that are closely related and share a
common ancestor
• Species- most exclusive, each different organism has its own
species name
41. What are the three domains of
taxonomy? What kingdoms are found in
each?
• Bacteria- Eubacteria
• Archaea- Archaebacteria
• Eukarya- Animalia,
Plantae, Protista, Fungi
42.What is the 10% rule?
Only 10% of the energy is
available to transfer to the next
trophic level.
43. What are the main tropic levels when
looking at food chains and energy
pyramids? What is the purpose of the
arrows? How does the energy flow?
Producer  Primary consumer 
Secondary consumer  Tertiary consumer
The arrows show the direction of the
energy flow from producers to consumers.
44.Compare and contrast
habitat and niche.
• Habitat- where an organism lives
• Niche- the role or job an organism
has in its environment
45.Compare and contrast
autotroph and heterotroph.
• Autotrophs- make their own food by
using energy from the sun or
inorganic compounds
• Heterotroph- need to eat or consume
their food for energy
46. What are the six levels of
organization? List them in order
from smallest to largest.
• Individual organism
• Population
• Community
• Ecosystem
• Biome
• Biosphere
47.Compare biotic and abiotic.
What are some examples of
each?
Biotic- living organisms
•Zebra, bacteria, tree
Abiotic- nonliving thing
•Soil, sunlight, water
48. Compare and contrast densitydependent and density-independent.
What are some examples of each limiting
factor?
Density-dependent- does depend on
number of organisms
• Predation, food supply, parasitism
Density-independent- does not depend on
number of organisms
• Water supply, climate/weather, nutrients
49.What are some
characteristics used to
determine populations?
Birthrate, death rate,
emigration, immigration
50. Compare and contrast immigration
and emigration. Natality and mortality?
• Immigration- moving into a
population
• Emigration- moving out of a
population
• Natality- birthrate
• Mortality- death rate
51.How does biodiversity
change as you travel from
polar ice caps to the equator?
Biodiversity increases
52. Be familiar with characteristics of the
major biomes discussed in class.
• Tundra- cold and dry, permafrost, plants such as saxifrage
and animals such as caribou and arctic hares
• Taiga- short summers, long cold winters, plants such as
conifer trees and animals such as moose
• Grassland- mild winters, hot summers, plants such as
grasses and wildflowers and animals such as large grazers
• Temperate deciduous forest- 4 seasons, plants such as
deciduous trees and animals such as deer and squirrels
• Desert- dry hot climate, plants such as cacti and mesquite
trees and animals such as reptiles and nocturnal mammals
• Tropical rain forest- wet and humid all year, plants such as
broad leaf trees and orchids and animals such as pythons
and monkeys
53.What is population density?
Population density- the number
of organisms in a unit area
54. Compare and contrast renewable and
nonrenewable resources. What are some
examples of each?
Renewable resources can be replaced as
fast as they are used.
• Ex. Timber, water, food
Nonrenewable resources take millions of
years to replace and therefore are used up.
• Ex. Fossil fuels, minerals, nuclear
elements
55.What are the two vascular
tissues? Explain their purposes.
•Xylem- transports water up
from the roots to the leaves
•Phloem- transports sugars
down from the leaves to
the rest of the plant
56.What are some
characteristics of plants?
• Cell walls composed of cellulose
• Cell division with formation of cell
plate
• Chlorophyll and photosynthesis
• Food stored as starch
57.What is cuticle? What is its
purpose for plants?
•Helps prevent the evaporation
of water from plant tissues
•Provides waxy covering for
new growth
•Acts as a barrier to invading
microorganisms
58.What are sepals? What is
their purpose?
Sepals are leaf like structures
that protect the new forming
bud to become a fully
developed flower.
59. What are the 8 categories of plants
we discussed in class? What are some of
the characteristics that are used to
identify plants in each category?
• Vascular- plants that have vascular tissue, various
heights and parts
• Nonvascular- plants lacking vascular tissue, short, no
true roots or stems, must be kept in moist locations
in order to grow and reproduce
• Seeded- vascular plants that reproduces with seeds
• Seedless- vascular plants that reproduce with spores
• Angiosperm- flowering plants
• Gymnosperm- plants that reproduce with
cones
• Monocot- flower parts in multiples of 3,
parallel vein in leaves, tap roots, 1
cotyledon
• Dicot- flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5,
branched vein in leaves, fibrous roots, 2
cotyledons
60. Be able to identify examples that
belong to each category.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vascular- trees
Nonvascular- moss
Seeded- dandelion
Seedless- fern
Angiosperm- apple
Gymnosperm- pine
Monocot- tulip
Dicot- daisy
61. Be able to identify the different structures
of a typical flower. What makes up the male
parts? Female parts?
1.Stigma
2.Style
Pistil
3.Ovary
4.Pistil
5.Anther
6.Filament Stamen
7.Stamen
8.Petal
9.Sepal