Biology and Chemistry Fundamentals Quiz

Understanding the Scientific Method

• The scientific method is a systematic process used to develop and test scientific knowledge
• A hypothesis is an educated guess that can be tested and proven or disproven
• A control group is a group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment or variable being tested
• Independent variables are factors that are intentionally changed or manipulated in an experiment
• Dependent variables are factors that are measured or observed in response to the independent variable
• Identifying and controlling variables is crucial in ensuring the validity of experimental results

Basic Chemistry and pH

• pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution
• pH scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 being acidic, and above 7 being basic
• Strong acids and bases completely dissociate in water, while weak acids and bases partially dissociate
• Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH when an acid or base is added

Properties of Water

• Water is a polar molecule, with a slightly positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a slightly negative charge on the oxygen atom
• Water's polarity allows it to dissolve a wide variety of substances, including salts, sugars, and other solutes
• Water is essential for many biological processes, includingTemperature regulation, Photosynthesis, and Cellular metabolism

Functional Groups

• Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within a molecule that determine its chemical properties and reactions
• The 7 functional groups are: Hydroxyl (-OH), Carboxyl (-COOH), Amino (-NH2), Methyl (-CH3), Hydrogen (-H), Carbonyl (-CO-), and Phosphate (-PO42-)
• Each functional group has unique chemical properties and reacts differently with other molecules

Classes of Large Biological Molecules

• The 4 classes of large biological molecules are: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids
• Carbohydrates: provide energy and structure, composed of monomers such as glucose and fructose, linked by glycosidic bonds
• Proteins: perform a wide range of functions, composed of monomers such as amino acids, linked by peptide bonds
• Lipids: provide energy and structure, composed of monomers such as fatty acids and glycerol, linked by ester bonds
• Nucleic Acids: store and transmit genetic information, composed of monomers such as nucleotides, linked by phosphodiester bonds

Dehydration and Hydrolysis Reactions

• Dehydration reactions involve the removal of water molecules, resulting in the formation of new bonds
• Hydrolysis reactions involve the addition of water molecules, resulting in the breakdown of existing bonds
• Both reactions are important in biological processes, such as cellular metabolism and protein synthesis

Amino Acids

• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins
• Nonpolar amino acids: Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, and Methionine
• Polar amino acids: Serine, Threonine, Asparagine, Glutamine, and Cysteine
• Acidic amino acids: Aspartic acid and Glutamic acid
• Basic amino acids: Arginine, Histidine, and Lysine

Nucleotides

• Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids
• A nucleotide consists of three components: a sugar molecule (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (A, C, G, T, or U)
• Nucleotides are linked together by phosphodiester bonds to form a polynucleotide chain

Cell Structure and Function

• Organelles found in bacterial cells: Cell wall, Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, and Ribosomes
• Organelles found in plant cells: Cell wall, Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, Chloroplasts, and Vacuoles
• Organelles found in animal cells: Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, Mitochondria, Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, Lysosomes, and Cytoskeleton
• Cytoskeleton components: Microtubules, Microfilaments, and Intermediate filaments
• Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles