Biology Exam I Key Concepts

Exam I Key Concepts

• Living Organisms:

  • Be able to analyze, explain, interpret and chart/graph data for experimental descriptions
  • Be familiar with defining characteristics of living organisms.
  • Understand and compare the 3 domains of living organisms: archaea, bacteria, and eukarya.

• Scientific Method:

  • Define and describe hypothesis, experiment, conclusion, and theory.
  • Design an experiment given a hypothesis, including positive and negative controls and the rationale for their use.

• Atoms and Elements:

  • An atom is the smallest part of an element retaining its properties.
  • The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.
  • The number of electrons equals the number of protons.
  • Atomic number = number of protons
  • Mass number = number of protons + neutrons
  • Isotopes have same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
  • The octet rule describes how atoms bond to achieve a full outer electron shell (8 electrons).
  • Ionic bonds form from the attraction of oppositely charged ions.
  • Covalent bonds form by sharing electrons, and can be polar or nonpolar.

• Water:

  • Understand the characteristics of water (specific heat, heat of vaporization, heat of fusion).
  • Explain why ice floats.
  • Describe how water molecules form hydrogen bonds.

• Carbon and Functional Groups:

  • Carbon's role and characteristics are essential to life.
  • Understand different functional groups and their purposes.
  • Recognize the structures of various functional groups.

• Carbohydrates:

  • Describe the functions of carbohydrates.
  • Recognize and describe the general structure of glucose.
  • Differentiate between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Lipids

• Fatty Acids and Triglycerides:

  • Recognize the structure of fatty acids and glycerol.
  • Describe the formation of triglycerides.
  • Compare and contrast saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and their health effects.
  • Describe the structure of trans and cis fats and their health effects.

• Phospholipids and Cholesterol:

  • Describe phospholipid structure.
  • Describe the structure of a lipid bilayer.
  • Describe cholesterol structure and its role.
  • Understand the types of molecules formed from the steroid backbone.

Proteins

• Amino Acids and Peptide Bonds:
  • Describe several functions of proteins.
  • Recognize amino acids.
  • Understand the characteristics of R-groups
  • Understand the differences between primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure.
  • Describe the types of interactions in tertiary structure (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, disulfide bonds.)