Biology First Semester Review

Biology - First Semester Review

• Unit 1: Introduction to Biology (Chapter 1)
  • Biology is the scientific study of life
  • Benefits of studying biology include understanding disease prevention, food production, and advancements in technology.
  • Characteristics of living things:
    • Composed of one or more cells
    • Organized
    • Growth and development
    • Reproduction
    • Response to stimuli
    • Use and require energy
    • Maintain homeostasis
    • Adapt to environment
    • Based on a universal genetic code
    • Obtain and use resources
    • Maintain stable internal environment
  • Science aims to provide natural, testable explanations for events in the natural world.
  • Limitations of science:
    • Only applicable to the natural world
    • Cannot prove or disprove supernatural phenomena
    • Should not be based on anecdotal evidence
    • Avoid overgeneralizations and always/never statements
    • Consider the source of data
  • Characteristics of good science:
    • Curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, and creativity are essential to scientific inquiry.
    • Good scientists are willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and consider alternative explanations.

Unit 2: Principles of Ecology (Chapter 3)

• Biotic Factors: Living components of an environment that affect an organism

• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components of an environment (e.g., sunlight, water, temperature)

• Climate Zones:

  • Tropical: Warm and wet year-round, nutrient-poor soils
  • Temperate: Moderate temperatures, fertile soils, periodic fires
  • Polar: Cold, low precipitation, thin soils

• Biomes: Major types of ecosystems determined by climate

  • Tropical rainforests
  • Tropical dry forests
  • Tropical grasslands
  • Temperate grasslands
  • Temperate forests
  • Northwestern coniferous forests
  • Boreal forests/tundra

• Aquatic Ecosystems:

  • Rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, ponds, wetlands, estuaries

• Marine Ecosystems:

  • Intertidal zones
  • Coastal ocean
  • Open ocean
  • Photic zones
  • Continental shelf
  • Aphotic zone
  • Benthic zone

Unit 3: Energy in a Community (Chapters 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, & 6.2)

• Energy Flow: Energy flows through ecosystems via food chains and webs
• Organisms include:
  • Producers
  • Primary consumers
  • Secondary consumers
  • Tertiary consumers
• Food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramid models represent energy flow in ecosystems

Unit 4: Chemistry in Biology (Chapter 2)

• Atoms: Basic units of matter
• Chemical Bonds (covalent, ionic, hydrogen): bonds that hold atoms together
• Chemical Reactions: processes where reactants are transformed into products
• Chemical reactions and energy: some reactions release energy (spontaneous), others require energy
• Enzymes: biological catalysts which speed up chemical reactions
• Solutions: mixtures of solutes (dissolved substance) and solvents (dissolving substance)
• Acids and bases: compounds that release H+ or OH- ions
• Organic Molecules:
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids

Unit 5: Cell Structure and Function (Chapter 8)

• Cell theory principles:

  • All living things are made of cells
  • Cells are the basic units of structure and function
  • New cells are produced from existing cells

• Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic cells

• Cell structures and functions

• Cell membranes: regulates what enters and leaves the cell

• Specialized cell parts:

  • Nucleus
  • Mitochondria
  • Chloroplasts
  • Endoplasmic reticulum
  • Golgi apparatus

• Cell division:

  • Processes of mitosis and cytokinesis

Unit 6: Mitosis (Chapter 11)

• Cell cycle and stages
• Cellular organelles
• Cell cycle: Interphase - G1 phase, S phase, G2 phase, M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis)
• Stages of mitosis: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, Cytokinesis
• Significance of cell size
• Role of cyclins in regulating the cell cycle
• Cancer and the cell cycle
• Role of apoptosis (programmed cell death)