Biology Midterm Exam Study Guide
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of Biology?

The study of life.

In an experiment with kidney beans, what is the independent variable?

Soil type.

What is homeostasis in the context of living organisms?

The ability to regulate their internal conditions.

Provide an example of a control variable in the kidney bean soil experiment.

<p>Amount of water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What hypothesis might you propose regarding soil type affecting kidney bean growth?

<p>If the type of soil affects growth, then potting soil will be the best for kidney beans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one characteristic of life that indicates an organism's complexity.

<p>Being complex and organized.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What level of organization does digestion fall under?

<p>Organ System.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do living organisms respond to their environment?

<p>They exhibit capacity to respond to stimuli.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?

<p>6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do regulators do in the cell cycle?

<p>Regulators control the progression of the cell cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of meiosis?

<p>The purpose of meiosis is to produce genetic variability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define haploid and diploid cells.

<p>Haploid cells have half a chromosome count, while diploid cells have a full chromosome count.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does DNA helicase play in DNA replication?

<p>DNA helicase unwinds the double helix.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the building blocks of DNA?

<p>The building blocks of DNA are nucleotides.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of tRNA in protein synthesis?

<p>tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome based on the anti-codon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In protein synthesis, what happens during transcription?

<p>The strand of DNA is unwound, and mRNA is produced.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the hierarchy of biological classification as defined by Linnaeus?

<p>Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do hydrogen bonds in water contribute to its significance in biological systems?

<p>Hydrogen bonds allow water to have a high specific heat and facilitate chemical reactions, making it essential for life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do carbohydrates play in the cell membrane?

<p>Carbohydrates function in cell-to-cell recognition, acting like name tags for cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of chloroplasts in plant cells?

<p>Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the composition of the cell membrane.

<p>The cell membrane is primarily composed of phospholipids, with a phosphate head and two fatty acid tails, along with proteins and carbohydrates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the vacuole in plant cells?

<p>The vacuole stores nutrients and waste products and helps maintain turgor pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of cholesterol in the cell membrane.

<p>Cholesterol helps maintain membrane fluidity by preventing the fatty acid tails from sticking together.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the mitochondria in plant cells?

<p>Mitochondria are responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of mitochondria in a cell?

<p>Mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define cellular metabolism and differentiate between anabolic and catabolic processes.

<p>Cellular metabolism refers to chemical reactions within the cell. Anabolic processes build larger molecules while catabolic processes break them down.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do enzymes play in cellular reactions?

<p>Enzymes act as biological catalysts, lowering the activation energy required for chemical reactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the first law of thermodynamics in relation to energy in cells?

<p>The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (Rough ER).

<p>The rough ER is responsible for synthesizing proteins and membranes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do vacuoles do in a cell?

<p>Vacuoles serve as storage containers for water, toxins, and food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration?

<p>The equation for cellular respiration is: $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 ightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP$.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are autotrophs and heterotrophs?

<p>Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food, while heterotrophs cannot and must obtain food from other organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What principle explains why only one flower color appears in a cross between different colored flowers?

<p>The principle of dominance explains this.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organism did Mendel primarily use for his studies on genetics?

<p>Mendel primarily used pea plants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of genetic cross only observes one trait, such as flower color?

<p>This is known as a monohybrid cross.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do you call a genetic cross that involves two traits, like seed shape and seed color?

<p>This is called a dihybrid cross.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define heterozygous and provide an example.

<p>Heterozygous means having two different alleles for a trait, such as Aa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of incomplete dominance with an example.

<p>Incomplete dominance occurs when neither trait is fully expressed, resulting in a blending of traits, like a grey flower from white and black flowers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of sex-linked traits in genetics?

<p>Sex-linked traits are significant because they are located on sex chromosomes and can affect inheritance patterns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a pedigree and what is its purpose in genetics?

<p>A pedigree is a chart that shows the inheritance patterns of a trait within a family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is Biology?

The study of all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the outcome of an experiment.

Independent Variable

A variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.

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Dependent Variable

A variable that is measured or observed in an experiment.

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Control Variable

A variable that is kept constant in an experiment to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

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Taxonomy

The process of organizing living things into groups based on shared characteristics.

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Biochemistry

The chemical processes that occur within living organisms to sustain life.

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Organ System

A system of organs working together to perform a specific function in a living organism. For example, the digestive system breaks down food, the circulatory system transports blood.

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Binomial Nomenclature

A two-part scientific name for a species. The first part identifies the genus, and the second part is the specific epithet. For example, Homo sapiens is the scientific name for humans.

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Covalent Bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms.

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Ionic Bond

A bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

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Hydrogen Bond

A weak electrostatic interaction between a hydrogen atom covalently linked to a highly electronegative atom, such as oxygen, and an electron pair in the adjacent molecule.

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Cell Membrane

The outermost layer of a cell, composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins and carbohydrates. It regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell.

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Vacuole (Plant Cell)

The fluid-filled sac inside a plant cell that stores water, nutrients, and waste products. It also helps maintain cell turgor (rigidity).

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Allele

A variation of a gene.

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Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait.

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Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait.

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Recessive

An allele that's only expressed when two copies are present.

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Dominant

An allele that's expressed even with just one copy.

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Genotype

The genetic makeup of an individual.

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Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an individual.

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Sex-linked traits

Traits determined by genes located on sex chromosomes.

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Photosynthesis

A chemical process in plants that uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (sugar) and oxygen.

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Mitosis

The process by which a cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

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Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

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Nucleotides

The building blocks of DNA, consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar (deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base.

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DNA Replication

A process of copying a DNA molecule to produce two identical DNA molecules.

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Transcription

The process of converting genetic information from DNA into RNA.

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Translation

The process of using RNA to synthesize proteins.

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mRNA

A type of RNA that carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosome.

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What is cytoplasm?

The jelly-like substance that fills the inside of a cell and is mostly water; it contains many important molecules and structures.

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What is the cytoskeleton?

A network of protein fibers inside a cell that helps to provide support and structure, allowing the cell to maintain its shape and move.

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What are mitochondria?

The powerhouse of the cell where energy is produced through cellular respiration.

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What is the Rough ER?

A network of membranes in the cell that is studded with ribosomes; it manufactures proteins and membranes.

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What is the Smooth ER?

A network of membranes in the cell that lacks ribosomes; it stores calcium ions, manufactures lipids, and destroys toxic substances.

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What are lysosomes?

A small, round structure inside a cell that contains powerful enzymes to break down waste materials and engulfed bacteria.

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What are vacuoles?

Large, fluid-filled storage sacs in a cell that can hold water, nutrients, and waste materials.

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What is the nucleolus?

A dense region inside the nucleus of a cell where ribosomes are produced.

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Study Notes

Biology Midterm Exam Study Guide

  • Unit 1: Introduction to Biology, Characteristics of Life, the Scientific Method, Taxonomy & Biochemistry (Chapters 1-3)
  • Biology is the study of life
  • Biology examines living things and natural processes
  • Humans are stewards of nature, to look after creation (Genesis 1:28)
  • Scientific Method Practice:
    • An experiment was designed to test which type of soil is best for kidney bean growth (sand, peat moss, and potting soil)
    • Control variables: plant type (kidney beans), water amount, soil type, pot type, and sunlight
    • Dependent variable: soil type
    • The soil that produced the tallest plant was considered the best
  • Levels of Organization Practice:
    • Atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms
    • Digestion, eye, leaf are examples of organ systems
  • Taxonomy (Carrollus Linnaeus, Aristotle):
    • Categorization system including kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
    • Binomial nomenclature (e.g., Homo sapiens, Charadrius melodus) example
  • Biochemistry:
    • Chemical bonds and reactions, including covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds
    • Molecules such as water, sodium chloride and carbon dioxide are essential for life.
  • Biological Macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids):
    • Proteins: amino acids; muscle, albumin, antibodies, enzymes
    • Carbohydrates: monosaccharides; glucose, glycogen
    • Lipids: glycerol and fatty acids; hair, keratin, nails
    • Nucleic Acids: nucleotides; DNA, RNA

Unit 2 & 3: Cytology & Cellular (Chapters 4-8)

  • Cell Membrane:
    • Composed primarily of phospholipids (phosphate head and fatty acid tails)
    • Proteins act as anchors and transporters
    • Carbohydrates are for cell recognition
    • Cholesterol keeps fatty acid tails from sticking.
    • Plant cells have a cell wall.
  • Cell Structures and Organelles:
    • Vacuole, chloroplast, mitochondria, nucleus
  • Energy (Chapters 4-8):
    • Discuss the chemical functions in the cell membrane

Unit 4: Molecular DNA & Protein Synthesis (Chapters 9, 10, 11)

  • DNA:
    • Monomers of DNA are nucleotides.
    • Nucleotides form the backbone of the DNA molecule.
    • Nitrogen base pairs make up the rung of the ladder like structure.
  • DNA replication:
    • Enzymes involved include DNA helicase, RNA primase, and DNA polymerase
    • Functions for each enzyme are described.
  • Protein Synthesis:
    • Transcription and translation (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA role) explained
    • Protein synthesis involves mRNA carrying a copy of DNA to ribosomes, where tRNA brings amino acids based on mRNA's codons, creating a protein

Unit 5: Mendelian Genetics (Chapters 12-15)

  • Mendelian Principles:
    • Principle of Dominance; one trait masks another during mixing.
    • Organisms Mendel used for research: Peas
  • Mono/Dihybrid cross:
    • Crosses involving one or two traits respectively.
  • Mendelian terms:
    • Allele, Homozygous, Heterozygous, Recessive, Genotype, Phenotype, Sex-linked traits, Pedigrees, Punnet Square
  • Exceptions to rules:
    • Incomplete Dominance, Codominance, Multiple Alleles, Polygenic Traits.

Unit 6: Genetic Technology (Chapter 16)

  • Genetic Engineering: modifying specific genes to meet desired outcomes
  • DNA Technology: methods used in genetic engineering -Recombinant DNA, Reverse Transcriptase, Restriction Enzymes, Vectors, Polymerase Chain Reaction

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis:

  • Cellular respiration:
    • Chemical equation: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O
  • Photosynthesis:
    • Chemical equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Cell Cycle and Mitosis:

  • Cell cycle:
    • How cells divide, self destruct, when too large or damaged
  • Mitosis:
    • Early prophase, purpose, steps (images included in the study guide)

Meiosis:

  • Meiosis: -Purpose: genetic variability for sexual reproduction
    • Stages/steps (images included in the study guide)
    • Haploid and Diploid

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2024 Biology Midterm Study Guide PDF

Description

Prepare for your biology midterm with this comprehensive study guide covering chapters 1-3. Explore the introduction to biology, characteristics of life, and the scientific method. Understand taxonomy and biochemistry with practical examples to reinforce your knowledge.

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