Key Biological Concepts Quiz

Key Biological Concepts

• Genetic Uniqueness: Crossing over during meiosis exchanges genetic material between homologous chromosomes, creating new combinations and increasing genetic diversity. This is the reason each embryo is genetically unique.

Cell Biology

• Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes: Eukaryotes have a nucleus and are larger. Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and are smaller.

• Domains of Life: The three domains are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Eukarya includes eukaryotic organisms, while Bacteria and Archaea include prokaryotic organisms.

• Cell Organelles:

  • Nucleus: Contains DNA and RNA; controls cell growth and reproduction.
  • Mitochondria: Produces cellular energy (respiration).
  • Ribosomes: Site of protein synthesis.
  • Lysosomes: Contain digestive enzymes.
  • Golgi body: Modifies, packages, and transports proteins.
  • Smooth ER: Creates lipids (fats).
  • Cytoplasm: Fluid inside the cell; holds organelles.
  • Cell wall: Rigid outer layer (plant cells only).
  • Cell membrane: Controls what enters and exits the cell.

Cell Division

• Mitosis: Cell division in somatic (body) cells; produces two identical diploid cells. DNA replication must occur before mitosis.

• Meiosis: Cell division in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm or egg cells). Results in four non-identical haploid cells (half the chromosome number).

Evolution and Ecology

• Common Ancestry: Similar genes/characteristics indicate common ancestry.

• Natural Selection: A process influenced by environmental factors, affecting organisms' traits.

• Species: Organisms that can interbreed without reproductive barriers.

• Coevolution: Two or more species having interdependent evolutionary influences.

• Symbiotic Relationships:

  • Parasitism: One organism benefits, one is harmed.
  • Predation: One organism (predator) eats another (prey).
  • Mutualism: Both organisms benefit.
  • Commensalism: One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.

• Antibiotic Ineffectiveness: Improper use, bacterial evolution, and over-prescription can lead to antibiotic resistance.

• Trophic Levels: Producers, consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, and scavengers), decomposers.

• Energy Pyramid: Shows energy transfer through trophic levels.

• Exponential vs. Logistic Growth:

  • Exponential growth: Population increases at a constant rate.
  • Logistic growth: Population growth slows or stops after a period of exponential growth. Reaches carrying capacity; maximum sustainable population.
  • Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size an environment can support.

• Taxonomy: Classification of organisms (Dumb Kids Playing Catch On Freeways Get Squished - Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).

Reproduction

• Sexual reproduction: Involves two parents.
• Asexual reproduction: Involves one parent.

Other Concepts

• Metric Conversions: King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk (k, h, da, b, d, c, m).

• Photosynthesis: Conversion of CO2 and H2O to glucose and O2 using light energy.

  • Light-dependent reactions: Occur in thylakoids.
  • Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle): Occur in stroma.

• Reproductive Isolation: Mechanisms that prevent interbreeding (habitat, behavioral, temporal, geographic, anatomic). Leads to speciation (formation of new species).

• Selection:

  • Stabilizing Selection: Favors the average trait.
  • Directional Selection: Favors one extreme.
  • Disruptive Selection: Favors both extremes.

• Survivorship Curves: Show the proportion of individuals surviving at each age/stage.

• Microscopes: Calculation of total magnification.

• R-value: Measure of the correlation between two variables. (Positive: as one variable increases, the other increases. Negative: as one variable increases, the other decreases).