General Biology - Exam 1 Prep

What are the characteristics of defining life?

1. Common chemical features

2. Common Structure

3. Growth

4. Metabolism

5. Reproduction

6. Stimilus

7. Homeostasus

What 4 elements mostly make up life?

1. Carbon

2. Oxygen

3. Hydrogen

4. Nitrogen

How many elements are naturally reoccuring?

92

Which elements make up life at 4%

1. Phosphorus (P)

2. Potassium (K)

3. Iron (Fe)

4. Calcium (Ca)

5. Chlorine (Cl)

6. Sodium (Na)

Shared Characteristics of Biodiversity

1. Atoms

2. Molecule

3. Cell

4. Tissue

5. Organ

6. Body Systems

7. Organism

8. Ecosystem

9. Community

10. Population

What is a molecule?

Combination of atoms

What are the micromolecules?

1. H20

2. 02

3. C02

4. ATP

What are the macromolecules?

1. Carbohydrates

2. Lipids

3. Proteins

4. Nucleic acids (Ex: RNA & DNA)

What is the common structure of life?

The cell is the smallest unit of life because it exhibits all characteristics of life

Prokaryotic Cell

Is unicellular and has no nucleus (Ex: bacteria)

Eukaryotic Cell

Has one nucleus (ex: plant, animal, fungi, protists) and is multicellular

Unicellular

Cells expand in size

Multicellular

1. Cells expand in size

2. Cell division (Mitosis)

What is metabolism?

A series of metabolic pathways and a sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in cells.

Catabolism

Breaking down molecules for energy

Anabolism

Synthesis of larger molecules that bonds smaller molecules to build larger onces

What is reproduction?

Passing down DNA to the next generation (offspring) therefore inheritance of genetic traits

Sexual reproduction

Lead to a recombination of DNA in offspring (Genetically unique)

Asexual reproduction

Offspring are identical to the parent (Cloning)

What is stimulis?

Detectable change in the environment detected by receptors (and must have receptors)

What kind of stimuli do we respond to?

1. Pressure

2. Moisture

3. Scent

4. Taste

5. Temperature

6. Light

7. Audio

What is homeostasis?

Maintains balance

What does homeostasis check?

1. Temperature

2. Blood Pressure

3. Blood Sugar

4. Blood Ph

5. Ion Balance

6. Water Balance

What is the scientific method?

Method of research with defined steps of experiments

What is a hypothesis?

Suggested explanation for an event, which can be tested

What is scientific theory?

thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for a set phenomena

What is scientific laws?

Math formulas; describes how elements of nature will behave under certain conditions

Natural science

a field of science which studies the physical world, its phenomena, and process

ex: life science & physical science

What is inductive reasoning?

It is a form logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion

ex: quantitative/qualitative

Deductive Reasoning

General law to predict results

ex: humans are moral, socrates is human, therfore socrates is moral

What does protons determine?

Atomic number

What does electrons determine?

If it’ll bond with another atom

Based on the number of electrons, an atom can do what (Octate rule):

1. Share electrons

2. Give electrons

3. Lose electrons

What are the 3 major types of chemical bonds?

1. Covalent bonds

2. Ionic Bonds

3. Hydrogen bonds

What are the two types of covalent bonds?

Non-polar and polar covalent bonds

What is covalent bonds?

Atoms share electrons

What is Non-polar covalent bonds?

Shares electrons equally and are made from non polar covalent molecules

What is polar covalent bonds?

Shares electrons unequally and are made from polar covalent bonds

What is ionic bond?

An attraction between oppositely changed atoms

ex: Sodium Chloride (NaCl) table salt

what are Hydrogen bonds?

attraction between polar molecules
ex: water

What is matter?

occupies space and mass

What is elements?

cannot be broken down and transformed chemically into other substances

How to get atomic mass?

Protons added with Neutrons

What is isotopes?

different forms of the same element

What is an ion?

no equal proton and electrons from an atom

Cation

positive ions formed by electrons electrons

Anions

negative ions formed by gaining electrons

What is Van der Walls Interaction?

Weak attractions between molecules (ex: polar/covalent bonds)

What is water’s role in life?

1. Solves as a biological solvent

2. It’s in metabolism

3. Contributes to thermoregulation

4. Aqueous solution have a Ph

What is a solvent?

Largest quantity - dissolved solutes

What is a solute?

Smaller quantity - added to solvent and is dissolved

What is solution?

Dissolved solute in the solvent

what is an aqueous solution?

water is the solvent

What is hydrophillic?

Can dissolve in water because it exhibits a charge of positives and negatives. (ex: sugars or salt)

What is hydrophobic?

Does not dissolve in water because it has no charge (ex: lipids)

What is hydrolysis?

Process of H20 breaking the bonds (catabolism)

What is dehydration synthesis?

The process of H20 constructing the bond (anabolism)