BIOL 1306 Exam 1 Study Guide Overview

Biology definition

The scientific study of life.

Evolution definition

The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms.

3 major domains on Earth

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

Prokaryotes definition

Single-celled organisms that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus.

What separates Bacteria/Archaea from Eukaryotes?

Presence or absence of a membrane-bound nucleus.

Protists, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

Eukaryotic kingdoms.

7 Fundamental Properties of Life

Order, regulation, growth and development, energy processing, response to the environment, reproduction, evolution.

Define evolution, natural selection, adaptation. What is 'fitness'?

Evolution: change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. Natural selection: process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Adaptation: the process where organisms become better suited to their environment. Fitness: the quantitative representation of natural and sexual selection within evolutionary biology.

What is variation? How do we get genetic diversity in a population?

Variation refers to differences in physical traits of an individual from the group to which it belongs. Genetic diversity in a population arises from mutations, genetic recombination, and immigration.

Cellular Level of Organization

Atoms, Molecules, Macromolecules, Organelles, Cells.

Organismal Level of Organization

Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems.

Population Level of Organization

Organisms, Population, Community.

Ecosystem Level of Organization

Ecosystem, Biosphere.

Life Science and Physical Sciences

Two main branches of science.

Science is purely descriptive

Nature of science that describes the natural world.

Scientific Method

A systematic way of studying the natural world through observations and experiments.

Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning derives logically necessary conclusions. Inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations from specific observations.

Observations, Hypothesis, Experiments, Data, Conclusion

Steps in the scientific method.

Molecular Biology/Biochemistry, Microbiology, Neurobiology, Paleontology, Zoology, Botany

Branches of biological study.

Matter, Mass, Atoms

Components of all matter.

Atom, Protons, Neutrons, Electrons

Subatomic particles that make up an atom.

Atomic Number, Mass Number

Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom. Mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons.

Mass, Weight, Atomic Mass

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. Atomic mass is the average mass of atoms of an element.

Definition

Explanation of a term or concept.

Radioactive Isotopes

Isotopes that have unstable nuclei and emit radiation.

Half-Life

The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value.

Bohr Model, Orbital

Bohr model describes the structure of an atom with electrons in specific energy levels. Orbitals are regions around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.

Inert Elements

Elements that do not easily react with other elements.

Rules and Octet Rule

Rules governing electron configuration and the octet rule states that atoms tend to combine in such a way that they each have 8 electrons in their valence shell.

Chemical Bonds, Molecules, Compounds

Chemical bonds are forces that hold atoms together in a molecule. Molecules are two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. Compounds are substances composed of two or more elements.

Chemical Reactions

Processes that result in the making or breaking of chemical bonds.

Reactants vs Products

Reactants are substances that participate in a chemical reaction, while products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.

Law of Conservation of Matter definition

Matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system.

Reversible Reaction definition

A chemical reaction that can proceed in both the forward and reverse directions.

Equilibrium state

A state in which forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate.

Biological Equilibrium usually cannot be reached

Biological systems are often in a state of dynamic equilibrium.

Law of Mass Action definition

The rate of a chemical reaction is directly proportional to the product of the concentrations of the reactants.

Chemical bonding definition

The process of joining atoms to form chemical compounds.

Cation and anion definition

Cation is a positively charged ion, and anion is a negatively charged ion.

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.

Polar vs. Nonpolar

Polar molecules have an uneven distribution of electrons, while nonpolar molecules have an even distribution.

Characteristics

Properties or qualities of a substance.

Weak and transitory

Refers to bonds that are easily broken and reformed.

Polarity of Water

Water is a polar molecule with partial positive and negative charges.

Partial charges with Oxygen and Hydrogen

Oxygen has a partial negative charge, and hydrogen has a partial positive charge in a water molecule.

Hydrophobic vs. Hydrophilic

Hydrophobic substances repel water, while hydrophilic substances attract water.

Liquid Water, Water Vapor/Steam, Ice Water

Three states of water.

Evaporation definition

The process by which a liquid turns into a gas.

Solutes, Aqueous Solution

Solutes are substances dissolved in a solvent to form an aqueous solution.

Sphere of Hydration

The formation of a shell of water molecules around a solute in a solution.

Definitions of both

Explanation of cohesive and adhesive properties of water.

Water breaks down into hydroxide ion and hydrogen ion

Water can dissociate into hydroxide (OH-) and hydrogen (H+) ions.

Pure Water

Water with a neutral pH of 7.

Acid vs. Base

Acids release H+ ions in solution, while bases release OH- ions.

Difference between strong acids/bases and weak acids/bases

Strong acids/bases completely dissociate in solution, while weak acids/bases only partially dissociate.

How it works

Buffers resist changes in pH by accepting or donating H+ ions.

Normal pH in human blood

Around 7.4.

Fuels, covalent bonds

Hydrocarbons store energy in their covalent bonds.

Successive bonds between carbons

Aliphatic hydrocarbons have successive carbon-carbon bonds.

Single, double, triple bonds

Different types of bonds between carbon atoms in hydrocarbons.

Closed rings of hydrocarbons

Aromatic hydrocarbons have closed ring structures.

Benzene rings

A common structure in aromatic hydrocarbons.

Structural Isomers, Geometric Isomers, Enantiomers

Different types of isomers with distinct structural arrangements.

What's the difference between cis and trans

Cis and trans refer to the spatial arrangement of functional groups across a double bond.

BE ABLE TO NAME THEM, DRAW THEM, LIST PROPERTIES

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that have characteristic chemical properties.

4 general classes of carbon-based biomolecules

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.

Definition of polymers and monomers

Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers.

Functional groups add chemical properties

Specific groups of atoms that determine the chemical reactivity of a molecule.

Synthesis Reactions

Reactions that build larger molecules from smaller subunits.

Anabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units.

Decomposition Reactions

Reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller subunits.

Catabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that break down molecules into smaller units.

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen 1:2:1

The general ratio of elements in carbohydrates.

Covalent Bonds hold energy

Energy is stored in the covalent bonds of carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides

Different types of carbohydrates with varying numbers of sugar units.

Most end in -ose

A common ending for monosaccharides.

Aldose, Ketose

Classification of monosaccharides based on the position of the carbonyl group.

Glucose C6H12O6

A common monosaccharide used as an energy source in cells.

5-carbons (ribose, deoxyribose)

Pentose sugars found in nucleic acids.

Glyosidic Bond/linkage bonds 2 monosaccharides

A covalent bond that links two monosaccharides.

Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose

Common disaccharides.

Functions

Roles or purposes of polysaccharides in living organisms.

Glycogen and Starch

Storage forms of glucose in animals and plants, respectively.

Cellulose and Chitin

Structural polysaccharides found in plants and fungi, respectively.

Triglycerides made of 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids

Fats composed of glycerol and fatty acids.

Dehydration synthesis, ester bond

Process of forming a bond between a glycerol and fatty acid with the removal of water.

What are the differences?

Saturated fats have single bonds between carbon atoms, while unsaturated fats have at least one double bond.

Trans Fats and Omega Fatty Acids

Types of fats with specific structural characteristics.

9 kcal/g vs carbohydrates at 4 kcal/g

Energy content comparison between fats and carbohydrates.

Glycerol + 2 Fatty Acids + Phosphates

Components of phospholipids.

Amphipathic! - Phosphate polar, fatty acids non-polar

Phospholipids have a polar head and nonpolar tails.

Micelles

Spherical structures formed by lipids in an aqueous solution.

Phospholipids Bilayers

Double-layered structures that form cell membranes.

Fused ring structure with 4 linked carbon rings

Characteristic structure of steroids.

Some functions

Roles that steroids play in the body.

Name and describe 3 functions

Proteins have structural, enzymatic, and regulatory functions in cells.

Peptides

Short chains of amino acids.

Amino Acid Structure

Amino acids consist of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group.

Nonpolar, Polar uncharged, Charged, Aromatic, Unique

Different categories of amino acids based on their R groups.