bio100

List features that distinguish living organisms from nonliving matter.

Living organisms exhibit organization, acquire and use energy, maintain homeostasis, grow, reproduce, and evolve, unlike nonliving matter.

Describe the levels of organization in the living world.

Atoms → Molecules → Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ Systems → Organisms → Populations → Communities → Ecosystems → Biosphere.

Define the concept of homeostasis.

The maintenance of stable internal conditions despite changes in the external environment.

Describe the components and processes important in studying ecosystems.

Ecosystems consist of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components interacting through energy flow and nutrient cycling.

Define the term taxonomy and describe the various methods used to classify organisms.

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms; it uses physical characteristics, genetic information, and evolutionary relationships.

List the defining characteristics of organisms classified under each Domain.

Bacteria: prokaryotic, unicellular; Archaea: prokaryotic, extreme environments; Eukarya: eukaryotic cells with nuclei.

Explain why evolution is a key theme in biology.

Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life by showing how organisms change over time through natural selection.

List and describe the steps involved in solving a problem using hypothesis-based science.

Observation → Question → Hypothesis → Prediction → Experiment → Analysis → Conclusion.

Describe the components of an atom.

Atoms consist of protons (positive), neutrons (neutral), and electrons (negative).

Explain how electron configuration influences the chemical properties of an atom.

The arrangement of electrons determines how an atom forms bonds and reacts with other atoms.

Describe the three types of chemical bonds.

Ionic (transfer of electrons), covalent (sharing electrons), and hydrogen (weak attraction between molecules).

Given a chemical reaction, identify the number of atoms for each reactant and product.

The number of atoms of each element must be equal on both sides of the equation (law of conservation of mass).

Describe the importance of water to the fitness of the environment that supports all life.

Water is polar, forms hydrogen bonds, moderates temperature, is a universal solvent, and supports life through cohesion and adhesion.

Explain the basis for the pH scale.

pH measures hydrogen ion concentration; lower pH = more acidic, higher pH = more basic.

Describe the properties of the carbon atom which contribute to its versatility and importance in biological molecules.

Carbon forms four covalent bonds, allowing complex and diverse organic molecules.

Compare a dehydration reaction to hydrolysis.

Dehydration joins molecules by removing water; hydrolysis breaks them apart by adding water.

Describe the four major classes of organic compounds.

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Compare and contrast the different types of microscopes, including the function and use for each microscope.

Light microscopes use light for basic viewing; electron microscopes (SEM/TEM) use electrons for high-resolution images.

Explain the structure of the cell membrane and why it is called the “fluid mosaic model.”

The membrane is a flexible phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, making it dynamic and selectively permeable.

Explain how the ratio of surface area to volume influences the size of a cell.

Smaller cells have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing efficient exchange of materials.

Identify the structures of a typical prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell and their corresponding functions.

Prokaryotic: no nucleus, simpler; Eukaryotic: nucleus and membrane-bound organelles with specialized functions.

Compare and contrast structures of a typical plant cell and a typical animal cell.

Plant cells have cell walls, chloroplasts, and a large vacuole; animal cells lack these and have centrioles and lysosomes.

Define the following terms: energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, entropy, and the principle of conservation of energy.

Energy: capacity to do work; kinetic: energy of motion; potential: stored energy; entropy: measure of disorder; conservation: energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Explain how energy is transferred from one substance to another.

Energy transfers through heat, work, or chemical reactions.

Describe the function of ATP in the cell.

ATP stores and releases energy for cellular processes.

Describe how chemical energy of food is converted through cellular respiration into ATP.

Glucose is broken down via glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and ETC to form ATP.

Describe the structure and function of enzymes in biological systems.

Enzymes are proteins that speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.

Describe the role of the plasma membrane in regulating the flow of materials into and out of the cell.

It selectively allows certain molecules to pass while maintaining homeostasis.

Define the terms diffusion and osmosis.

Diffusion: movement of molecules from high to low concentration; Osmosis: diffusion of water through a membrane.

Differentiate between passive and active transport.

Passive transport requires no energy; active transport uses ATP to move molecules against concentration gradients.

Describe the processes of endocytosis and exocytosis.

Endocytosis brings materials into the cell; exocytosis expels materials out of the cell.

Explain the overall reaction for cellular respiration.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ \rightarrow 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP.

Distinguish between cellular respiration and breathing.

Breathing exchanges gases; cellular respiration produces ATP in cells using oxygen.

Identify the kinds of molecules that can be used by the cell to supply energy.

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Explain each of the stages of aerobic respiration: glycolysis, the Krebs (Citric Acid) cycle, and the electron transport chain.

Glycolysis (cytoplasm): glucose → pyruvate; Krebs cycle (mitochondria): pyruvate → CO₂, NADH, FADH₂; ETC: NADH/FADH₂ produce ATP.

Identify the products of each stage of cellular respiration per one molecule of glucose.

Glycolysis: 2 ATP, 2 NADH; Krebs: 2 ATP, 6 NADH, 2 FADH₂, 4 CO₂; ETC: ~32 ATP, H₂O.

Describe anaerobic fermentation and its products in human cells and in microorganisms.

Humans: lactic acid fermentation → lactate; Microorganisms: alcoholic fermentation → ethanol + CO₂.

Explain the overall equation of photosynthesis.

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + \text{light} \rightarrow C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.

Describe the cellular structures and chemical reactions involved in photosynthesis, including the reactions that take place during the light reactions and Calvin-Benson cycle.

Light reactions (thylakoids): use light to make ATP and NADPH; Calvin cycle (stroma): uses ATP/NADPH to fix CO₂ into glucose.

Explain the nature of sunlight and list the colors of visible light that are absorbed by photoautotrophs.

Sunlight is composed of wavelengths; chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light, reflects green.

Compare the functions of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.

Chlorophyll a: main pigment; chlorophyll b: accessory pigment; carotenoids: protect from excess light and expand absorption.

Explain how energy of light is transferred in a photosystem.

Light excites electrons in pigment molecules, transferring energy through resonance until reaching the reaction center