BIOL 1406

What factors help living beings survive and reproduce?

Variation, adaptations, fitness, competition, reproduction.

Who proposed natural selection?

Charles Darwin

What is natural selection?

Process where individuals with advantageous traits survive/reproduce more.

What is “descent with modification”?

Species change over time, passing straits to new generations.

What are sources of evidence for evolution?

Fossils, comparative anatomy, molecular biology, biogeography.

Difference b/w microevolution & macroevolution?

Micro=small changes within species.

Macro=large-scale changes that form new species. 

What properties of water make it essential for life?

Cohesion/adhesion, high specific heat, ice floats, solvent, chemical reactions.

Types of chemical bonds?

Covalent (share electrons), ionic (transfer electrons), hydrogen (weak attraction). 

Why is water polar?

Oxygen pulls electron more strongly—partial charges.

Polar vs. nonpolar molecules?

Polar=unequal sharing (water).

Nonpolar=equal sharing (oils/lipids).

pH scale range?

0-14

Acidic= <7 (less than)

Neutral= 7

Basic= >7 (more than)

What do buffers do?

Maintain stable pH (important in blood).

What is the monomer of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides (glucose)

What is the polymer of carbohydrates?

Polysaccharides (strach, glycogen, cellulose)

Functions of carbohydrates?

Quick energy, energy storage, structure.

Monomer of proteins?

Amino acids

Levels of protein structure?

Primary: determines everything about the protein’s final shape and function. 

secondary: Local folding of the chain into patterns. 

tertiary: Overall 3D shape of a single polypeptide.

shape=function 

quaternary: association of multiple polypeptide chains. 

Functions of proteins:

Enzymes, transport, defense, structure.

Lipids are polymers T/F

False

Main types of lipids

Fats (triglycerides), phospholipids, steroids.

Functions of lipids

Long-term energy, insulation, membranes, hormones. 

Monomer of nucleic acids?

Nucleotides (sugar, phosphate, nitrogen base).

DNA vs RNA function

DNA=stores genetic info.

RNA=protein synthesis 

Why is carbon important for life?

Forms 4 bonds, versatile, backbone of macromolecules.