Biology Study Guide

Cell Organization

All living things are composed of one or more cells

Cells carry out the basic activities of living

Energy Utilization

All living things use energy

Moving, growing, and thinking require energy

Homeostasis

All living things maintain relatively constant internal

conditions

Organisms keep their interior conditions relatively constant even when the environment varies

Growth, Development & Reproduction

Bacteria increase in size and simply split in two

• Multicellular organisms grow by increasing the number of cells and develop by producing different kinds of cells

Heredity

All organisms possess a genetic system based on the replication and duplication of DNA

• DNA transmits the characteristics of an organism from parent to offspring

Levels of Biological Organization

Cellular level

• Atoms

• Molecules

• Macromolecules

• Organelles

• Cells

Characteristics of 3 Domains

Bacteria Archea Eukarya- Have no nucleus

Bacteria

Prokaryotic domain includes the purple sulfur bacteria, which can use light energy to drive the synthesis of organic compounds.

Archaea

Prokaryotic domain includes methanogen, which manufactures methane as a result of its metabolic activity

Characteristics of Eukaryotic Kingdom

Plantae Fungi Animalia

List and Describe the Steps of Scientific Method

Observation Hypothesis Prediction Experimental Conclusion

Hypothesis

is a possible explanation for an

observation

Scientific Theory

Proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon; based on general principles

Body of interconnected concepts to explain facts; supported by scientific reasoning and experimental evidence

independent

what you can manipulate in the experiment

dependent

what you observe or measure

control

the variable of interest is unaltered

experimental

the variable of interest is altered to test a particular hypothesis

deductive reasoning

applies general principles to predict specific results

inductive reasoning

uses specific observations to construct general scientific principles

reductionism

to break a complex process down to its simpler parts

systems biology

examines the whole of a system as well as the workings of the parts

homologous

same of evolutionary origin but differ in structure and function

analogous

structure of different origin used for the same purpose

five concepts unify biology

1. Life is subject to chemical and physical laws

2. Structure determines function

3. Living systems transform energy and matter

4. Livings systems depend on information transactions

5. Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life

matter

has matter and occupies space; composed of atoms

protons

positively charged; located in nucleus

neutrons

neutral particles; located in nucleus

atomic number

number of protons equal number of electrons; number of protons

atomic mass

refers to amount of substance

isotopes

atoms of a single element that possess different numbers of neutrons

octet rule

atoms tend to establish completely full outer energy levels

orbital

have a variety of three dimensional shapes; indicate an electrons most likely location

molecules

group of atom held together in a stable association

compounds

molecules containing more than one type of element

ionic bonds

formed by the attraction of oppositely charged ions by electrostatic force

non polar covalent bonds

equal sharing of electrons

polar bonds

unequal sharing of electrons

hydrogen bonds

electropositive hydrogen from one polar molecule is attracted to an electronegative atom that is often

Van Der Waals

weak bond; non-directional attractive force; form when two atoms are very close to one another

identify the properties of water

water has a high specific heat

water has a high heat of vaporization

solid water is less dense than liquid water

water is a good solvent

water organizes non polar molecules

pH

is the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration of solution

Acid

Any substance that dissociates in water to increase the
[H+] and lowers the pH
The stronger an acid is, the more hydrogen ions it
produces and the lower its pH

Bases

Substance that combines with H+ dissolved in water, and
thus lovers the [H+] (and raises the pH)

Buffers

Substance that resists changes in pH
Act by
Releasing hydrogen ions when a base is added
Absorbing hydrogen ions when acid is added