Biodiversity Unit 1 Brooks Test

What are the three components of a single nucleotide?

A five-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Which specific chemical reaction is used to break down a polymer into monomers?

Hydrolysis (adding a water molecule).

What is the primary difference between a polar covalent bond and a nonpolar covalent bond?

Electrons are shared unequally in polar bonds and equally in nonpolar bonds.

Which level of protein structure is defined strictly by the sequence of amino acids?

Primary structure.

Which polysaccharide is used by plants for structural support in cell walls?

Cellulose.

Why does ice float on liquid water?

Hydrogen bonds stabilize and keep molecules further apart in a crystalline lattice, making ice less dense.

What is the "Octet Rule" in biological chemistry?

The tendency of atoms to seek 8 electrons in their outer shell to become stable.

In the context of evolution, what is a "vestigial structure"?

A remnant of an evolutionary ancestor that has little to no current function (e.g., human tailbone).

How did Lamarck's view of evolution differ from Darwin's?

Lamarck believed in "acquired characteristics" gained during a lifetime, while Darwin proposed natural selection of existing variations.

What are the "Big Six" elements that make up 98% of living organisms?

Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and Hydrogen (SPONCH).

What type of bond holds the two strands of a DNA molecule together?

Hydrogen bonds.

Which lipid is the primary component of all cell membranes?

Phospholipids.

What is the difference between a catabolic and an anabolic reaction?

Catabolic reactions release energy (break down); anabolic reactions require energy (build up).

In the peppered moth example, why did the dark-colored moths become more common during the Industrial Revolution?

Soot darkened the trees, providing better camouflage for dark moths against predators.

What is an isomer?

Molecules with the same chemical formula but different structural arrangements.

What is the function of a "buffer" in a biological system?

To resist changes in pH and maintain homeostasis.

Which functional group is characteristic of an amino acid's "Amino" end?

-NH2.

What is the primary storage polysaccharide used by humans and other animals?

Glycogen.

What happens to a protein when it is "denatured"?

It loses its 3D shape (tertiary structure) and becomes non-functional due to heat or pH changes.

Which single nucleotide serves as the primary "energy currency" of the cell?

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).

What is the "Visual Advertising Hypothesis" regarding human pubic hair?

The idea that it evolved to draw attention to reproductive areas to signal sexual availability in a mostly hairless species.

Which property of water allows it to move vertically against gravity in plants?

Cohesion (and adhesion).

If an atom gains an electron, has it been oxidized or reduced?

Reduced (Reduction is Gain).

What is a "falsifiable" hypothesis?

One that is formulated in a way that it can be proven wrong by an experiment.

Which type of fatty acid contains one or more double bonds, creating "kinks" in the chain?

Unsaturated fatty acid.

What is the main function of cephalic (head) hair in humans?

Thermoregulation (preventing heat loss) and non-verbal communication.

How does artificial selection differ from natural selection?

In artificial selection, humans choose which traits are passed on (e.g., dog breeding), whereas nature chooses in natural selection.

What are the four levels of protein organization in order?

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary.

What characterizes a "Hydrophobic" substance?

It is "water-fearing" and does not dissolve or mix well with water (e.g., lipids).

What is a radioactive half-life used for in biology?

To determine the age of fossils or for medical imaging applications.