General Biology Study Outline Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Flashcards for General Biology Chapters 1, 2, and 3

What is science?

The process of studying the natural world, including the scientific method.

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Observe and generalize, Formulate a hypothesis, Make a testable prediction, Experiment or observe, Modify the hypothesis as necessary and repeat, and Share with the scientific community.

What factors are involved with all living organisms?

One or more cells, Reproduce autonomously using DNA, Obtain energy from the environment for cellular work, Sense and Respond to the environment, Maintain a separate and fairly consistent internal environment, Evolve, adapt, and change in response to the environment.

What is energy, and what are its two forms?

The capacity to do work; potential and kinetic.

What are atoms made of?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What are the three types of chemical bonds?

Covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds.

What are the basic properties of water as a molecule and compound?

Polar molecule, Liquid at body temperature, Absorb and hold heat energy, Biological solvent, Helps regulate body temperature.

What is the pH scale?

Scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.

What are the definitions of atoms, elements, chemical reactions, and organic molecules?

Atoms, elements, chemical reactions, and organic molecules.

Why is carbon important to life?

Forms four covalent bonds, single or double bonds, build micro- or macromolecules.

What are some examples of carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides)?

Monosaccharides (Glucose, Fructose, Galactose, Ribose, and Deoxyribose) and disaccharides (Sucrose, Maltose, Lactose).

Give examples of polysaccharides.

starch, glycogen, and cellulose

What are the three main types of lipids?

Triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.

What is the composition of triglycerides?

Glycerol and three fatty acid chains; classified as saturated and unsaturated fats.

What is the composition of phospholipids?

Contain a glycerol, phosphate, and two fatty acid chains; main component of plasma membranes; head is hydrophilic, and tails are hydrophobic.

What is the composition of steroids?

Contain four carbon rings (cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone).

What are proteins composed of?

Composed of amino acids that are peptide bonded together; Have primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.

How do changes in temperature and pH affect proteins?

Denaturing changes the shape of the protein and leads to a loss of biological function.

What are enzymes?

A specific class of protein that catalyzes chemical reactions and speeds them up.

What is the function of nucleic acids?

Store genetic information and include DNA and RNA.

What is the composition and structure of DNA?

Deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate, and four nucleic acid bases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine); double stranded helix with A pairing with T and C pairing with G.

What is the composition and structure of RNA?

Ribose sugar and a phosphate, and four nucleic acid bases (Adenine, Uracil, Cytosine, and Guanine); single strand.

What is ATP?

Energy source for cellular life; phosphate bonds are broken from ATP to release energy used for cellular work.

What are the levels at which biology is studied?

Atoms/molecules, cell, tissue, organ, organ systems, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

What components are in an animal cell?

Nucleus, smooth ER, rough ER, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, ribosomes, lysosomes, centriole, flagellum

What components are in a plant cell?

Nucleus, smooth ER, rough ER, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, ribosomes, chloroplast, cell wall, vacuole

What are plastids?

Organelles that can allow for processes like photosynthesis to occur (chloroplasts), or for adding color to plants (chromoplasts), with another being leucoplasts.

What types of transport occur across a plasma membrane?

Passive transport (diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis), and also active transport.