Human Bio: Unit 1 Study Guide

What is biology?

Biology is the study of living organisms and how they interact with their environments.

Describe (don’t just list!) the characteristics of all living organisms on this planet?

Your textbook and lecture slides mention six ways that humans are different from all other animal species. Some of these differences are debatable, but describe (don’t just list!) each of them here.

Is the brain of humans bigger or smaller than our body size would predict? For what other species is this true?

The brain of humans is bigger than our body size would predict. The same thing can be said for some monkey, ape, and dolphin species.

Can apes, like chimpanzees, use a symbolic language flexibly? If so, describe the evidence (see two videos on the Lecture 1 Page on Canvas). If not, describe why such evidence does not exist.

Describe the two types of ape tool use shown in videos on the Lecture 1 page on Canvas. Do these forms of tool use occur naturally in the wild or only after intensive training by humans?

Describe the steps of the scientific method? List and DESCRIBE each below in the same order described in lecture.

Can you identify each of the steps of the scientific method in the H. pylori experiment described in class and in the textbook? Describe each step as it applies to the H. pylori example below:

Define an independent variable?

Define a dependent variable?

Explain how a test group and control group differ?

Explain where scientists publish the results of their experiments?

Explain how or by whom is a study evaluated before it is published?

When searching the internet for reputable information on topics in biology or medicine, what website extensions (e.g., .com, .edu, etc) are considered most trustworthy and which are considered least trustworthy? Explain why the website extensions you selected are considered to be the most or least trustworthy.

Describe the concept of natural selection.

What two biologists first proposed the process of evolution by natural selection in 1858? Which of these two is better known these days?

Describe the three requirements for natural selection to occur.

Describe each of the four lines of evidence mentioned in lecture that support the idea that natural selection drives the evolution of all living organisms.

Describe (don’t just list!) the five characteristics that all primates, including humans, share.

Within the primate other, what species is our closest living relative? About how long ago did we share a common ancestor with this species?

Which human ancestor was the first to walk bipedally?

Which human ancestor was the first to make crude stone tools, such as sharp stone flakes that could scrape meat off of bone?

Which human ancestor was the first to migrate out of Africa and colonize Asia and Europe?

Explain the concept of homeostasis.

Describe an ion. What were some important examples mentioned in lecture?

Compare and contrast an acid and a base. What is the pH scale and what is its range of values?

What pH value is considered “neutral”?

What range of pH values indicates an acid? What about for a base?

Explain what carbohydrates are used for in the body.

What is a single carbohydrate ring called? What were the three specific examples mentioned in lecture?

What is the name for the molecule that contains two carbohydrate rings that are chemically bonded together? What were the three specific examples mentioned in lecture?

What is the name for a long chain of carbohydrate rings held together by chemical bonds? What is the primary role of these long-chain molecules?

Animals store carbohydrates in the form of a specific molecule, but plants store carbohydrates in the form of a different specific molecule. What are the names of them?

Describe the main risk (increased risk of what diseases?) when a person consumes too much carbohydrates in their diet.

Describe the roles that lipids play in the body.

Lipids/fats are stored in the body as what molecule?

Describe some risks of having too many lipids in one’s diet. Which lipids/fats are the most important to limit in one’s diet?

Which lipids make up cell membranes?

Which lipids act as hormone signaling molecules?

Describe the roles that proteins play in the body.

What is the “building block” molecule in proteins called?

Describe why nine of these “building block” molecules In proteins are considered “essential”.

Describe the factors or conditions that can cause a protein to unfold (“denature”) and malfunction.

Describe how enzymes do their work in the body.

Describe the two general kinds of reactions that enzymes can catalyze or facilitate. Describe them in a sentence or two, or you can draw a picture.

Describe the roles that nucleic acids play in the body.

What is the sub-unit or “building block” molecule of nucleic acids?

What are the two nucleic acids that are important for information storage across generations?

What nucleotide-based molecule is the “primary energy source” for your body?

Describe how you should use the “5-20” rule when comparing two food items at the grocery store. What are the essential features of a nutrition label on a food item?

Describe four features of the plasma membrane.

What kind of molecules can pass freely through the plasma membrane? What kind of molecules cannot pass freely?

Describe the process that water and non-polar molecules (like steroid hormones and gases) use to move across the cell membrane.

Does the movement of water and non-polar molecules require any sort of transport protein embedded in the plasma membrane? If so, describe those proteins here:

Explain how ions and large biomolecules (like glucose and amino acids) move across the cell membrane.

Does the movement of ions and large biomolecues require any sort of transport protein embedded in the plasma membrane? If so, describe these proteins here.

Explain how the concepts of osmosis and diffusion are similar. Explain how they are different too.

For protein channels and carrier proteins that move molecules by facilitated diffusion, do they move ions and biomolecules DOWN their concentration gradient or AGAINST their concentration gradient?

Is there any energy needed for these carrier proteins to do their job?

What is the energy source for membrane transport proteins (i.e., pumps) that move ions by active transport? Do they move ions DOWN their concentration gradient or AGAINST their concentration gradient?

Explain the similarities between receptor-mediated endocytosis, pinocytosis, and phagocytosis. Explain the differences too.

• Do these forms of transport across the cell membrane require any sort of chemical energy?

Explain why it is so important for cells to constantly make energy in the form of ATP.

Describe the two sites inside an animal cell where ATP is synthesized.

Of the three metabolic cycles that we discussed in class (listed below), 1) Which cycles occur in the cytosol and which occur in the mitochondria, 2) Which cycles require oxygen (aerobic) and which do not require oxygen (anaerobic), and 3) Which cycle produces all the CO₂ we breathe out?

• Glycolysis?

• The Citric Acid Cycle?

• The Electron Transport System?

What is the name of the enzyme that produces the massive amount of ATP in the Electron Transport System?

Can you tell the story being depicted in Figure 3.21 or the similar one that was drawn on the board during lecture?

• How many ATP are made by each metabolic cycle for each glucose molecule broken down?

• Which cycle makes the most ATP per glucose molecule broken down?