BIO EXAM CARDS

Flashcard 1: Q: What is science?
A: Science is the study of the natural world. It is a process that uses problem-solving tools, such as tests and experiments, to gather factual information and increase knowledge.

Flashcard 2: Q: What are the limitations of science?
A: Science has limitations, especially when technological advancements and ethical considerations challenge past theories or beliefs. For instance, ethical concerns in technology (like gene therapy) may conflict with scientific advancements.

Flashcard 3: Q: What is the scientific method?
A: The scientific method is a process for testing ideas and hypotheses. It ensures accountability in experiments, providing a reliable framework for collecting and analyzing data.

Flashcard 4: Q: What is a placebo?
A: A placebo is a false treatment given to minimize bias by suggestion. It is used in experiments to test the effects of actual treatments against the perceived effects of receiving treatment.

Flashcard 5: Q: What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
A: A well-tested hypothesis becomes a theory after being extensively tested and supported. A theory has not been disproven and is used to explain broader phenomena (e.g., Cell Theory, Theory of Evolution).

Biology - The Study of Life

Flashcard 6: Q: What is biology?
A: Biology is the science of life, derived from the Greek words "bio" (life) and "logy" (study). It involves studying living organisms and their processes.

Flashcard 7: Q: What are the characteristics of life?
A: Life is defined by key characteristics, including:

• Order (organized structure)

• Evolutionary adaptation

• Response to the environment

• Reproduction

• Growth and development

• Energy processing

• Regulation (homeostasis)

Flashcard 8: Q: What are the levels of biological organization?
A: The levels of biological organization range from the smallest (atoms and molecules) to the largest (biosphere). These levels include:

• Atoms

• Molecules

• Organelles

• Cells

• Tissues

• Organs and organ systems

• Organisms

• Populations

• Communities

• Ecosystems

• Biosphere

Classification of Life - Taxonomy

Flashcard 9: Q: What is taxonomy?
A: Taxonomy is the branch of biology that names and classifies species into groups of increasing breadth. The broadest categories are domains and kingdoms.

Flashcard 10: Q: What are the three domains of life?
A: The three domains of life are:

1. Bacteria (Prokaryotic, single-celled organisms)

2. Archaea (Prokaryotic, extremophiles)

3. Eukarya (Eukaryotic, includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists)

Flashcard 11: Q: How is biological classification structured?
A: Biological classification is organized as follows:

• Domain

• Kingdom

• Phylum

• Class

• Order

• Family

• Genus

• Species

For example, the classification of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) is:

• Domain: Eukarya

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Mammalia

• Order: Carnivora

• Family: Ursidae

• Genus: Ursus

• Species: Ursus americanus

Chemistry & Life

Flashcard 12: Q: Why is studying chemistry important in biology?
A: Chemistry is fundamental to understanding life because organisms are composed of matter, which is made up of elements. Biological processes depend on chemical reactions.

Flashcard 13: Q: What are elements, and why are they important to life?
A: Elements are substances that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions. The properties of life depend on the specific arrangement and behavior of atoms, the building blocks of matter. Common life elements include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Flashcard 14: Q: What are atoms composed of?
A: Atoms consist of three subatomic particles:

• Protons (positive charge)

• Neutrons (no charge)

• Electrons (negative charge)

Flashcard 15: Q: What is atomic number and atomic mass?
A:

• Atomic number refers to the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, determining the element.

• Atomic mass is the combined mass of protons and neutrons.

Flashcard 16: Q: What is electron configuration?
A: Electron configuration describes the arrangement of electrons in an atom’s orbitals. Electrons fill orbitals in shells from lowest to highest energy levels, with specific numbers of electrons per shell.

Flashcard 17: Q: What are covalent bonds?
A: Covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share a pair of electrons to complete their valence shells. These bonds can be single, double, or triple, depending on how many pairs of electrons are shared.

Flashcard 18: Q: What are ionic bonds?
A: Ionic bonds occur when one atom transfers electrons to another, resulting in positive and negative ions that attract each other. Example: Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) form sodium chloride (NaCl).

Flashcard 19: Q: What are hydrogen bonds?
A: Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between a hydrogen atom (covalently bonded to an electronegative atom) and another electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen.

Water - The Biological Medium

Flashcard 20: Q: Why is water essential for life?
A: Water is the biological medium on Earth and is required by all living organisms. Most cells are 70-95% water, and water supports life by providing a stable environment for chemical reactions.

Flashcard 21: Q: What are the key properties of water?
A: Water has four key properties that support life:

1. Cohesion and Adhesion (water molecules stick to each other and other surfaces)

2. Ability to moderate temperature (due to high specific heat and evaporative cooling)

3. Expansion upon freezing (ice is less dense than liquid water)

4. Versatility as a solvent (can dissolve many substances)

Flashcard 22: Q: What is cohesion and adhesion in water?
A:

• Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules, creating surface tension.

• Adhesion is the attraction between water and other surfaces (e.g., plant cell walls).

Flashcard 23: Q: What is water’s high specific heat?
A: Water can absorb or release a large amount of heat with only a slight change in temperature, helping stabilize temperatures in organisms and environments. This is due to the hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

Flashcard 24: Q: What is evaporative cooling?
A: Evaporative cooling occurs when water absorbs heat as it evaporates, helping to regulate temperature in organisms and bodies of water.

Flashcard 25: Q: Why does water expand upon freezing?
A: Water expands as it freezes because hydrogen bonds form more ordered structures, keeping molecules at a distance. This makes ice less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float.

Flashcard 26: Q: What is water's role as a solvent?
A: Water is an excellent solvent because of its polarity. It can dissolve ionic compounds and polar molecules by forming hydration shells around ions.

Flashcard 27: Q: What is osmosis?
A: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower concentration, helping maintain balance in cells.

Flashcard 28: Q: What is tonicity in osmosis?
A: Tonicity describes the relative concentration of solutes between two solutions:

• Isotonic: Equal solute concentrations

• Hypertonic: Higher solute concentration outside the cell

• Hypotonic: Lower solute concentration outside the cell

Flashcard 29: Q: What is the pH scale?
A: The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. It ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic), with 7 being neutral.

Flashcard 30: Q: What are buffers?
A: Buffers are substances that help maintain the pH of a solution by absorbing or releasing H+ ions, keeping the pH stable. An example is the bicarbonate buffer system in human blood.