Download Chapter 1: The Science of Biology

Study Guide for CCP Biology mid-term Exam
Chapter 1: The Science of Biology
You should know:
 The characteristics of all living things.
 The steps of the scientific method (in the proper order).
 The difference between independent (experimental) variables and dependent variables.
 The importance of controls in an experiment.
 Describe the three main types of microscopes and what each is used for.
Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life
You should be able to:
 List the importance (to living things) of each of the following: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic
acids.
 Describe the unusual properties of water.
 Describe the role and function of enzymes in organisms.
Chapter 7: Cell structure and Function
You should be able to:
 Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including examples.
 List the three ideas of the modern cell theory.
 Describe the effects of isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions on living cells.
 Describe the purpose and function of each of these organelles: cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus,
mitochondria, ribosome, Golgi apparatus, chloroplast and vacuole.
Chapter 8 and 9: Cell Energy—Photosynthesis and Respiration
You should be able to:
 List the energy source used by cells and where in that molecule the energy is stored.
 Describe the reaction (chemicals and conditions) that represents photosynthesis.
 Describe the reaction (chemicals and conditions) that represents cellular respiration.
 Describe the conditions under which cells use fermentation and products of the process.
Chapter 10: Cell Growth and Division
You should be able to:
 Explain the limits of cell size (i.e. Why are all cells small?)
 Compare mitosis and meiosis.
 Describe the control of the normal cell cycle, and what can cause uncontrolled cell growth.
Chapter 11: Introduction to Genetics
You should be able to:
 Identify the first researcher in genetics and what organism he studied.
 Solve basic genetics problems using a Punnet square.
 Explain the importance of segregation of alleles to genetic outcome.
 Explain why it is critical to organisms that at the end of meiosis there are only ½ the number of
chromosomes in a gamete as there is in a body cell.
Chapter 12 and 13: DNA and RNA
You should be able to:
 Describe the shape and structure of a DNA molecule.
 Identify the nitrogen bases of DNA. Be sure to know which bases match up with each other.
 Explain what RNA is, and how it is different than DNA.
 Explain the process that allows proteins to be made in ribosomes outside the nucleus using a DNA code
that is on a chromosome inside the nucleus. *Hint: what are used to read and transfer the code?
 Describe types of mutations and the possible effects of them.
Chapter 14: Human Heredity
You should be able to:
 Explain how to recognize dominant, recessive, incomplete dominant, codominant and sex-linked
inheritance by looking at traits in offspring.
 Analyze a pedigree.
 Explain the use of a karyotype.
 Explain non-disjunction and its possible results.
Chapter 15: Genetic Engineering
You should be able to:
 Explain the importance of selective breeding to humans.
 Summarize the process of genetic engineering.
 List the benefits of genetic engineering to humans.
 Describe the genetic makeup of clones relative to their parent and other non-clone organisms.
 Explain the importance of the Human Genome Project.
Chapter 16 and 17: Evolution and The Origin of Life
You should be able to:
 Identify who wrote The Origin of Species and is associated with the theory of evolution.
 Summarize “natural selection” and compare it to Lamarck’s theory of acquired traits.
 Define and give examples of homologous, analogous and vestigial structures.
 Describe the importance of fossils to the understanding of evolution.
 Explain why variation is the key to natural selection.
 Describe the processes of stabilizing, directional and disruptive selection and the selective pressures that
lead to each.
 Describe the theory of the origin of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.