Download An ULTIMATE Study Guide for Semester 1

By: Jordan St.felix
Midterm Finals
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Honors Biology Ultimate Study Guide!!!
By: Jordan St.felix
Midterm Finals
Table of Contents:
 Scientific Method~Pg.3
 Ecological Networks~Pg.4-6
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Energy of Biology~Pg.7-9
 Membranes, Macromolecules, and Transport~Pg.10-12
 Protein Structure and Function~Pg.13-14
 DNA Structure and Replication~Pg.15-16
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By: Jordan St.felix
Midterm Finals
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Scientific Method
Vocabulary:
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Hypothesis: Prediction that can be tested.
Scientific Theory: The testable explanations and predictions.
Manipulated variable: The changed/independent variable the experiment is
testing.
Responding Variable: The dependent variable, which responds to the
manipulated variable.
Control Variable: Variable that does not change.
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Experimental Control: The subject being tested.
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Goals:
o Name all of the sections in a formal Lab Report and describe what they should
contain.
o Formulate a hypothesis, which includes a prediction (If-Then) and an explanation
(because) statement.
o Understand how to reduce error and increase reliability (validity) of the
experimental data.
o Write a conclusion that supports or refutes the hypothesis using data. For your
claim, include Evidence and Reasoning.
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Ecological Networks (Ecology)
Vocabulary:
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Biomass: The amount of living matter in a given habitat
Producer: An organism that is able to produce its own food from inorganic
substances
Consumer: An organism, usually an animal, that feeds on plants or other animals
Trophic Level: Any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food
chain
Food (or energy) Web: The entire network of food chains in an ecological
community
Food (or Energy) Chain: A series of organisms, the smallest being fed upon by a
larger one, which in turn feeds a still larger one, etc.
Abiotic Factor: Non-living environmental factors
Biotic Factor: Living environmental factors
Habitat: A suggested solution for an unexplained occurrence that does not fit into
current accepted scientific theory. Commonly in a "if... then... because"
statement.
Niche: The position or function of an organism in a community of plants and
animals
Autotroph: Any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic
materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis
as a source of energy
Heterotroph: An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent
upon complex organic substances for nutrition
Limiting Factor: An environmental factor that tends to limit population size
Herbivore: A type of animal that eats plants or plant-like organisms.
Carnivore: An animal that eats a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes
from live animals or dead ones (scavenging).
Omnivore: An animal that includes both plants and animals in its normal diet
Scavenger: an organism that feeds on dead organic matter
Decomposer: An organism whose ecological function involves the recycling of
nutrients by performing the natural process of decomposition as it feeds on dead
or decaying organisms.
Goals:
o Draw a food web and identify the producers, consumers, decomposers,
herbivores, carnivores, predators, and prey.
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o Show where the energy flows (use arrows) and explain the energy
transformations that happen.
o Understand ecological pyramids and what they mean.
o Imagine a desert watering hole used by various animals (coyotes, cougars, deer,
birds…) and answer the following questions:
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What matter will be cycled in this example?
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How will the matter be cycled?
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Is the water a biotic or an abiotic factor in the ecosystem? What
might happen to the population of deer if the water was no longer
available? How would this change impact the cougars?
Suppose that several inches of rain falls and an abundance of
grass grows. Is the grass a biotic or an abiotic factor in the
ecosystem? What might happen to the population of deer if the
water was no longer available? How would this change impact the
cougars?
Describe how water as a limiting factor influences the capacity of
this ecosystem to support or carry other organisms.
Write a summary which compares this ecosystem with the one
shown on page --- in terms of how matter is cycled while energy is
transformed.
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o Understand how humans are impacting the planet and affecting biodiversity (e.g.
We investigated the Halobacterium growth in the Great Salt Lake.)
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Energy of Biology
Vocabulary:
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Potential Energy: The energy stored in a body or in a system due to its position
or due to its configuration.
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Kinetic Energy: The energy which an object possesses due to its motion.
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Exogonic Reactions: A chemical reaction in which energy is released.
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Endogonic Reactions: A chemical reaction in which energy is absorbed.
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Metabolism: The sum of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by
which its material substance is produced, maintained, and destroyed, and by
which energy is made available.
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Anabolic: Constructive metabolism; the synthesis, in living organisms, of more
complex substances from simpler ones
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Catabolic: Destructive metabolism; the production, in living organisms, of less
complex substances from more complex ones
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Organic molecule: Molecules that are composed of at least 2 carbon atoms
arranged in rings or long chains
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Macromolecule: Any large molecule composed of hundreds or thousands of
atoms
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Photosynthesis: A process that synthesizes glucose from carbon dioxide, water,
using sunlight as the source of energy and with the aid of chlorophyll (H2O +
CO2 —> C6H12O6 + O2)
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Chloroplast: An organelle containing chlorophyll and other pigments, occurring in
plants and algae that carry out photosynthesis
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Chlorophyll: The green pigment molecule of plants and photosynthetic algae and
bacteria that traps the energy of sunlight for photosynthesis
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Light Dependent Reaction: A reaction that uses Light energy to split water to
produce Oxygen and ATP.
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Light Independent Reaction: A reaction that uses ATP and CO2 to produce
Glucose. (AKA the Calvin cycle)
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Adenosine Triphosphate [ATP]: Serves as a source of chemical energy for all
cellular reactions
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Respiration: The chemical process in an organism by which oxygen and glucose
is used to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy in the form of ATP.
(C6H12O6 + O2 —> H2O + CO2)
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Mitochondria: An organelle in the cytoplasm of cells that functions in energy
(ATP) production
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Glycolysis: The first stage of cellular respiration; it occurs within the cytoplasm of
the cell, and it involves the splitting of a sugar
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Krebs cycle (AKA: citric acid cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle): Cycle of enzymecatalyzed reactions in living cells that is the final series of reactions of aerobic
metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fatty acids, and by which carbon
dioxide is produced, oxygen is reduced, and ATP is formed.
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Electron transport chain: A group of compounds that pass electron from one to
another via redox reactions coupled with the transfer of proton across a
membrane to create a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.
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Aerobic: Of, pertaining to, having, or requiring the presence of air or free oxygen.
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Anaerobic: Not requiring, or capable of occurring, in the absence of air or free
oxygen.
Goals:
o List the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis
o List the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration
o List the kinds of organisms which undergo photosynthesis and/or respiration
o Provide examples of energy transformations for photosynthesis and respiration
o Provide examples of matter cycling during photosynthesis and respiration
o Describe the purpose of ATP
o Describe how energy from the Sun is captured by plants/producers
o Describe the purpose of electron carriers (such as NADH)
o Describe how O2 and glucose are produced during photosynthesis
o Describe how CO2, H2O, and ATP are produced during aerobic cellular
respiration
o Describe the function of fermentation and provide examples and organisms
where this occurs
o Compare and contrast photosynthesis and respiration using as many
characteristics as possible
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o Explain the statement “Matter is cycled while energy is transferred.”
o Be able to draw and name the parts of a chloroplast and mitochondria.
o Understand how forming and breaking down ATP acts to store and release
energy that the cell can use for metabolism and growth.
IMPORTANT:
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Energy isn’t created or destroyed but does change form.
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Matter (Atoms and Molecules) isn’t created or destroyed but IS re-cycled.
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Light contains Energy.
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Energy is contained and transported in chemical bonds.
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Membranes, Molecules, and Transport
Vocabulary:
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Diffusion: The random movement of atoms or molecules from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration until equally distributed
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Equilibrium: A condition in which all influences acting cancel each other, so that a
static or balanced situation results
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Concentration: A measure of the amount of dissolved substance contained per
unit of volume
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Concentration gradient: The gradual difference in concentration of a dissolved
substance in a solution between a region of high density and one of lower density
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Cell [Plasma] Membrane: A microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins that
forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and
that regulates the passage of molecules in and out of the cytoplasm.
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Semipermeable: Permeable to some usually small molecules but not to other
usually larger particles
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Osmosis: The tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a
semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solute concentration is
higher
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Hypotonic: A solution of lower solute concentration than another solution with
which it is compared
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Isotonic: A solution of the same solute concentration compared to another
solution
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Hypertonic: A solution of higher solute concentration than another solution with
which it is compared
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Passive transport: Transport across a membrane that does not require energy
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Active transport: Transport across a membrane that requires ATP and a carrier
protein
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Facilitated diffusion: Transport across a membrane that does not require ATP but
does require a carrier protein
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Homeostasis: The tendency of a physiological system to maintain internal
stability
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Polymer: A compound of high molecular weight derived by the addition of many
smaller monomer molecules
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Polar [Non-Polar]: A molecule in which there is an uneven distribution of
electrical charge
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Fat: Naturally occurring soft greasy solids that are composed of glycerol and fatty
acids
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Monomer: A molecule of low molecular weight capable of reacting with identical
molecules of low molecular weight to form a polymer
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Fatty acid: Consisting of a long hydrocarbon that bonds to glycerol to form a fat
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Protein: Consist of polymers of amino acids
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Amino Acid: The monomer of a protein. There are 20 different ones found in
nature.
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Carbohydrate (mono, di, and poly-saccharides): A large group molecules,
including sugars, such as sucrose, and polysaccharides, such as cellulose,
glycogen, and starch, that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
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Simple sugar: Another term for a monosaccharide
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Dehydration: A chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting
molecules
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Hydrolysis: A chemical reaction during which molecules of water are used to split
other molecules apart.
Goals:
o Cellular macromolecules
 Describe the processes which allow monomers to be joined to form
polymers as well as polymers to be broken down into monomers.
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Give examples of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
including at least one location within a cell where each can be found.
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Compare and contrast the structure of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids
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Compare and contrast the function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids
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Describe the structure and properties of a water molecule, including its
polarity.
o Membranes and Transport
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Understand why is the salt concentration of the environment around cells
is important?
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Understand that the cell membrane controls which substances enter and
exit?
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Know how organisms maintain water balance in non-isotonic
environments (Transport mechanisms across the membrane)?
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Know how a concentrated solution on one side of a membrane affects the
direction of the overall movement of water through the membrane?
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Know what properties determine whether molecules can pass through a
biological membrane?
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Know how the size of a molecule affects its ability to pass through a semipermeable membrane?
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Know what properties of real biological membranes cause them to be
semi-permeable?
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Protein Structure and Function
Vocabulary:
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Protein: Consists of polymers of amino acids.
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Amino Acid: The monomer of a protein. There are 20 different ones found in
nature.
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Peptide Bond: Covalent bond formed between one amino acid and another.
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Enzyme: A protein that functions as a catalyst.
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Catalyst: Substance to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being
altered.
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Metabolism: The sum of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by
which its material substance is produced, maintained, and destroyed, and by
which energy is made available.
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Substrate: When an enzyme acts to form products.
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Primary structure: The linear sequence of it's amino acid structural units.
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Secondary structure: The general 3D form of biopolymers like proteins and
nuclear acids
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Tertiary structure: Refers to the protein's geometric shape
 Quaternary structure: Arrangement of multiple folded proteins or coiling proteins.
Goals:
o Understand what determines the shape of a protein.
o Know the roles of different kinds of proteins
o Understand why heating/boiling denature proteins and make them lose their
function.
o Describe the function of enzymes and give an example of an enzymatic reaction
in a living thing
o Understand how can we measure the activity of an enzyme (e.g. Lactase or
catalase)
o Describe why protein is an important part of your diet
o Know cells work by processing information through many different types of
metabolic networks.
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o Know that variations between organisms are due to variations between their
cellular networks.
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DNA Structure and Replication
Vocabulary:
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DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living
organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic
information.
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Nucleotide: A compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group.
Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA.
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Nitrogen base(s): Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine (A to T, G to C;
Avocados Thinks Guacamole's Cool)
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Chromosome: A structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of
most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
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Sugar phosphate backbone: 5-carbon deoxyribose sugars and phosphate
groups
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Cell Nucleus: Contains the majority of the cell's genetic material. This material is
organized as DNA molecules, along with a variety of proteins, to form
chromosomes.
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Eukaryotic: To have cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane and
whose DNA is bound together by proteins (histones) into chromosomes.
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Prokaryotic: To be known as a microscopic single-celled organism which has
neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles,
including the bacteria and cyanobacteria.
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DNA Replication: The process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is
copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.
Goals:
o Know all living organisms have DNA, including prokaryotes such as bacteria,
fungi, plants, animals, and also many viruses
o Recognize that in eukaryotes, DNA is stored in the nucleus of cells. Prokaryotes,
such as bacteria and halobacterium, do not have nuclei but do have DNA.
o Molecules of DNA form compact coiled structures called chromosomes.
o Know that a eukaryotic chromosome is typically a very long, linear chain of one
individual DNA molecule. A prokaryotic chromosome is typically a circular chain
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of one individual DNA molecule. Smaller circular pieces of DNA called plasmids
are typical in prokaryotic cells.
o Sketch a DNA Molecule showing:
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The shape of a DNA molecule is like a twisted ladder or spiral staircase- a
double helix
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DNA is made of chains of nucleotides
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A nucleotide has 3 parts: a phosphate, a sugar, and a base.
o
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This is all the info you'll need to pass the
Honors Biology Final! Take heed to this, work
hard, and expect an A on the final for doing it!
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