Download Biology 6 Study Guide – Exam #2

Biology 6 Study Guide – Exam #2
This is a list of general topics you should be prepared to answer questions on for each chapter. This guide
is NOT what you should study but rather is a guide to help organize your studying of the material listed.
Your actual studying should involve the textbook, Powerpoint slides, your notes and other supplemental
material such as Mastering Biology. Keep in mind that you will not be tested on material in the book that
was not covered in class, and should know all of the key terms at the end of the Powerpoint slides for each
chapter. Most important, if you have trouble understanding anything, come to my office hour or see a tutor
ASAP. Once you feel like you understand the material in a given chapter, be sure to test yourself using the
chapter questions, Mastering Biology, the sample questions on this study guide, or coming up with your
own. If you put in the time and effort and use all the resources available to you, I’m confident you all can
perform very well on the exam.
Chapter 7 (Membrane Structure & Function)
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the general structure of membranes, fluid mosaic model
cytoplasmic vs extracellular faces
membrane components: phospholipids, membrane proteins, cholesterol
factors that influence membrane viscosity/fluidity
roles of membrane proteins
diffusion and osmosis: hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic
facilitated diffusion by channel proteins, carrier proteins
active transport by protein pumps, cotransport
o how the sodium/potassium pump works
o the process of cotransport – symport and antiport
the concepts of membrane potential and electrochemical gradients
the process of exocytosis
the various types of endocytosis: pinocytosis, phagocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis
sample questions:
1. What is the role of cholesterol in animal cell membranes?
2. What is an “electrochemical gradient” and how is this produced in cells?
Chapter 8 (Energy and Enzymes)
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kinetic vs potential energy
1st law of thermodynamics: “conservation of energy”
2nd law of thermodynamics: “energy conversions are never 100% efficient, some energy is always
lost as heat”
free energy as it relates to potential energy
exergonic vs endergonic chemical reactions
the concept of activation energy and catalysts
ATP structure, the ATP-ADP cycle, the concept of “coupling of reactions”
Why ATP is a good fuel for cells
the general biological roles of enzymes/ribozymes
how enzymes function, the effects of temperature and pH on enzyme function
enzyme regulation: competitive vs non-competitive, allosteric regulation (activation or
inhibition), cooperativity
the concepts of “metabolic pathways” and feedback inhibition
sample questions:
1. Distinguish between competitive and allosteric enzyme inhibition.
2. Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy and provide one example of each.
Chapter 16 (The Molecular Basis of Inheritance)
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why protein was originally thought to be the genetic material
the Griffith transformation experiment
Hershey-Chase experiment showing that viral DNA enters host cells
technique of x-ray crystallography
contributions of Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick to the discovery of DNA structure
the structure of double-stranded DNA
the basis of DNA base pairing
the process of DNA replication and the roles of each enzyme in the process
how leading strand and lagging strand synthesis differ
Meselson and Stahl experiment showing DNA replication to be semiconservative
significance of telomeres and telomerase
basic process and importance of DNA repair
sample questions:
1. Describe how lagging strand synthesis is carried out during DNA replication.
2. How did Meselson and Stahl demonstrate that DNA replication is semiconservative?
Chapter 17 (From Gene to Protein)
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differences and similarities between DNA and RNA
different roles of RNA in gene expression (mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, snRNA)
process of transcription (initiation, elongation, termination)
RNA processing (splicing, 5’ cap, poly-A tail), exons vs introns
snRNAs, snRNPs, splicosomes, and the overall process of RNA splicing in eukaryotes
nature of the genetic code
process of translation (initiation, elongation, termination)
differences in gene expression between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
translation in association with the endoplasmic reticulum (secretory pathway)
nature of mutations, causes of mutations, different types of mutations
sample questions:
1. Describe how gene expression differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
2. Compare the potential effects of a single nucleotide substitution vs insertion.
Chapters 18 (Regulation of Gene Expression)
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identify all levels at which regulation of gene expression can occur
how chromatin structure is modified
the function of transcription factors
regulation of the trp operon
regulation of the lac operon in response to lactose and glucose
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gene structure in prokaryotes vs eukaryotes
enhancers, proximal & distal control elements and their roles in transcription initiation
how differential gene expression (transcription) is accomplished in different cell types
alternative splicing of primary RNA transcripts
function of miRNA, proteosomes
roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cancer
sample questions:
1. Describe how glucose influences transcription of the lac operon.
2. How is differential gene expression accomplished given that all genes in an organism are present in
every cell type?
Below is a link to the documentary “The Secret of Photo 51” for which there will be a few questions on
the exam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tmNf6ec2kU
Extra Credit Article
“The Price of Silent Mutations” by J.V. Chamray and Laurence D. Hurst, Scientific American, June 2009, pp.
46-53.