Download big ideas for biology

Name: ________________________________________________________________ Period: ________
Main Themes of Biology We Will Study FALL Semester:
BIG IDEAS of BIOLOGY
Directions: Give the best possible answer for each question below to show Mr. Sears what you
already know about biology. Use HOLT Biology textbook, chapters 1-14 to assist you with your
answers. A quiz will be given on the content from this assignment next week.
1. List the 7 unifying themes of biology and briefly summarize them in your
own words:
a. _____________________________________________________________________
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b. _____________________________________________________________________
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c. _____________________________________________________________________
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d. _____________________________________________________________________
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e. _____________________________________________________________________
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f. _____________________________________________________________________
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g. _____________________________________________________________________
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2. Briefly describe each level of the scientific method (e.g., stages of scientific
investigations):
1. Collect Observations:
2. Ask Questions (Problem Statement):
3. Form a Hypothesis:
4. Make a Prediction:
5. Confirm Predictions through an experiment (explain a-c…study d-f):
a. Control Group:
b. Independent Variable:
c. Dependent Variable:
d. Collect Data: This is the experiment that is conducted with
measurable results
e. Results: NO interpretations of the experiment…show your data
that you collected from your experiment here.
f. Conclusion: Show your data in a PROPER graph (list the 3 main
graphs: I.V. X D.V on X and Y axis when appropriate.
3. Why is it important to understand chemistry while we study biology?
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4. Why do humans need water in order to survive?
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5. What are the four principal classes or organic compounds are we made (e.g.,
macromolecules)?
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6. Organize the 10 biological terms in order from most complex to most simple:
organ systems, nucleotides, genes, cells, tissue, DNA, organ, atom, body
system, chromosomes:
1. _____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________
7. _____________________________________________________
8. _____________________________________________________
9. _____________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________
7. When bonds are broken in a molecule, chemical reactions occur. Explain the
term that describes these chemical reactions AND explain why these
chemical reactions are SO important to our survival:
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8. List the reasons why cells must be small in order to function most efficiently?
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9. Explain the term equilibrium, and why it is important to our cells:
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10. Explain the difference between cellular respiration and photosynthesis
(specifically state the empirical formulas for each…e.g., explain what is
made and produced in each process):
a. Cellular Respiration: ________________________________________________
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b. Photosynthesis: ______________________________________________________
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11. Explain the difference between a heterotroph and autotroph: _____________
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12. Specifically, in what particular part of an autotroph’s cell does
photosynthesis take place?
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13. Specifically, in what part of a heterotroph cell are large amounts of ATP made
through the process of cellular respiration?
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14. What is the process by which somatic cells reproduce?
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15. What is the process by which sex cells reproduce?
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16. What is the process by which prokaryotes reproduce?
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17. What is the term that causes inherited diseases?
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18. What is the picture below that describes the life cycle of diploid, eukaryotic
cells?
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19. Below is a diagram that shows the formation of haploid cells. What form of
cell division forms these gametes or spores (Refer to picture below)?
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20. Prokaryotes divide through different processes than somatic and germ cells.
What is the name of that process…and what makes this process unique from
the other types of cell division? (Refer to picture below)
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21. What is the process in metaphase I of meiosis in which we get some traits
from our mothers and some traits from our fathers? ____________________________
22. In the 18th century, Gregor Mendel established a theory from his experiments
with pea plants. What is the name of this theory? _____________________________
23. Different versions of a gene are called traits or: ________________________________
24. The trait that is expressed (or shown) is called: _____________________________
and the trait that is not expressed (or shown) is called:
_____________________________.
25. The set of alleles that an individual has for a character (like eye color) is
called its: _______________________________________. The physical appearance of
that character (like eye color) is called its: _______________________________________.
26. The picture below shows how traits are inherited over several generations:
What is the name of the generational picture? ____________________________________
27. DNA has four nucleotides (or bases):
a. ___________________________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________________________________________
*DNA has 3 parts: a phosphate group, nitrogen bases (e.g. nucleotides), and
_______________________________________________. That’s why DNA stands for
Deoxyribonucleic acid. Refer to the picture below:
28. DNA replication results in two identical DNA strands with the help from
_______________________ ________________________ and _______________________
_______________________. These enzymes unzip the DNA and zip it back up when
the copying is done.
29. Gene Expression: The instructions for building proteins are found in a gene
and are “rewritten” to a molecule of RNA during transcription. The RNA is
then “decoded” during translation (see image below):
*Using the image above, identify the correct sequence of how we make new proteins
in our body (e.g., grow, heal, etc.) through protein synthesis from the following
terms: mRNA, DNA Template, Translation, Amino Acid, Transcription, Codon,
Protein.
1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________________________
7. __________________________________________________________________________
30. Sometimes “mistakes” are made during protein synthesis that can result in genetic
disorders. These genetic “mistakes” or “errors” are actually called:
___________________________________________.
31. Why would a genetic disorder like Sickle Cell Anemia be a beneficial
mutation?
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32. By comparing the amino acid differences between humans and other
animals, we can tell how closely we are related. What is another way in
which we can tell how related we are to other species?
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33. Examine the two pictures below of “The Tempo of Evolution” and explain the
terms “Gradualism” and “Punctuated Equilibrium”:
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34. The science of naming and classifying organisms (identifying similar traits and
grouping them together) is called taxonomy. Scientists use “binomial
nomenclature” (a two word system for grouping organisms based on their
similar characteristics), put these 8 words in order from most diverse to least
diverse: phylum, genus, domain, class, family, species, kingdom, order
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________________________________
35. Analyze the picture of the cladogram below. What trait appeared first,
according to taxonomic records: the backbone or an egg? Explain your answer.
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