Download Study Guide for Biology mid-term Exam

Study Guide for CP Biology mid-term Exam
Chapter 2: 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.
Chapter 4 & 5: The Chemistry of Life
You should be able to:
 List the parts that make up an atom.
 List the importance (to living things) of each of the following: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids.
 Explain the role of enzymes in living things.
Chapter 6: A Tour of the Cell
You should be able to:
 Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including examples.
 Describe the three main types of microscopes and what each is used for. (Pg. 178-179)
 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 wall, cell (plasma) membrane,
nucleus, mitochondria, ribosome, chloroplast.
Chapter 7 and 8: 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 9: The Cellular Basis of Inheritance
You should be able to:
 Compare the differences between mitosis and meiosis (how many chromosomes result and how
many cells exist at the end of each process).
 What type of substances can change the normal cell cycle, and what can result from uncontrolled
cell growth?
Chapter 10: Patterns of Inheritance
You should be able to:
 Identify the first researcher in genetics and what organism he studied.
 Solve basic genetics problems using a Punnett square.
 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 11: DNA and the Language of Life
You should be able to:
 Describe the shape of the structure of a DNA molecule.
 Pair the complementary bases of DNA and RNA.
 Describe the processes of replication, transcription and translation.
 Describe a mutation and the possible effects of them.
Chapter 12: Human Genetics
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 the possible effects of it.
Chapter 13: Frontiers of Genetics
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.
 Explain the importance of the Human Genome Project.
Chapter 14 and 15: Evolution and Natural Selection
You should be able to:
 Compare spontaneous generation (life comes from non-living things) and biogenesis (living things
only come from other living things).
 Describe the conditions of the “primordial soup” and what key ingredient of life came from the
“soup”.
 Identify who wrote The Origin of Species and is associated with the theory of evolution.
 Summarize “natural selection”.
 Explain the flaw in Lamarck’s theory of evolution by acquired traits.
 Explain why variation is the key to natural selection.
 Describe the importance of fossils to the understanding of evolution.