Elizabeth’s Biology Review Book
Before we even enter the classroom we are already scientists. Instinctively, we
pose questions: we try to figure out how and why things work; we become
investigators. As children there is an innate curiosity in all of us which
drives us to learn. And although we all eventually grow up that
curiosity does not leave us. And how do we answer those childhood
questions of why the sky is blue and the grass green? A wonderful thing
happens: We discover education and our curiosity is quenched. That is
if we choose to take advantage…Perhaps that is why I want to become a
teacher: I want to know. And in a world where it all comes down to how well
educated you are I believe one should arm themselves carefully.
“Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.”
August 26,2002
OBJECTIVES
Q Briefly describe unifying themes that pervade the science of biology.
All things are interconnected and evolve.
Q Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels inbiology. medialib/0110.jpg
Q Explain how the properties of life emerge from complex organization.
All forms of life come from cells and cells, in themselves are very complex in that they carry huge amounts of information and carry out many tasks.
Q Describe seven emergent properties associated with life.
Reproduction: Life comes from life. Growth and development: Heritable programs in the form of DNA direct the patterns of growth and development. Energy utilization: Organisms take in energy and use it to perform work. Response to the environment. Homeostasis: Regulatory mechanisms keep the system function internally. Evolutionary adaptation: Life evolves as a result of its interactions with its environment.
Q Explain how technological breakthroughs contributed to the formulation of the
cell theory and our current knowledge of the cell.
Thanks to the microscope we are now able to see more than we have ever before into the cell’s microscopic world and are better equipped to understand what it is we are made of.
Q Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells are found in animals and carry DNA, eukaryotic cells are found in plants.
Q Explain, in your own words, what is meant by "form fits function."
An organism will adapt to better suit their function.
Q List the five kingdoms of life and distinguish among them.
MONERA - bacteria
PROTISTA - eukaryotic unicellular organisms
PLANTEA - characterized by photosynthesis
FUNGI -decomposers that absorb nutrients from other organisms
ANIMILIA - obtain food by ingestion
Q Outline the scientific method.
(Already learned)
Q Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning.
Inductive reasoning is when you come to a conclusion based on you own experiences. Deductive reasoning is when you reach a conclusion based on an observation or at the end of an experiment.
Q Explain how science and technology are interdependent.
To further understand science new technologies are implementing and new technologies come about due to new discoveries in science.
August 27, 2002
OBJECTIVES
Q Define element and compound.
An element is the most basic form of “something”, like a molecule of of hydrogen, while a compound is a combination of two or more elements like water is a combination of one oxygen atoms and two hydrogen.
Q State four elements essential to life that make up 96% of living matter.
Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
Q Describe the structure of an atom.
The nuclues of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons and a cloud of electrons surrounds them.
Q Define and distinguish among atomic number, mass number, atomic weight, and valence.
Atomic number - number of protons in the nucleus
Mass number - the sum of protons plus nuetrons in the nucleus.
Atomic weight - the mass number
Valance - the bonding capacity of the atom
Q Given the atomic number and mass number of an atom, determine the number of neutrons.
Subtract the mass from the atomic weight.
Q Explain the octet rule and predict how many bonds an atom might form.
Q Define electro-negativity and explain how it influences the formation of chemical bonds.
The attraction of an atom for the electrons of a covalent bond is called electro-negativity. The more electromagnetic an atom the more it pulls strongly shared electrons toward itself.
Q Distinguish among non-polar covalent, polar covalent and ionic bonds.
Non polar covalent - electrons are shared equally
Polar covalent - one atom is more electromagnetic than the other and the electrons are shared unevenly.
Ionic bonds - two atoms are so unequal in their attraction fro valance electrons that that the more electromagnetic atom strips the electron completely away from its partner.
Q Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and explain how it differs from a covalent or ionic bond.
Through a weak electrical attraction one electronegative atom shares a hydrogen atom with another electromagnetic atom. This attraction is relatively weak in comparison to an ionic or a covalent bond.
August 30, 2002
OBJECTIVES
Q Describe how water contributes to the fitness of the environment to support life.
- All living organisms of are made up of water and every environment is supported by it.
QDescribe the structure and geometry of a water molecule, and explain what properties
emerges as a result of this structure.
- The polarity of water results in hydrogen bonding, forming a right triangle.
QExplain the relationship between the polar nature of water and its ability to form
hydrogen bonds.
- The charged region of a water molecule is attracted to the oppositely charged parts of neighboring molecules.
QList five characteristics of water that are emergent properties resulting from hydrogen
bonding.
- Cohesion – transport of water against gravity in plants; adhesion cling from one object to another. Surface tension – How difficult it is to break the ability to stabilize temperature upon freezing solvent of life/ surface tension.
QDescribe the biological significance of the cohesiveness of water.
- Allows water to travel up plan
QExplain how water's high specific heat, high heat of vaporization and expansion upon
freezing affect both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
-High heat – Moderates world temperature. Specific heat – large bodies get upon few degrees deal with animals.
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QExplain how the polarity of the water molecule makes it a versatile solvent.
Polar compounds, like ionic compounds, are water-soluble.
QWrite the equation for the dissociation of water, and explain what is actually
transferred from one molecule to another.
- Hydrogen atoms shared between two water molecules in a hydrogen bond shifts from one molecule to another. The Hydrogen atom leaves it electron behind, what is actually hydrogen ion, and single (+) charge proton.
QExplain the basis for the pH scale.
- It compresses the range of H+ &OH - Concentrations by employing molecules.
QExplain how acids and bases directly or indirectly affect the hydrogen ion
concentration of a solution
- A covalent bonding capacity of 4 contributes to carbons ability to form diverse molecules.
September
OBJECTIVES
1-Explain how carbon’s electron configuration determines the kinds and number of carbon bonds will form.
Carbon atoms can bond to other carbons, forming the carbon skeleton of organic compounds.
2- Describe how carbon skeletons may vary, and explain how this variation contributes to
the diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
A covalent bonding capacity of (4) contributes to carbons ability to form diverse molecules.
3-Recognize the major functional groups, and describe the chemical properties of organic
molecules in which they occur.
1-HYDOXYL GROUP (OH) – found in alcohols.
2-CARBOXYL GROUP (COOH) – weak acids.
3-CARBONYL GROUP (CO) –
4-AMINO GROUP (NH2) – can act as a base
5- SULFHYDRYL GROUP (SH) – stabilizes protein structures.
(see table on page 59 for examples)
September 13
OBJECTIVES
Q. Explain the role of catabolic and anabolic pathways in the energy exchanges of
cellular metabolism.
Catabolic pathways release energy by breaking down molecules. Anabolic pathways consume energy to build up more complicated molecules from simpler ones.
Q. Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy.
Kinetic energy is energy of motion and potential energy is the energy that matter possesses.
Q. Explain, in their own words, the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics.
The first law states that energy cannot be cr3ated nor destroyed, only changed. The second law is the law of entropy.
Q. Describe the function of ATP in the cell.
The ATP is the immediate source of energy within the cell.
Q. List the three components of ATP and identify the major class of
Macromolecules of which it belongs.
ATP is a nucleotide. It is made up of adenine bonded to ribose and three phosphate groups.
Q. Explain how ATP performs cellular work.
With the help of specific enzymes the cell is able to couple the energy of ATP hydrolysis directly to endergonic processes by transferring a phosphate group from ATP to some other molecule.
Q. Explain the relationship between enzyme structure and enzyme specificity.
The specificity of an n enzyme is attributed to a compatible fit between the shape of its active site and the shape of the substrate. As the substrate enters the active site, it induces the enzyme to change its shape slightly so that the active site fits more snugly around the substrate.
Q. Explain the induced fit model of enzyme function and describe the catalytic
cycle of an enzyme.
Induces fit brings chemical groups of the active site into positions that enhance their ability to work on the substrate and catalyze the chemical reaction.
1-When the active site of an enzyme is unoccupied and its substrate is available the cycle begins.
2-An enzyme substrate complex forms when the substrate enters the active site. The active site changes shape to fit around the substrate.
3-The substrate is converted into product while it is in the active site.
4-The enzyme releases the product.
5-The active site is then available for another molecule of substrate.
Q. Explain how substrate concentration affects the rate of an enzyme-controlled
Q. Explain how enzyme activity can be regulated or controlled by environmental
conditions, cofactors, enzyme inhibitors and allosteric regulators.
Q. Distinguish between allosteric activation and cooperativity.