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Biology 115 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the basic unit of life?

A

A cell

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2
Q

What is the sum of all life on the planet?

A

The biosphere

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3
Q

Levels of biological organization: smallest to largest

A

Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem and Biosphere.

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4
Q

Smallest unit of an element composed of electrons, protons, and neutrons?

A

Atom

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5
Q

Union of 2 or more atoms of the same or different elements?

A

Molecule

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6
Q

A group of cells with a common structure and function?

A

Tissue

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7
Q

Composed of tissues functioning together for a specific task?

A

Organ

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8
Q

Composed of several organs working together?

A

Organ System

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9
Q

An individual; complex individuals contain organ systems?

A

Organism

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10
Q

Organisms of the same species in a particular area?

A

Population

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11
Q

Interacting populations in a particular area?

A

Community

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12
Q

A community plus the physical environment?

A

Ecosystem

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13
Q

Regions of the Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms?

A

Biosphere

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14
Q

What are the characteristics of living things? (6)

A
  1. Organized
  2. Acquire materials and energy
  3. Are homeostatic
  4. Respond to stimuli
  5. Reproduce and grow
  6. Have an evolutionary history
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15
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

The ability of a cell or an organism to maintain an internal environment that operates under specific conditions.

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16
Q

What is Evolution?

A

The process by which a population changes over time.

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17
Q

What is natural selection?

A

The strongest and most successful are most likely to survive.

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18
Q

What is adaption?

A

Generations that include more members with new variations from natural selection.

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19
Q

Did we evolve from apes?

A

No, humans did not evolve from apes; apes and humans share a common, apelike ancestor.

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20
Q

What is human culture and how do we develop it?

A

Culture involves human activities and products passed on from one generation to the next outside of biological inheritance.

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21
Q

What is the difference between an Objective observation and a Subjective observation?

A

An objective observation is supported by factual information. A subjective observation involves personal judgment.

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22
Q

What are the basic steps of the scientific method?

A

Observation, Hypothesis, Experiments and Conclusion.

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23
Q

What is Inductive reasoning?

A

When a person uses creative thinking to combine isolated facts into a cohesive whole.

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24
Q

How is a hypothesis made?

A

A hypothesis is based upon existing knowledge, more informed than a mere guess.

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25
Q

What is the Experimental Design?

A

The manner in which a scientist intends to conduct an experiment.

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26
Q

What is the difference between test groups and control groups?

A

A test group is exposed to the experimental variable, a control group is not.

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27
Q

What is the experimental varaible?

A

The one thing that is deliberately changed between testing and control groups to test the hypothesis.

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28
Q

What is a controlled experiment?

A

A scientific test done under controlled conditions, meaning that just one (or a few) factors are changed at a time, while all others are kept constant.

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29
Q

What is a standardized variable?

A

Variables that remain the same throughout the experiment.

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30
Q

Difference between the independent variable and dependent variable?

A

Independent variable stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables. The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment

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31
Q

What is Anecdotal data?

A

Consists of testimonials by people rather than results from a controlled study; never considered reliable.

32
Q

What is the Standard Error in a statistical test?

A

Tells us how uncertain a particular value is; how far off the average could be.

33
Q

Define statistical significance

A

Scientists account for the probability value that results were due to chance, if the probability value is low (less that 5%) the results are statistically significant. Lower probability = less likely results are due to chance.

34
Q

What are the main challenges facing science? (4)

A

Bioethics, human influence on ecosystems, emerging diseases, and climate change.

35
Q

Define an Element

A

An element is one of the basic building blocks of matter; cannot be broken down by chemical means.

36
Q

What 3 things make up an atom?

A

Protons, neutrons and electrons

37
Q

What is the Atomic number?

A

Number of protons in the nucleus accounts for unique properties of this type of atom.

38
Q

What is the mass number of an atom?

A

The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

39
Q

What is an Isotope?

A

An atom with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.

40
Q

What is a molecule?

A

Atoms that are the same, bond to form a molecule.

41
Q

What is a compound?

A

When 2 different types of atoms bond, they form a compound.

42
Q

What are Ions?

A

Particles that carry either a positive or negative charge.

43
Q

Atoms that have gained or lost electrons are known as what?

A

Ions

44
Q

What happens in Ionic bonding?

A

Atoms give up or take on an electron(s) to achieve a stable valence shell.

45
Q

What happens in Covalent bonding?

A

Atoms share electrons by overlapping valence shells.

46
Q

What are Polar molecules?

A

Polar molecules have a slightly positively charged pole and a slightly negatively charged pole

47
Q

What is the difference between Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic?

A 
Hydrophilic = polar
Hydrophobic = nonpolar (doesn't dissolve in water easily)
48
Q

What is a hydrogen bond?

A

The attraction of a slightly positive, covalently bonded hydrogen to a slightly negative atom nearby; relatively weak, can be broken easily.

49
Q

What are properties of water?

A

High heat capacity and evaporation, is a solvent, water molecules are cohesive and adhesive, frozen water is less dense than liquid.

50
Q

What is a solvent?

A

Capable of dissolving a great number of substances

51
Q

What is a solution?

A

A solution contains dissolved substances

52
Q

What is a solute?

A

Substances that are/have dissolved

53
Q

What is the pH scale used for?

A

Determines the acidity or basicity of a solution. Ranges from 0-14, pH of 7 = neutral state, below 7 = acidic solution, above 7 = basic.

54
Q

Define Macromolecule

A

A molecule that contains many subunits

55
Q

What are Carbohydrates/what do they do?

A

Function for quick and short-term energy storage. Ratio of Hydrogen atoms to Oxygen atoms is 2:1

56
Q

What is a monosaccharide of a carbohydrate?

A

If a carbohydrate is made up of just 1 ring and its number of carbon atoms is low (5-7), it is called a simple sugar or monosaccharide.

57
Q

What is the purpose of phospholipids?

A

Phospholipids form a membrane so the cell is separated from its environment and has inner compartments.

58
Q

What do steroids do/function?

A

A large class of lipids, includes the sex hormones, function as a chemical messenger.

59
Q

What does fat do for us?

A

Used for long-term energy storage, insulates, and forms protective cushion around major organs.

60
Q

Define a fatty acid

A

A carbon-hydrogen chain that ends with COOH, contains 16-18 carbon atoms per molecule. Either saturated or unsaturated.

61
Q

What are the 4 carbon rings?

A

All steroids’ have a backbone of 4 fused carbon rings

62
Q

What is good and bad cholesterol?

A

LDL = bad
HDL = good
Types of proteins (lipoproteins)

63
Q

What are amino acids?

A

Subunits of protein, called the R group, bond of an amino group with an acid group.

64
Q

How do proteins interact with cells?

A

Many proteins can move within the plasma membrane through a process called membrane diffusion.

65
Q

What are enzymes in terms of protein?

A

All enzymes are a type of protein made from amino acids. Enzymes break molecules apart and put molecules together.

66
Q

What are Nucleic acids and what do they do?

A

Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides, they store information, include instructions for life, and conduct chemical reactions.

67
Q

Define a nucleotide

A

A molecular complex of 3 types of subunit molecules: phosphate, a pentose sugar and a nitrogen-containing base.

68
Q

DNA and RNA

A

DNA: double stranded, genetic material
RNA: single stranded, many cell functions, is the nucleic acid directly involved in protein synthesis.

69
Q

What happens during a dehydration reaction?

A

A OH and H (the equivalent of a water molecule) are removed as the molecule forms.

70
Q

What does ATP do/what happens?

A

Breaks P off to release energy

If phosphate is added to another molecule it gives the other molecule energy

71
Q

What is the Cell Theory?

A

According to the cell theory, nothing smaller than a cell is considered to be alive. All living organisms are made of up cells and new cells only arise from preexisting cells.

72
Q

Define hypertonic

A

Solutions that cause cells to shrink due to loss of water.

73
Q

Define hypotonic

A

Solutions that cause cells to swell or burst due to an intake of water.

74
Q

Solute, solvent and solutions

A

Solute is dissolved in a solvent, this creates a solution

75
Q

What is produced in the nucleolus?

A

RNA

76
Q

Tight and Gap Junctions

A

Tight junctions: plasma membrane proteins; zipperlike barrier
Gap junctions: Communications portals between cells

77
Q

What is Fermentation?

A

It is an anaerobic process, meaning it does not require oxygen.

Biology 115 (4 decks)

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