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General Biology > Final Exam > Flashcards

Final Exam Flashcards

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1
Q

Scientific method

A

A systematic method of research consisting of putting a hypothesis to a test designed to disprove it, if it is in fact false

Steps of the scientific method roughly include:
Observations
Hypothesis (testable and falsifiable)
Testing
Conclusion (accept or reject hypothesis)
Peer review

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2
Q

Hypothesis

A

Tentative explanation for an observation that requires testing to validate

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3
Q

Theory

A

A scientific theory is “an explanation of a set of
related observations based on well-supported
hypothesis from several different, independent
lines of research.”

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4
Q

Independent variable

A

A factor whose value influences the value of the dependent variable, but is not influenced by it. In experiments, the variable that is manipulated

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5
Q

Dependent variable

A

The variable in a study that is expected to change in response to changes in the independent variable

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6
Q

What are the 4 types of organic molecules?

A

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids

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7
Q

Prokaryotic

A

Type of cell that does not have a nucleus or membrane-bounded organelles

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8
Q

Eukaryotic

A

Cell that has a nucleus and membrane-bounded organelles

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9
Q

Carbohydrates

A

Energy-rich molecule that is the major source of energy for the cell. Consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio CH2O

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10
Q

Proteins

A

Cellular constituent made of amino acids coded for by genes. Proteins can have structural, transport, or enzymatic roles

Functions: structure, speed up reactions, antibodies (immunity), hemoglobin (transport)

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11
Q

Lipids

A

Hydrophobic molecule, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids

Functions: energy storage, insulation, chemical messengers, cell membrane structure

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12
Q

Nucleic acids

A

Polymers of nucleotides that comprise DNA and RNA

Functions: blueprint for life, stores genetic information

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13
Q

Plasma membrane

A

Structure that encloses a cell, defining the cell’s outer boundary

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14
Q

Nucleus

A

Cell structure that houses DNA; found in eukaryotes

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15
Q

Cytoplasm

A

The entire contents of the cell (except the nucleus) surrounded by the plasma membrane

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16
Q

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

A

Resting energy use of an awake, alert person

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17
Q

Metabolism

A

All of the physical and chemical reactions that produce and use energy

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18
Q

Vitamins

A

Organic nutrient needed in small amounts. Most vitamins function as coenzymes

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19
Q

Minerals

A

Inorganic nutrient essential to many cell functions

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20
Q

Macronutrients

A

Nutrient required in large quantities

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20
Q

Essential amino acids

A

The 9 essential amino acids are not made by our bodies and therefore must be supplied through our diets

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21
Q

Micronutrients

A

Nutrient needed in small quantities

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22
Q

Cellular respiration

A

Metabolic reactions occurring in cells that result in the oxidation of macromolecules to produce ATP

Function: provides cells with the energy they need to function

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23
Q

Enzymes

A

Protein that catalyzes and regulates the rate of metabolic reactions

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24
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Process by which plants, along with algae and some bacteria, transform light energy to chemical energy

input: light energy, water, carbon dioxide
output: oxygen, glucose

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25
Q

Fossil fuels

A

Nonrenewable resource consisting of the buried remains of ancient plants that have been transformed by heat and pressure into coal and oil

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25
Q

Climate change

A

Significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer

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26
Q

Cell division

A

Process a cell undergoes when it makes copies of itself. Production of daughter cells from an original parent cell

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27
Q

Cancer

A

Cells that divide when they should not, and have the ability to invade surrounding tissue and spread elsewhere

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28
Q

What are the options for cancer treatment?

A

Chemotherapy
Radiation
Surgery

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29
Q

Mitosis

A

The division of the nucleus (that produces daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell)

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30
Q

What are the risk factors for cancer?

A

Tobacco use (causes 1/3 of cancer deaths)
High fat, low-fiber diet
Lack of exercise
Excess alcohol consumption
Increasing age
Sun exposure
Inheritance
Viruses

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31
Q

Meiosis

A

Cell division for sexual reproduction

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32
Q

Carcinogens

A

Substance that causes cancer or increases the rate of its development

33
Q

Genes

A

Trait-bearing units or factors on chromosomes; composed of DNA

33
Q

Allele

A

Alternate expressions of a gene

34
Q

Quantitative Trait

A

Trait that has many possible values

35
Q

Polygenic Trait

A

A trait influenced by many genes

36
Q

Pleiotropy

A

The ability of one gene to affect many different functions

37
Q

Sex Determination

A

Determining the biological sex of an offspring. Humans have a chromosomal mechanism of sex determination in which two X chromosomes produce a female and an X and a Y chromosome produce a male

38
Q

DNA fingerprinting

A

The analysis of DNA fragments to determine if they come from a particular individual; Used in criminal cases, paternity cases, etc

39
Q

Quantitative Genetics

A

When multiple genes and/or the environment interact

40
Q

Epigenetics

A

The study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work

41
Q

Mendelian Genetics

A

When the role of genes is clear in inheritance

42
Q

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

A

Organisms whose genome incorporates genes from another organism; also called transgenic or genetically engineered organisms

43
Q

Stem cells

A

Cells that can divide indefinitely and can differentiate into other cell types

44
Q

Adult stem cells

A

Cells in adult tissues that can give rise to only a few related types of specialized cells; Typically found in bone marrow/blood cells

44
Q

Embryonic stem cells

A

Cells derived from an early stage of an embryo that have potential to become any cell type in the body; Typically come from IVF, cloning is a future possibility

45
Q

Cloning

A

Producing copies of a gene or an organism that are genetically identical

46
Q

Recombinant DNA

A

the method of joining two or more DNA molecules to create a hybrid

47
Q

Transcription

A

A gene on a DNA molecule is transcribed into RNA; Takes place in the nucleus

47
Q

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)

A

Growth hormone produced in a laboratory and injected into cows to increase their size and ability to produce milk

48
Q

What is the main advantage of obtaining stem cells from a cloned embryo?

A

They would be a perfect match to the patient and not be rejected if used in the patient

49
Q

RNA

A

Information-carrying molecule composed of nucleotides

50
Q

Translation

A

The production of proteins from the RNA transcript

50
Q

Codon

A

A triplet of RNA nucleotides. Transfer RNA molecules bind to codons during protein synthesis

51
Q

Genetic code

A

Table showing which mRNA codons code for which amino acids

51
Q

Common descent

A

The theory that all living organisms on Earth descended from a single common ancestor that appeared in the distant past

52
Q

Theory of evolution

A

Theory that all organisms on Earth today are descendants of a single ancestor that arose in the distant past

53
Q

Natural selection

A

Process by which individuals with certain traits have greater survival and reproduction than individuals who lack these traits, resulting in an increase in the frequency of successful alleles and a decrease in the frequency of unsuccessful ones

54
Q

Anatomical homology

A

same bones in different species - homologous structures derived from a common ancestor

example: the same bones in a human’s arm, a cat’s paw, a whale’s fin, and a bat’s wing

54
Q

Vestigial traits

A

structures that have no apparent function and appear to be residual parts from a past ancestor are called vestigial structures. Examples of vestigial structures include the human appendix, the pelvic bone of a snake, and the wings of flightless birds.

traits would not exist unless the organism’s ancestors possessed them; this is strong evidence of common ancestry and change over time

55
Q

Biogeography

A

organisms in different environments in similar geographic areas are often alike because populations migrate and adapt to new environments but resemble their ancestors

56
Q

Developmental homology

A

comparative embryology - the comparison of early stages of animal development reveals many similarities between organisms indicating common ancestry

57
Q

Suboptimal structures

A

our knees and spine were not originally meant for walking upright
our respiratory system crosses our digestive system which can cause choking
evolution can only modify existing structures and functions
organisms “make do” with suboptimal designs

58
Q

Molecular homology

A

primate chromosome composition is quite similar; chimps/gorillas/orangutans have 24 pairs of chromosomes, humans have 23 pairs
also…. the genetic code is essentially universal, suggesting all species descended from a common ancestor

59
Q

Explain the process of evolution by natural selection

A

natural selection is the mechanism that drives evolution; individuals best suited to the environment survive and produce more offspring, driving change over time

60
Q

Antibiotic resistant

A

Characteristic of certain bacteria; a physiological characteristic that permits them to survive in the presence of particular antibiotics

61
Q

Summarize the relationship between natural selection and drug resistance in disease-causing microbes

A

using one type of drug for too short of a time period selects for antibiotic resistant bacteria

by using combination drug therapy, bacteria are very unlikely to be resistant to multiple drugs, therefore stopping drug resistance

62
Q

Species

A

A group of individuals that regularly breed together and are generally distinct from other species in appearance or behavior

63
Q

Biological race

A

Populations of a single species that have diverged from each other

64
Q

Explain what a species is based on the biological species concept

A

a species is a group of individuals that, in nature, can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, but cannot reproduce with members of other species

65
Q

Explain why human “races” are not biological groups

A

human races are not biological groups; humans have never been truly isolated from each other and therefore cannot have evolved into separate biological races

66
Q

Population growth rate

A

How fast a population changes in size over time

growth rate = birth rate - death rate

67
Q

Demographic transition

A

The period of time between when death rates in a human population fall (as a result of improved technology) and when birth rates fall (as a result of voluntary limitation of pregnancy)

68
Q

List density independent factors that affect population growth

A

weather fluctuations
natural disasters

69
Q

List the factors that have influenced the human population growth rate

A

improved medical care (vaccines and antibiotics)
improved sanitation
improved nutrition through industrial agriculture

all have driven population growth

70
Q

List density dependent factors that affect population growth

A

food
water
space/shelter
accumulation of waste
spread of disease

71
Q

Discuss factors that may affect the Earth’s carrying capacity for humans

A

the environment can only support so many people

we need enough clean water, air, and energy for everyone

we will eventually run out of non-renewable resources

72
Q

List and describe the causes of extinction

A

habitat destruction and fragmentation: habitat destruction is the most serious threat, fragmentation harms large predators who need large spaces to hunt

introduced species: organisms brought by human activity to new environments, often devastate existing species

overexploitation: due to use for food, pets, house plants, medicinal value, etc.

pollution: most pollutants come from agriculture (herbicides and pesticides, CO2 is also a pollutant

73
Q

List and describe the consequences of extinction

A

loss of resources: loss of foods, building materials, medicines, etc.
without bees to pollinate our food, it will become more expensive with less variety

disruption of communities: predation, mutualism, and competition can be disrupted, derailing the web of life

disrupted energy and chemical flows

psychological effects: because of the evolutionary nature of our ancestors, we have a genetic desire to connect with nature

74
Q

Explain the evidence that suggests we are entering a mass extinction

A

current extinction rates are 50-100x higher than normal

75
Q

List ways in which you can help prevent the loss of biodiversity

A

reduce fossil fuel use
eat less meat and dairy
recycle and reuse
reduce the use of wood and paper products
financial aid to developing countries
join organizations, write politicians, and educate others

General Biology (6 decks)

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