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Semester Exam Biology Study Guide (Conklin)

Terms in this set (104)

What is science?
An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world
What are the goals of science?
To provide natural explanations for events in the natural world, and aims to use those explanations to understand patterns and make predictions
What is an observation? Give an example...
The act of noticing and describing events in a careful and orderly way. Ex: the footprints in the sand have 5 toes
What is a hypothesis? Give an example...
A scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested. Ex: if you leave the lights on, it will take longer for people to fall asleep
What is an inference? How does it differ from an observation?
A logical interpretation based on what scientists already know. Inferences are more logical and observations are something you look at and record
What is the definition of a controlled experiment?
An experiment where only one variable is changed
List the characteristics of life and summarize the important parts of each...
1. Made up of cells: basic units
2. Based on a universal genetic code: DNA
3. Obtain/use energy and materials: need to live
4. Grow/develop/reproduce: become responsible and reproduce similar organisms
5. Respond to simulate: protect themselves
6. Maintain stable internal env: keep it stable to live
7. Change over time: evolve
What is the smallest unit of living things that is considered to be alive?
Single cell
What is the metric system? Why do scientists use it?
A decimal system of measurement which are based on certain standards. They use it so they can have a common system of measurement in order to replicate experiments when collecting data when performing experiments.
What is a subatomic particle? What subatomic particles make up an atom?
The particles that make up an atom. Protons, neutrons, electrons
What type of electrons are available to form bonds?
Valence electrons
What is a compound and what are their properties?
A substance formed when 2 or more elements are chemically combined. They have chemical and physical properties
What is a covalent bond?
Bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms.
What is an ionic bond?
A chemical bond that's formed when an atom transfers and electron to another Atom
What is an isotope and what makes it different? Give an example...
A particular version of a chemical element which differ in neutron numbers. Ex: C12 or C14
What atoms make up a water molecule? Which molecule is positive which molecule is negative?
Water molecule = 1 oxygen & 2 hydrogen. Since the water molecule is polar, there is a slight negative near oxygen and slight positive near hydrogen
What is cohesion?
Attraction between molecules of the same substance
What is adhesion?
An attraction between molecules of different substances.
What is surface tension?
Strong cohesion between water molecules
What is capillary action?
water travels upward against gravity through a glass tube
What is a mixture? Give an example...
A substance composed of two+ elements that aren't chemically combined (oil and water)
What is the difference between a solution and a suspension? Give examples...
A solution is a mixture where all of the components are distributed evenly (saltwater). A suspension is a mixture of water and non dissolved material (mud water)
What is a solvent? What is a solute? When you combine them what do they make?
A solute is the substance being dissolved. A solvent is a substance in which the solvent dissolves. They combine to make a solution.
When looking at salt water, what is the solvent and solute?
Solute: salt
Solvent: water
What does pH measure?
Hydrogen ion concentration
What is an acid? What type of pH does it have? What ion does it give off in water? Give 3 examples...
A component that forms hydrogen ions (pH less than 7) gives off H+ ions. Ex: stomach acid, lemon juice, acid rain
What is a base? What type of pH does it have? What ion does it give off in water? Give 3 examples...
A compound that produces hydroxide ions (pH more than 7) gives off OH- (hydroxide). Ex: bleach, blood, toothpaste
What is a buffer? Why are they important? Relate this to the body...
Compound that prevents sharp and sudden changes in pH. Helps maintain homeostasis in the body and keep the blood and bodily fluids at the right pH level. (6.5-7.5). When dissolved in life's fluids, it maintains homeostasis in all organisms.
Why is carbon so special compared to other elements?
It can bond with many elements to form molecules of life (H, 0, P, S, N)
What kind of bonds does carbon form?
Carbon-carbon bonds, single, double, and triple covalent bonds
What are the four major macromolecules?
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
What is the monomer/polymer of carbohydrates? Give an example of each...
Monomer- monosaccharide (glucose fructose)
Polymer- polysaccharide (starch, glycogen, cellulose)
What is a monomer and polymer?
Monomer is a small unit that makes up polymers. Polymers are made up of monomers
What process makes polymers?
Polymerization--large compounds are built by joining smaller ones together
What is the monomer of a nucleic acid? What is the polymer?
Monomer= nucleotide
Polymer= proteins
What is the function of nucleic acids?
Store and transmit genetic information
What is the monomer and polymer of protein?
Monomer= amino acids
Polymer= proteins
What is the same for every amino acid? What is different...
Has an amino acid on one end and a carboxyl group on the other, hydrogen on top, and side R chains w a range of different properties joined by peptide bonds
What is the function of proteins?
Control the rates of reactions, regulate cell processes, form cell structures, transport substances into or out of cells and help fight disease
What is a chemical reaction?
A process that changes one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals
What are reactants? Products?
Reactants are elements entering a reaction, products are produced by the chemical reactions
What is activation energy and what does it do?
Energy that starts all chemical reactions
What is a catalyst? What does it do?
Substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction and it works by lowering a reaction's activation energy
What are enzymes and how do they affect the reactions?
Proteins that act as biological catalysts and they speed up reactions which completes them quicker
What is ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
What are the levels of organization of living things?
Population--pack of bunnies.
Individuals--a bunny.
Community--diff pops living together.
Ecosystem--rain forest.
Biome--tundra.
Biosphere--ground and air
What are biotic factors? Give examples...
Any living parts of an environment--animals, plants, mushrooms, bacteria
What are abiotic factors? Give examples...
No living parts of an environment--sunlight, water, wind, heat, precipitation, currents, soil types
What is an autotroph? What is another name for this? What are the 2 types?
An organism that makes its own energy (producer)--chemosynthesis and photosynthesis
What is a heterotroph? What is another name for this? Give examples...
Organisms that must acquire energy from other organisms (consumer)--carnivore and herbivores
What is the main source of energy for life on earth?
Sunlight
What are the two processes that producers use to make energy rich carbs? Give an example of each...
Photosynthesis: plants
Chemosynthesis: sulfur bacteria
What are the different types of heterotrophs? Give examples...
Consumer=dog
Herbivore=cow
Scavenger=king vulture
Omnivore=humans
Decomposers=bacteria and fungi
Detritivores=worms
What is a food chain? How does energy flow through a food chain?
Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
What are trophic levels?
Each step in a food web or chain
How much energy is passed on to each tropic level? What happens to the rest of the energy?
10%, the remainder gets released into the environment as heat
What are the 3 types of ecological pyramids?
energy, biomass, and numbers
What is biomass energy?
The amount of living matter present
What is the water cycle? Name the various steps?
The movement of water through the environment; evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, groundwater, reservoirs
What is the carbon cycle?
The cycle that describes how CO2 is continually exchanged through chemical and physical processes between the atmosphere and ocean.
What is nitrogen fixation? What type of organisms do nitrogen fixation and why?
Process where bacteria converts nitrogen gas into ammonia. The bacteria lives in the soil and on the roots of legumes
What is denitrification? What types of organisms do this?
Soil bacteria obtains energy from converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, then releases it into the atmosphere. Soil bacteria
What is a limiting nutrient?
The nutrient whose supply limits productivity.
What happens when aquatic ecosystems receive large amounts of limiting nutrients? Relate this to farms and fertilizer...
It results in algal blooms, which is a dramatic increase in the amount of algae and other primary producers due to an increase of nutrients which can disrupt the functions of an ecosystem (toxic)
What is a niche?
Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives in the way in which the organism uses the conditions
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time
What is predation?
An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.
What is herbivory?
Herbivory is an interaction in which one animal feeds on producers.
What is the keystone species? What is an example of a keystone species?
A single species that isn't usually abundant in a community, yet exerts strong control on the structure of a community. Ex. Otters, urchins, kelp
What is symbiosis?
Any relationship in which two species live closely together.
What are the three types of symbiotic relationships?
Mutualism: both species benefit. (Anemone and clownfish)
Parasitism: One organism lives inside of the other in harms it. (Fleas, ticks, lice)
Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other isn't harmed or bothered. (Barnacle whale)
What is ecological succession?
A series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time.
what is primary succession? When does it occur?
Occurs in an area with no trace of a previous community present. Volcanic eruptions and glaciers
What is a pioneer species? Give an example...
First organisms to colonize a new area (lichens)
What is secondary succession? When does it occur?
Occurs in the area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances. Wild fires, hurricanes, logging, and farming
What is population density?
The number of individuals per unit area
What is geographic range?
The area inhabited by a population
What is the population age structure? How does it predict a populations growth rate? Give an example like the US and Guatemala...
The number of females and males in each age group in a population. In the US there is a steady growth rate, in Guatemala it shows the population growth will occur in 30 years and will be two times the size
What are the factors that play a role in population growth rate? What are their definitions?
Birth rates...number of births.
Death rates... number of deaths.
Emigration...movement of people out of an area.
Immigration...movement of people into an area.
What factors increase population size?
Immigration, abundant resources, and a healthy environment
What factors decrease in population size?
Emigration, disease, limited resources
What is exponential growth? What shape curve?
Growth pattern in which the individuals in a pop. Reproduce at a constant rate. J shaped curve
What factors contribute to exponential growth?
Ideal conditions with unlimited resources
What is logistic growth? What shape curve?
Growth where a population growth slows, then stops, following a period of exponential growth. S shaped curve
What growth curve represents the populations of most species?
Logistic growth
What are three phases of a logistic growth curve?
Exponential growth, growth slows, growth stops
What is the carrying capacity? What happens when a pop reaches its carrying capacity?
The largest number of individuals of a particular species that a particular environment can support. Growth levels off....average is 0
What are the density dependent limiting factors? Does the size of a population affect these factors?
Factors that depend on population density: competition, predation, Parasitism , disease
What are density independent limiting factors? Does the size of the population affect these factors?
Factors that affect all populations in similar ways, regardless of population density: unusual weather, natural disease, seasonal cycles, clearcutting forest, damming rivers
What is demography?
The study of human populations
What is the cell theory?
All living things are made up of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure/function, and new cells are produced from existing cells
What is a scanning electron microscope? What would you use it to look at?
A pencil like beam scanned over a surface of a specimen that does not have to be sliced. Produces a 3-D image of the specimen surface
What is a transmission electron microscope? What would you use it to look at?
Beams of electrons passing through thin samples making it possible to explore cell structures and large protein molecules. Produces a flat 2D image
What is a prokaryote? Give examples...
Does not enclose DNA in the nuclei... Bacteria and viruses
What is a eukaryote? Give examples...
Encloses there DNA in the nuclei...animal and plant cells
What is an organelle?
A part of a cell that carries out a function for the cell.
What is diffusion? What allows diffusion to take place? Does it require energy?
A process where particles move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. Depends on random particle movement of the differences of concentration. Does not require energy
What happens when equilibrium is reached?
Particles of a solution will continue to move across the membrane in both directions
What is osmosis?
The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane. High concentration to a low concentration
What would happen if a red blood cells put in a hypertonic solution, hypotonic and isotonic?
Hypotonic-water moves in, expands, and bursts
Hypertonic- water moves out, shrinks
Isotonic- water moves in and out equally
What would happen if a plant cell was put in a hypertonic solution, hypotonic and isotonic?
Hypotonic-water moves out/cell walls prevent from bursting
Hypertonic-water moves out, vacuole shrinks, cell maintains shape
Isotonic-water moves in and out equally
What is facilitated diffusion? Does it require energy?
When molecules are too big or charged they cannot diffuse across the membrane and pass-through special protein channels. Does not require energy
What is active transport? Does it require energy?
The movement of materials against a concentration difference, requires energy and is carried out by protein pumps
What are the levels of organization in multicellular organisms?
Cell --> Tissue --> Organ --> Organ System
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