BackGeneral Biology Study Guide: Life, Chemistry, and Macromolecules
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Q1. Biology is the study of _____________________.
Background
Topic: Introduction to Biology
This question tests your understanding of the basic definition of biology and what it encompasses as a scientific discipline.
Key Terms:
Biology: The scientific study of life and living organisms.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Recall the root words: "bio" means life, and "-logy" means study of.
Think about what all biologists investigate, from cells to ecosystems.
Consider the broadest possible answer that includes all living things.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q2. Which of the following explanations are allowed in science to explain observable phenomena?
Background
Topic: Nature of Science
This question is about the types of explanations that are considered valid in scientific inquiry.
Key Terms:
Observable phenomena: Events or facts that can be detected and measured.
Scientific explanation: An explanation based on evidence and natural laws.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Review the options and identify which are based on natural laws and evidence.
Recall that science does not accept explanations that cannot be tested or observed.
Eliminate options that involve supernatural or untestable causes.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q3. Define a hypothesis.
Background
Topic: Scientific Method
This question asks you to define a key step in the scientific process.
Key Terms:
Hypothesis: A testable statement or prediction that can be investigated through experimentation or observation.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Think about what scientists do after making observations and asking questions.
Recall that a hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable.
Formulate a definition that includes these characteristics.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q4. Explain why scientists no longer accept the hypothesis that extinction was due to an Ice Age.
Background
Topic: Scientific Method and Hypothesis Testing
This question is about how scientific hypotheses are evaluated and replaced as new evidence emerges.
Key Terms:
Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon.
Extinction: The dying out of a species or group of organisms.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Consider what evidence would be needed to support or refute the Ice Age hypothesis.
Think about what new discoveries (such as geological or fossil evidence) might have shown.
Reflect on how scientific consensus changes with new data.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q5. Explain why breathing and moving are not considered essential properties of life.
Background
Topic: Properties of Life
This question tests your understanding of the criteria biologists use to define life.
Key Terms:
Properties of life: Characteristics shared by all living things, such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Recall the list of properties that define life (e.g., cellular organization, metabolism, homeostasis, growth, reproduction, response to environment, evolution).
Consider examples of living things that do not breathe or move (e.g., plants, bacteria).
Think about why biologists use broader criteria.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q6. Define the following properties of life and give an example of each: a) Development, b) Homeostasis
Background
Topic: Properties of Life
This question asks you to define and exemplify two key characteristics of living organisms.
Key Terms:
Development: The process by which organisms grow and change over time.
Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Define each property in your own words.
Think of a specific example for each (e.g., metamorphosis in insects for development, body temperature regulation in mammals for homeostasis).
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q7. a) What is the difference between an organelle and an organ? b) What is the smallest level of organization that has all the properties of life?
Background
Topic: Biological Levels of Organization
This question tests your understanding of the hierarchy of biological organization.
Key Terms:
Organelle: A specialized structure within a cell.
Organ: A group of tissues working together to perform a function.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Compare the scale and function of organelles and organs.
Recall which level of organization is considered the smallest unit of life (hint: think about what can perform all life functions independently).
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q8. In a forest, each pine tree is an organism. Define a population of pine trees.
Background
Topic: Ecology – Levels of Organization
This question is about how biologists group organisms in ecological studies.
Key Terms:
Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Think about what makes a group of organisms a population (species, location, time).
Formulate a definition that includes these criteria.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q9. Define evolution.
Background
Topic: Evolution
This question asks for the basic definition of a central concept in biology.
Key Terms:
Evolution: The change in the genetic makeup of a population over time.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Recall the key elements: change, genetic makeup, population, time.
Combine these elements into a concise definition.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q10. List the 3 Domains of life.
Background
Topic: Classification of Life
This question is about the broadest categories used to classify living organisms.
Key Terms:
Domain: The highest taxonomic rank in the classification of organisms.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Recall the three major groups that all living things are classified into.
List them in your notes.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q14. In the water molecules below, identify a polar covalent bond vs. a hydrogen bond by filling in the boxes. Be sure you understand the forces connecting the atoms.
Background
Topic: Chemical Bonds in Water
This question tests your understanding of the types of bonds found within and between water molecules.
Key Terms and Concepts:
Polar covalent bond: A bond where electrons are shared unequally between atoms, creating partial charges.
Hydrogen bond: A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom (already covalently bonded to an electronegative atom) and another electronegative atom.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Look at the diagram and identify the bonds within a single water molecule (between O and H).
Identify the bonds between different water molecules (dotted lines).
Label the solid lines as polar covalent bonds and the dotted lines as hydrogen bonds.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
Q8 (Ch 3). Label the monosaccharides and the disaccharide in the figure below. Is this an example of dehydration synthesis or hydrolysis?
Background
Topic: Carbohydrates – Monomers and Polymers
This question asks you to identify the building blocks of carbohydrates and the type of reaction shown.
Key Terms and Concepts:
Monosaccharide: A single sugar molecule (e.g., glucose, fructose).
Disaccharide: Two monosaccharides joined together (e.g., sucrose).
Dehydration synthesis: A reaction that joins two molecules by removing water.
Hydrolysis: A reaction that breaks a bond by adding water.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Identify the two single-ring structures at the top of the diagram (these are the monosaccharides).
Identify the double-ring structure at the bottom (this is the disaccharide).
Look for the arrow and the bond formed between the two monosaccharides. Consider whether water is removed or added in this process.
Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!
