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General Biology Exam 1 Study Guide

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Termini in questo insieme (31)

  • Scientific process steps

    Observation → Question → Hypothesis → Prediction → Experiment → Data → Conclusion.

  • Hypothesis definition

    A testable, falsifiable explanation for an observation.

  • Independent vs. dependent variable

    Independent variable: what you change. Dependent variable: what you measure.

  • Why experiments cannot definitively prove a hypothesis

    One experiment can support or fail to support a hypothesis but cannot establish universal truth.

  • Statistical significance meaning

    A result unlikely due to random chance alone; does not always mean biological importance.

  • Correlation vs. causation

    Correlation is association; it does not prove one variable causes another.

  • Atom vs. molecule

    Atom: individual element unit. Molecule: two or more atoms chemically connected.

  • Covalent vs. noncovalent bonds

    Covalent: atoms share electrons. Noncovalent: weaker interactions like ionic, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals.

  • Polar vs. nonpolar covalent bonds

    Polar covalent: electrons shared unequally, creating partial charges. Nonpolar covalent: electrons shared equally.

  • Water polarity and hydrogen bonding

    Water is polar with partial negative oxygen and partial positive hydrogens; hydrogen bonds give water unique properties.

  • Hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic

    Hydrophilic: interacts with water (polar/charged). Hydrophobic: repels water (nonpolar).

  • Four biomolecules and building blocks

    Carbohydrates: monosaccharides; Lipids: fatty acids + glycerol; Proteins: amino acids; Nucleic acids: nucleotides.

  • Major roles of biomolecules

    Carbs: energy/structure; Lipids: energy storage/membranes; Proteins: enzymes/structure/signaling; Nucleic acids: genetic info.

  • Saturated vs. unsaturated lipids

    Saturated: no C=C bonds, straight, pack tightly. Unsaturated: one or more C=C bonds, bent, pack loosely.

  • Phospholipids and membranes

    Phospholipids are amphipathic with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, forming bilayers in water.

  • Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells

    Prokaryotic: no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic: nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

  • Function of nucleus and ribosomes

    Nucleus stores DNA; ribosomes synthesize proteins.

  • Role of mitochondria and chloroplasts

    Mitochondria: cellular respiration. Chloroplasts: photosynthesis.

  • Entropy definition

    Entropy is disorder/randomness; high entropy means more spread out, low entropy means more organized.

  • Energy-releasing vs. energy-requiring reactions

    Energy-releasing: \(\Delta G < 0\). Energy-requiring: \(\Delta G > 0\).

  • Activation energy vs. ΔG

    Activation energy is energy to start a reaction; ΔG is overall energy difference between reactants and products.

  • Enzyme function

    Enzymes lower activation energy and speed reactions but do not change ΔG or energy released/required.

  • Types of enzyme inhibitors

    Competitive: competes for active site; Noncompetitive: binds elsewhere; Irreversible: permanently disables enzyme.

  • ATP hydrolysis reaction

    ATP → ADP + Pi releases usable free energy for cellular work.

  • OIL RIG mnemonic

    Oxidation Is Loss of electrons; Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

  • Glycolysis overview

    Occurs in cytosol; converts 1 glucose → 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP (net) + 2 NADH; does not require oxygen directly.

  • Electron transport chain function

    Transfers electrons to pump protons, creating a gradient that drives ATP synthase to make ATP.

  • Purpose of fermentation

    Regenerates oxidized electron carriers so glycolysis can continue without oxygen; produces less ATP than aerobic respiration.

  • Photosynthesis light reactions vs. Calvin cycle

    Light reactions (thylakoid membrane) produce ATP, NADPH, O2; Calvin cycle (stroma) uses CO2, ATP, NADPH to make carbohydrates.

  • Why leaves appear colored

    Leaves reflect certain wavelengths; the reflected wavelengths determine the leaf color seen.

  • Photosynthesis vs. cellular respiration differences

    Photosynthesis stores energy, uses CO2, produces O2, occurs in chloroplasts. Respiration releases energy, uses O2, produces CO2, occurs in mitochondria.