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General Biology I: Chapters 1-3 Key Concepts

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Termini in questo insieme (28)

  • Biological organization levels from largest to smallest

    Ecosystem → community → population → organism → organ system → organ → tissue → cell → organelle → molecule → atom.

  • Definition of an ecosystem

    An ecosystem includes a biological community and its nonliving environment.

  • Difference between community and population

    A community contains populations of different species; a population contains individuals of one species in an area.

  • Fundamental unit of life

    The cell is the fundamental unit of life.

  • Emergent properties in biology

    Properties that result from the arrangement and interaction of components at each level of biological organization.

  • Energy flow and matter cycling in ecosystems

    Energy flows through ecosystems and is eventually lost as heat; matter cycles between organisms and the environment.

  • Key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

    Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles; eukaryotes have both.

  • Domains of life for prokaryotes and eukaryotes

    Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea; Eukaryotes: Eukarya.

  • Darwin’s central ideas of evolution

    Descent with modification and natural selection based on heritable variation and differential reproductive success.

  • Difference between discovery science and hypothesis-driven science

    Discovery science describes patterns through observation; hypothesis-driven science tests explanations with experiments.

  • Definition of a scientific hypothesis

    A testable explanation for a natural phenomenon.

  • Atomic number vs. mass number

    Atomic number = number of protons; mass number = protons + neutrons.

  • Isotopes and ions

    Isotopes differ in neutron number; ions differ in electron number (gain = negative ion, loss = positive ion).

  • Types of chemical bonds

    Nonpolar covalent (equal sharing), polar covalent (unequal sharing), ionic (attraction between ions), hydrogen bonds, and Van der Waals interactions.

  • Why is water polar?

    Because of unequal electron sharing and its bent shape, oxygen is partially negative and hydrogen partially positive.

  • Cohesion vs. adhesion in water

    Cohesion is attraction among water molecules; adhesion is attraction to other surfaces.

  • Water’s high specific heat importance

    It moderates temperature changes, helping maintain stable environments.

  • Definition of molarity

    Molarity (M) = moles of solute ÷ liters of solution.

  • pH scale and its meaning

    pH = −log₁₀[H⁺]; acidic pH < 7, neutral = 7, basic > 7; each unit represents a tenfold change in H⁺ concentration.

  • How buffers maintain pH

    Buffers resist pH changes by accepting or donating H⁺ ions, e.g., the bicarbonate system.

  • Functional groups in carbon compounds

    Hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, and methyl groups determine chemical behavior.

  • Isomers types

    Structural isomers differ in covalent arrangement; cis-trans differ around double bonds; enantiomers are mirror images.

  • Four major macromolecule classes

    Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.

  • Polysaccharides and their functions

    Starch (plant energy storage), glycogen (animal energy storage), cellulose (plant cell wall support), chitin (fungal and arthropod support).

  • Nucleotide components

    A five-carbon sugar, nitrogenous base, and one or more phosphate groups.

  • Base pairing in DNA and RNA

    DNA: A–T and G–C; RNA: A–U and G–C.

  • ATP structure and function

    Contains adenine, ribose, and three phosphates; hydrolysis releases energy to power cellular work.

  • Difference between heat and temperature

    Heat is energy transfer due to temperature difference; temperature reflects average molecular kinetic energy.