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BIO FINAL EXAM 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a taxon?

A

A taxon is a group of organisms classified together (e.g., species, genus, family).

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2
Q

What are taxa?

A

Taxa are the plural of taxon—different levels of classification like Kingdom, Phylum, Class, etc.

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3
Q

What is taxonomy?

A

The science of naming, defining, and classifying organisms.

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4
Q

What are the main taxa in taxonomy?

A

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

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5
Q

What is the binomial system of nomenclature?

A

A two-name system (Genus + species) for naming organisms, e.g., Homo sapiens.

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6
Q

What are the three Domains of life?

A

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

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7
Q

What Kingdoms belong to Domain Eukarya?

A

Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Protista.

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8
Q

Give brief traits of the Kingdoms in Eukarya.

A

Plantae: Multicellular, autotrophic.
Animalia: Multicellular, heterotrophic.
Fungi: Decomposers, absorb nutrients.
Protista: Mostly unicellular, diverse.

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9
Q

What’s the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

A

Prokaryotic: No nucleus, simpler (e.g., bacteria).
Eukaryotic: Has nucleus, complex (e.g., animals, plants).

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10
Q

Why is water important for living systems?

A

Water supports life via its properties: cohesion, temperature regulation, solvent abilities, etc.

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11
Q

Why is water polar?

A

Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, creating an unequal sharing of electrons (asymmetry).

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12
Q

What is a hydrogen bond?

A

A weak bond between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an electronegative atom (like oxygen) in another.

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13
Q

Properties of water that help life:

A

High specific heat: Stabilizes temperature.
High heat of vaporization: Cooling effect (sweating).
Freezing: Ice floats, insulating water below.
pH: Maintains internal balance.
Acid/base dissociation: Affects enzyme function.

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14
Q

What are the four major classes of biomolecules?

A

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

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15
Q

What is the difference between monomers and polymers?

A

Monomers are single units; polymers are chains made of repeating monomers.

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16
Q

What is dehydration synthesis?

A

A chemical reaction that joins monomers by removing water.

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17
Q

What is hydrolysis?

A

A reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

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18
Q

What are carbohydrates made of?

A

Monosaccharides (simple sugars), which can form disaccharides and polysaccharides.

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19
Q

What is the monomer of carbohydrates?

A

Glucose (a monosaccharide).

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20
Q

What are the functions of glucose?

A

Used in cellular respiration to make ATP; also formed during photosynthesis.

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21
Q

What is the role of glucose in respiration and photosynthesis?

A

In respiration: it’s broken down for energy.
In photosynthesis: it’s produced from carbon dioxide and water.

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22
Q

What bonds link monosaccharides in polysaccharides?

A

Glycosidic linkages.

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23
Q

What is amylose?

A

A linear starch molecule made of glucose.

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24
Q

What is amylopectin?

A

A branched form of starch.

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25
What is glycogen?
A highly branched storage form of glucose in animals.
26
What is cellulose?
A structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls made of glucose.
27
What is chitin?
A polysaccharide that forms the exoskeleton of insects and cell walls of fungi.
28
Why doesn’t cellulose give us calories?
Humans can’t digest cellulose because we lack the enzymes to break its bonds.
29
Why can some animals digest cellulose?
Some have gut microbes that produce enzymes to break it down and use it for energy.
30
What is the unique property of lipids?
Lipids are hydrophobic (don’t mix with water), important for forming cell membranes and storing energy.
31
What’s the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Saturated fats: No double bonds, solid at room temp (e.g., butter). ## Footnote Unsaturated fats: One or more double bonds, liquid at room temp (e.g., oils).
32
What type of bond is found in a triglyceride?
Ester bond (between glycerol and fatty acids).
33
What does amphipathic mean?
A molecule with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts (e.g., phospholipids).
34
What are the functions of proteins?
Structure, enzymes, transport, defense, movement, and signaling.
35
What is a peptide bond?
A bond that links amino acids in a protein.
36
What is denaturation?
Loss of a protein’s shape and function due to heat, pH changes, or chemicals.
37
What are the two types of nucleic acids?
DNA and RNA.
38
What are the functions of DNA and RNA?
DNA: Stores genetic information. ## Footnote RNA: Helps in protein synthesis (messenger, transfer, ribosomal).
39
What is a nucleotide?
A building block of nucleic acids made of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen base.
40
Describe the structure of nucleic acid.
Long chains of nucleotides; DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded.
41
Where are nucleic acids found?
In the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
42
What limits cell size?
Surface area-to-volume ratio — as cells grow, volume increases faster than surface area, limiting nutrient exchange.
43
What are the similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Both have a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA.
44
What are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotes: No nucleus, smaller, no membrane-bound organelles. ## Footnote Eukaryotes: Have nucleus and organelles, larger and more complex.
45
What is the fluid mosaic model?
A cell membrane model where lipids and proteins move fluidly in a dynamic structure.
46
What is the membrane made of?
Phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and the glycocalyx (carbohydrate coating).
47
What do phospholipids do?
They form a bilayer — heads face water (hydrophilic), tails avoid water (hydrophobic).
48
What are the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of membranes?
Hydrophobic interior: Blocks water-soluble substances. Hydrophilic exterior: Interacts with watery environments.
49
What is the difference between integral and peripheral proteins?
Integral proteins: Embedded in the membrane, span it. Peripheral proteins: Attached to the membrane surface.
50
What is the role of cholesterol in membranes?
Stabilizes membrane fluidity and flexibility, especially during temperature changes.
51
Where are carbohydrates in the membrane, and what is their role?
On the outer surface (glycocalyx); they help in cell recognition and signaling.
52
How do molecules pass through membranes?
Through passive transport (diffusion, osmosis), active transport, and bulk transport.
53
What is simple diffusion?
Movement of small or nonpolar molecules from high to low concentration without energy.
54
What is facilitated diffusion?
Movement through membrane proteins (channels/carriers), no energy needed.
55
What is active transport?
Movement against the concentration gradient using energy (ATP).
56
What is osmosis?
Diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration.
57
What is bulk transport?
Transport of large molecules via vesicles — includes endocytosis and exocytosis.
58
What are the functions of membrane proteins?
Enzymes (catalysis), adhesion, cytoskeletal attachment, receptors (signal reception), cell recognition (glycoproteins).
59
Why is compartmentalization important in cells?
It allows different chemical reactions to occur in separate organelles efficiently.
60
What is the function of the nucleus, nucleolus, and nuclear membrane?
Nucleus: Stores DNA. Nucleolus: Produces ribosomes. Nuclear membrane: Controls what enters and exits the nucleus.
61
What is the function of ribosomes?
Site of protein synthesis (translation of mRNA into proteins).
62
What is the Rough ER (RER)?
Has ribosomes, makes and modifies proteins for export.
63
What is the Smooth ER (SER)?
No ribosomes, makes lipids, detoxifies drugs, stores calcium.
64
What is the endomembrane system?
A network of organelles that work together in protein and lipid transport (includes ER, Golgi, lysosomes, vacuoles, membrane).
65
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for delivery.
66
What is the function of vacuoles?
Storage (water, nutrients, waste); in plants, helps maintain turgor pressure.
67
What is the function of lysosomes?
Break down waste and cellular debris with digestive enzymes.
68
What are energy transducers?
Organelles that convert energy from one form to another — mitochondria and chloroplasts.
69
What is the function of mitochondria?
Convert glucose into ATP via cellular respiration (powerhouse of the cell).
70
What is the function of chloroplasts?
Convert sunlight into chemical energy (glucose) via photosynthesis.

Biology (5 decks)

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