BIOL 1001 EXAM 1 2026 STUDY GUIDE
REVISION SHEET CORE CONCEPT
BREAKDOWN
◉ What are the characteristics of life that all organisms share?
Answer: Actively maintain organized complexity; Acquire and use
materials and energy (metabolism); Sense and respond to stimuli;
Maintain homeostasis; Grow and develop; Reproduce (sexually or
asexually); Evolve as populations over time
◉ What is homeostasis?
Answer: Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain stable
internal conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) despite external changes.
◉ What are the two main cell types?
Answer: Prokaryotic cells: Lack a nucleus and organelles;
unicellular; include Bacteria & Archaea. Eukaryotic cells: Have a
nucleus & organelles; can be unicellular or multicellular; include
plants, animals, fungi, protists.
◉ What is the function of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells?
Answer: The nucleus stores the cell's DNA and controls cell
activities, including protein synthesis and reproduction.
,◉ What separates a cell from its environment?
Answer: A plasma membrane encloses the cell, containing cytoplasm
inside and regulating what enters and leaves.
◉ What are the two main ways organisms acquire energy?
Answer: 1. Photosynthesis (Phototrophs): Use sunlight to make
energy-rich molecules (ATP) and synthesize sugars from CO₂. 2.
Consumption (Chemotrophs): Use chemical reactions (oxidation) or
organic matter for energy.
◉ What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?
Answer: Autotrophs make their own food (e.g., plants using
photosynthesis). Heterotrophs must consume other living or dead
organisms for energy.
◉ What are chemolithotrophs?
Answer: Organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic
compounds like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or ammonia (NH₃); use CO₂
to build organic molecules.
◉ What is the difference between energy flow and nutrient cycling?
, Answer: Energy flows one way (eventually lost as heat), while
nutrients (e.g., water, minerals) cycle repeatedly through
ecosystems.
◉ How do organisms respond to stimuli?
Answer: They use energy to detect and respond to changes in their
environment (e.g., animals sense light, temperature; plants bend
toward sunlight).
◉ How do mammals maintain a stable internal temperature?
Answer: Through homeostasis mechanisms like sweating to cool the
body when external temperatures rise.
◉ How do organisms grow and develop?
Answer: Single-celled organisms enlarge and divide (asexual
reproduction). Multicellular organisms grow via cell division
(mitosis/meiosis) and often develop more complexity as they
mature.
◉ What is DNA and what does it do?
Answer: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information,
encodes proteins, and is passed to offspring during reproduction.
◉ How do mutations occur?
REVISION SHEET CORE CONCEPT
BREAKDOWN
◉ What are the characteristics of life that all organisms share?
Answer: Actively maintain organized complexity; Acquire and use
materials and energy (metabolism); Sense and respond to stimuli;
Maintain homeostasis; Grow and develop; Reproduce (sexually or
asexually); Evolve as populations over time
◉ What is homeostasis?
Answer: Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain stable
internal conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) despite external changes.
◉ What are the two main cell types?
Answer: Prokaryotic cells: Lack a nucleus and organelles;
unicellular; include Bacteria & Archaea. Eukaryotic cells: Have a
nucleus & organelles; can be unicellular or multicellular; include
plants, animals, fungi, protists.
◉ What is the function of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells?
Answer: The nucleus stores the cell's DNA and controls cell
activities, including protein synthesis and reproduction.
,◉ What separates a cell from its environment?
Answer: A plasma membrane encloses the cell, containing cytoplasm
inside and regulating what enters and leaves.
◉ What are the two main ways organisms acquire energy?
Answer: 1. Photosynthesis (Phototrophs): Use sunlight to make
energy-rich molecules (ATP) and synthesize sugars from CO₂. 2.
Consumption (Chemotrophs): Use chemical reactions (oxidation) or
organic matter for energy.
◉ What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?
Answer: Autotrophs make their own food (e.g., plants using
photosynthesis). Heterotrophs must consume other living or dead
organisms for energy.
◉ What are chemolithotrophs?
Answer: Organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic
compounds like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or ammonia (NH₃); use CO₂
to build organic molecules.
◉ What is the difference between energy flow and nutrient cycling?
, Answer: Energy flows one way (eventually lost as heat), while
nutrients (e.g., water, minerals) cycle repeatedly through
ecosystems.
◉ How do organisms respond to stimuli?
Answer: They use energy to detect and respond to changes in their
environment (e.g., animals sense light, temperature; plants bend
toward sunlight).
◉ How do mammals maintain a stable internal temperature?
Answer: Through homeostasis mechanisms like sweating to cool the
body when external temperatures rise.
◉ How do organisms grow and develop?
Answer: Single-celled organisms enlarge and divide (asexual
reproduction). Multicellular organisms grow via cell division
(mitosis/meiosis) and often develop more complexity as they
mature.
◉ What is DNA and what does it do?
Answer: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information,
encodes proteins, and is passed to offspring during reproduction.
◉ How do mutations occur?
