BIO 156 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET
A+
✔✔Explain the basis for the pH scale. - ✔✔The basis for the pH scale is the amount of
H+ and OH- ions in a solution. More H+ ions means a solution is more acidic, while
more OH- ions means the solution is more basic.
✔✔List and describe the four major classes of organic compounds. - ✔✔carbohydrate
lipid
protein
nucleic acids
✔✔Describe the structure of an atom - ✔✔protons
neutrons
electrons
✔✔Explain why radioisotopes are important to biologists. - ✔✔Atoms of a radioisotope
have an unstable nucleus that breaks up spontaneously.
radioisotopes can be used as or in tracers, which are substances with a detectable
component.
PET scan
✔✔Explain how an acid differs from a base. - ✔✔The more concentrated the hydrogen
ions are, the lower the pH of the solution.
✔✔What is the cause and environmental consequence of acid rain? - ✔✔Burning fossil
fuels such as coal releases sulfur and
nitrogen compounds that affect the pH of rain and other forms of precipitation.
drastically changes the pH of water in soil, lakes, and streams.
✔✔Describe carbohydrates - ✔✔Simple sugars are called monosaccharides ( Glucose
and fructose).
sucrose is disaccharide.
, polysaccharides.
provide energy and structural support for living systems.
✔✔Describe lipids - ✔✔can be divided into fats, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.
part of it is hydrophobic.
make up part of cell membranes and provide energy.
✔✔Describe proteins - ✔✔made up of amino acids.
✔✔Describe the molecular structure and importance of RNA. - ✔✔An RNA molecule is
a chain of four kinds of nucleotide monomers, one of which is ATP. RNA molecules
carry out protein synthesis
✔✔Describe the molecular structure and importance of DNA. - ✔✔A DNA molecule
consists of two chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix.
Each cell starts life with DNA inherited from a parent cell.
✔✔Identify a peptide bond and explain how it is formed. - ✔✔covalent bond that links
amino acids in a protein
During protein synthesis, a peptide bond forms between the carboxyl group of the first
amino acid and the amine group of the second
✔✔Define the primary, secondary (two forms), tertiary, and quaternary structure of a
protein. - ✔✔1. primary structure is order of the amino acids
2. secondary structure has alpha helix and the beta pleated sheet.
tertiary structure interactions between the r- groups of amino acids.
3. quaternary structure is the interaction between multiple polypeptide chains.
4. making up membrane structure, antibodies, enzymes, neurotoxins, and hair and nail
structure. also used as an energy source.
✔✔List the major components of a nucleotide - ✔✔monomers of nucleic acids. contains
sugar, nitrogen base, and one ore more phosphate groups.
✔✔Cite the key features of the Cell Theory. - ✔✔1. Every living organism consists of
one or more cells.
2. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all organisms. A cell is the smallest unit
of life, individually alive even as part of a multicelled organism.
3. All living cells arise by division of preexisting cells.
4. Cells contain hereditary material, which they pass to their offspring when they divide.
✔✔Compare and contrast the structure and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts. -
✔✔mitochondria: Makes ATP by glucose breakdown
chloroplast: Makes sugars (in plants, some protists)
A+
✔✔Explain the basis for the pH scale. - ✔✔The basis for the pH scale is the amount of
H+ and OH- ions in a solution. More H+ ions means a solution is more acidic, while
more OH- ions means the solution is more basic.
✔✔List and describe the four major classes of organic compounds. - ✔✔carbohydrate
lipid
protein
nucleic acids
✔✔Describe the structure of an atom - ✔✔protons
neutrons
electrons
✔✔Explain why radioisotopes are important to biologists. - ✔✔Atoms of a radioisotope
have an unstable nucleus that breaks up spontaneously.
radioisotopes can be used as or in tracers, which are substances with a detectable
component.
PET scan
✔✔Explain how an acid differs from a base. - ✔✔The more concentrated the hydrogen
ions are, the lower the pH of the solution.
✔✔What is the cause and environmental consequence of acid rain? - ✔✔Burning fossil
fuels such as coal releases sulfur and
nitrogen compounds that affect the pH of rain and other forms of precipitation.
drastically changes the pH of water in soil, lakes, and streams.
✔✔Describe carbohydrates - ✔✔Simple sugars are called monosaccharides ( Glucose
and fructose).
sucrose is disaccharide.
, polysaccharides.
provide energy and structural support for living systems.
✔✔Describe lipids - ✔✔can be divided into fats, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.
part of it is hydrophobic.
make up part of cell membranes and provide energy.
✔✔Describe proteins - ✔✔made up of amino acids.
✔✔Describe the molecular structure and importance of RNA. - ✔✔An RNA molecule is
a chain of four kinds of nucleotide monomers, one of which is ATP. RNA molecules
carry out protein synthesis
✔✔Describe the molecular structure and importance of DNA. - ✔✔A DNA molecule
consists of two chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix.
Each cell starts life with DNA inherited from a parent cell.
✔✔Identify a peptide bond and explain how it is formed. - ✔✔covalent bond that links
amino acids in a protein
During protein synthesis, a peptide bond forms between the carboxyl group of the first
amino acid and the amine group of the second
✔✔Define the primary, secondary (two forms), tertiary, and quaternary structure of a
protein. - ✔✔1. primary structure is order of the amino acids
2. secondary structure has alpha helix and the beta pleated sheet.
tertiary structure interactions between the r- groups of amino acids.
3. quaternary structure is the interaction between multiple polypeptide chains.
4. making up membrane structure, antibodies, enzymes, neurotoxins, and hair and nail
structure. also used as an energy source.
✔✔List the major components of a nucleotide - ✔✔monomers of nucleic acids. contains
sugar, nitrogen base, and one ore more phosphate groups.
✔✔Cite the key features of the Cell Theory. - ✔✔1. Every living organism consists of
one or more cells.
2. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all organisms. A cell is the smallest unit
of life, individually alive even as part of a multicelled organism.
3. All living cells arise by division of preexisting cells.
4. Cells contain hereditary material, which they pass to their offspring when they divide.
✔✔Compare and contrast the structure and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts. -
✔✔mitochondria: Makes ATP by glucose breakdown
chloroplast: Makes sugars (in plants, some protists)
