WSU BIOLOGY 106 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2024
1.
2. Explain the process of photosynthesis and identify where it occurs within the cell.
○ Answer: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some
bacteria convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
It occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where the light-dependent reactions
take place in the thylakoid membranes, and the Calvin cycle occurs in the
stroma.
3. Describe the difference between mitosis and meiosis. Why is meiosis important
for sexual reproduction?
○ Answer: Mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two genetically
identical daughter cells, used for growth and tissue repair. Meiosis, on the other
hand, results in four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the number
of chromosomes, and is essential for producing gametes (sperm and egg cells)
in sexual reproduction, allowing genetic diversity in offspring.
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living organisms?
○ A) Ability to grow and develop
○ B) Ability to move
○ C) Ability to respond to the environment
○ D) Ability to reproduce
○ Answer: B) Ability to move – Not all living organisms have the ability to move;
for example, plants are generally stationary.
5. Define natural selection and explain how it contributes to evolution.
○ Answer: Natural selection is a process where organisms with favorable traits are
more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation.
Over time, this process can lead to evolution as advantageous traits become
more common within a population, adapting it to its environment.
6. What are enzymes, and how do they function within biological systems?
, ○ Answer: Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins that speed up
chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to
proceed. They are highly specific to their substrates and are essential for
regulating various metabolic processes within cells.
7. Which structure within a eukaryotic cell is responsible for protein synthesis?
○ A) Mitochondria
○ B) Nucleus
○ C) Ribosome
○ D) Golgi apparatus
○ Answer: C) Ribosome – Ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins by
translating mRNA sequences into amino acid chains.
8. How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in terms of structure and
complexity?
○ Answer: Prokaryotic cells, like bacteria, lack a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles, and their DNA is found in a single circular chromosome. Eukaryotic
cells have a nucleus, multiple linear chromosomes, and various membrane-
bound organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts, making them structurally
more complex.
8. What is the primary function of the cell membrane in eukaryotic cells?
○ Answer: The cell membrane regulates the movement of substances in and out of
the cell, providing a protective barrier that is selectively permeable to ions,
nutrients, and waste products.
9. Define osmosis and explain how it differs from simple diffusion.
○ Answer: Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable
membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a higher solute
concentration. Unlike simple diffusion, which involves any molecule moving down
its concentration gradient, osmosis specifically involves the movement of water.
10. What role do mitochondria play in cellular respiration?
○ Answer: Mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells, where
they convert glucose and oxygen into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide through
glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.
11. Which of the following structures is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
○ A) Nucleus
○ B) Mitochondria
○ C) Chloroplast
○ D) Golgi apparatus
○ Answer: C) Chloroplast – Chloroplasts are found in plant cells where they carry
out photosynthesis, a function not present in animal cells.
12. Explain the concept of a gene and how it relates to chromosomes.
○ Answer: A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a
specific protein or trait. Genes are located on chromosomes, which are long
strands of DNA coiled up within the cell nucleus in eukaryotic cells.
13. What is genetic drift and how does it impact populations?
○ Answer: Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution in which allele frequencies in a
population change due to random events or chance. This can lead to decreased
genetic variation and potentially alter traits in small populations over time.
14. Identify the role of tRNA in protein synthesis.
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2024
1.
2. Explain the process of photosynthesis and identify where it occurs within the cell.
○ Answer: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some
bacteria convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
It occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where the light-dependent reactions
take place in the thylakoid membranes, and the Calvin cycle occurs in the
stroma.
3. Describe the difference between mitosis and meiosis. Why is meiosis important
for sexual reproduction?
○ Answer: Mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two genetically
identical daughter cells, used for growth and tissue repair. Meiosis, on the other
hand, results in four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the number
of chromosomes, and is essential for producing gametes (sperm and egg cells)
in sexual reproduction, allowing genetic diversity in offspring.
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living organisms?
○ A) Ability to grow and develop
○ B) Ability to move
○ C) Ability to respond to the environment
○ D) Ability to reproduce
○ Answer: B) Ability to move – Not all living organisms have the ability to move;
for example, plants are generally stationary.
5. Define natural selection and explain how it contributes to evolution.
○ Answer: Natural selection is a process where organisms with favorable traits are
more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation.
Over time, this process can lead to evolution as advantageous traits become
more common within a population, adapting it to its environment.
6. What are enzymes, and how do they function within biological systems?
, ○ Answer: Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins that speed up
chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to
proceed. They are highly specific to their substrates and are essential for
regulating various metabolic processes within cells.
7. Which structure within a eukaryotic cell is responsible for protein synthesis?
○ A) Mitochondria
○ B) Nucleus
○ C) Ribosome
○ D) Golgi apparatus
○ Answer: C) Ribosome – Ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins by
translating mRNA sequences into amino acid chains.
8. How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in terms of structure and
complexity?
○ Answer: Prokaryotic cells, like bacteria, lack a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles, and their DNA is found in a single circular chromosome. Eukaryotic
cells have a nucleus, multiple linear chromosomes, and various membrane-
bound organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts, making them structurally
more complex.
8. What is the primary function of the cell membrane in eukaryotic cells?
○ Answer: The cell membrane regulates the movement of substances in and out of
the cell, providing a protective barrier that is selectively permeable to ions,
nutrients, and waste products.
9. Define osmosis and explain how it differs from simple diffusion.
○ Answer: Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable
membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a higher solute
concentration. Unlike simple diffusion, which involves any molecule moving down
its concentration gradient, osmosis specifically involves the movement of water.
10. What role do mitochondria play in cellular respiration?
○ Answer: Mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells, where
they convert glucose and oxygen into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide through
glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.
11. Which of the following structures is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
○ A) Nucleus
○ B) Mitochondria
○ C) Chloroplast
○ D) Golgi apparatus
○ Answer: C) Chloroplast – Chloroplasts are found in plant cells where they carry
out photosynthesis, a function not present in animal cells.
12. Explain the concept of a gene and how it relates to chromosomes.
○ Answer: A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a
specific protein or trait. Genes are located on chromosomes, which are long
strands of DNA coiled up within the cell nucleus in eukaryotic cells.
13. What is genetic drift and how does it impact populations?
○ Answer: Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution in which allele frequencies in a
population change due to random events or chance. This can lead to decreased
genetic variation and potentially alter traits in small populations over time.
14. Identify the role of tRNA in protein synthesis.
