Bio 1500 Final Exam Study Guide
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Think of the concept of deep time. How would you describe the distribution of events
over time? Are they evenly distributed? If not, how then? - ✔✔There is an uneven
distribution of life formation on Earth if you look at it from a yearly scale. From the
formation of the Earth to the introduction of algae, everything was pretty evenly
spaced; however, following the ice age, there is an exponential growth of life forms
within a very short period of time
According to scientific evidence, approximately how long ago did Earth form? - ✔✔4.6
billion years ago
For how long did Dinosaurs roam on Earth? - ✔✔approximately 165 million years
There are limits the usefulness of diffusion in biological processes. What limitations can
you think of? - ✔✔Diffusion, though typically consistent, has patterns that don't follow
specific rules. For example, in the pattern of high concentrations moving to low
concentrations, not every particle will use that specific method. Additionally, the limits
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,of space and time occur as it will take a much more significant amount of time for
diffusion to occur in spaces that are over what is normally seen in a typical rate.
How does random movement of individual particles result in predictable movement
form high to low concentrations? Explain in 3-4 sentences. Come up with your own
words: don't copy your notes. - ✔✔Although an individual particle does not follow a
specific movement, the likelihood that some or most particles will end up crossing from
high to low concentrations during their diffusion allows us to recognize an overall
pattern. If you watch a specific particle, it is likely, but not guaranteed, that it will move
from high to low.
Why is it important, in this context, to distinguish between Oxygen and O2? -
✔✔Oxygen and dioxygen differ in their chemical bonds but also have differences when
it comes to the impact which they hold. Oxygen forms dioxygen which makes up the air
we breathe.
When did O2 first appear in the atmosphere, both in years, and after which event? -
✔✔O2 first appeared 3000 mya following the development of the first land masses
appeared on Earth.
Explain why oxygen levels stayed constant for over one billion years at a relatively low
level. - ✔✔Oxygen levels stayed consistent before the development of eukaryotes,
starting with cyanobacteria. Later, algae chloroplasts developed which began the
process of photosynthesis that impacted the earth's oxygen levels.
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,What does this sentence mean: "60% of Earth's minerals are biogenic (i.e. generated by
life)"? - ✔✔It means that they formed after O2 appeared in the atmosphere and ocean.
Life on Earth caused a dramatic change in oxygen levels as a result of photosynthesis,
meaning that any mineral formed with oxygen was due to the rise in plant life.
Aside from insect size, what other variables did Clapham and Karr measure? - ✔✔They
measured the size of insect predators, such as birds during these time periods. They
used this data to introduce the idea that insect size was more closely related to
predatorial size rather than high oxygen levels, due to the fact that insect sizes were
shrinking during some of the highest rises in oxygen.
Suppose you discovered a new form of energy. How would you decide whether it
should be categorized as kinetic vs potential energy? - ✔✔Kinetic energy is the energy
of movement. If the form includes any sort of heat, light, or electricity, then it can be
classified as kinetic.
Potential energy is energy that is stored. This includes chemical energy, which is a bond
of 4 hydrogen and 1 carbon atom. If this is the chemical makeup, then the energy is
potential.
Describe the relationship between the wavelength of energy and the amount of energy
it carries. - ✔✔Shorter wavelengths are an increase in energy as they have more "bags"
of energy photons. Longer wavelengths are a decrease in energy, there is a longer space
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, between peaks meaning that there are less "bags" crossing a spectrum in the same
amount of time that a shorter wavelength would.
Describe the three things that can happen to light when it strikes a surface. - ✔✔Light
can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.
Given what you learned about light and chlorophyll this week, why do most plants
appear green to us? - ✔✔We perceive plants as green because chlorophyll is absorbing
violet, red, and blue light while reflecting the wavelengths that we see as green light.
What wavelengths (=colors) of light do most plants use as their primary source of
energy in photosynthesis? - ✔✔Plants use the wavelengths of violet, red, and blue as
their source of energy in photosynthesis.
Describe what happens in the light-dependent reactions. - ✔✔ATP is synthesized,
NADPH is generated, and water is split apart in the process to release oxygen as a
byproduct.
Describe what happens in the light-independent reactions. - ✔✔The E from ATP and
NADPH are used to build glucose, this is commonly referred to as the Calvin Cycle.
Why do plants perform photosynthesis? - ✔✔Plants perform photosynthesis to make
other molecules in the plant. The glucose produced by photosynthesis aids in building
cellulose which makes up the cell wall. It also makes ATP out of it as needed which is
used for all chemical reactions out of the cell.
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Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Think of the concept of deep time. How would you describe the distribution of events
over time? Are they evenly distributed? If not, how then? - ✔✔There is an uneven
distribution of life formation on Earth if you look at it from a yearly scale. From the
formation of the Earth to the introduction of algae, everything was pretty evenly
spaced; however, following the ice age, there is an exponential growth of life forms
within a very short period of time
According to scientific evidence, approximately how long ago did Earth form? - ✔✔4.6
billion years ago
For how long did Dinosaurs roam on Earth? - ✔✔approximately 165 million years
There are limits the usefulness of diffusion in biological processes. What limitations can
you think of? - ✔✔Diffusion, though typically consistent, has patterns that don't follow
specific rules. For example, in the pattern of high concentrations moving to low
concentrations, not every particle will use that specific method. Additionally, the limits
100% Pass Guarantee Sophia Bennett, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,of space and time occur as it will take a much more significant amount of time for
diffusion to occur in spaces that are over what is normally seen in a typical rate.
How does random movement of individual particles result in predictable movement
form high to low concentrations? Explain in 3-4 sentences. Come up with your own
words: don't copy your notes. - ✔✔Although an individual particle does not follow a
specific movement, the likelihood that some or most particles will end up crossing from
high to low concentrations during their diffusion allows us to recognize an overall
pattern. If you watch a specific particle, it is likely, but not guaranteed, that it will move
from high to low.
Why is it important, in this context, to distinguish between Oxygen and O2? -
✔✔Oxygen and dioxygen differ in their chemical bonds but also have differences when
it comes to the impact which they hold. Oxygen forms dioxygen which makes up the air
we breathe.
When did O2 first appear in the atmosphere, both in years, and after which event? -
✔✔O2 first appeared 3000 mya following the development of the first land masses
appeared on Earth.
Explain why oxygen levels stayed constant for over one billion years at a relatively low
level. - ✔✔Oxygen levels stayed consistent before the development of eukaryotes,
starting with cyanobacteria. Later, algae chloroplasts developed which began the
process of photosynthesis that impacted the earth's oxygen levels.
100% Pass Guarantee Sophia Bennett, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,What does this sentence mean: "60% of Earth's minerals are biogenic (i.e. generated by
life)"? - ✔✔It means that they formed after O2 appeared in the atmosphere and ocean.
Life on Earth caused a dramatic change in oxygen levels as a result of photosynthesis,
meaning that any mineral formed with oxygen was due to the rise in plant life.
Aside from insect size, what other variables did Clapham and Karr measure? - ✔✔They
measured the size of insect predators, such as birds during these time periods. They
used this data to introduce the idea that insect size was more closely related to
predatorial size rather than high oxygen levels, due to the fact that insect sizes were
shrinking during some of the highest rises in oxygen.
Suppose you discovered a new form of energy. How would you decide whether it
should be categorized as kinetic vs potential energy? - ✔✔Kinetic energy is the energy
of movement. If the form includes any sort of heat, light, or electricity, then it can be
classified as kinetic.
Potential energy is energy that is stored. This includes chemical energy, which is a bond
of 4 hydrogen and 1 carbon atom. If this is the chemical makeup, then the energy is
potential.
Describe the relationship between the wavelength of energy and the amount of energy
it carries. - ✔✔Shorter wavelengths are an increase in energy as they have more "bags"
of energy photons. Longer wavelengths are a decrease in energy, there is a longer space
100% Pass Guarantee Sophia Bennett, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, between peaks meaning that there are less "bags" crossing a spectrum in the same
amount of time that a shorter wavelength would.
Describe the three things that can happen to light when it strikes a surface. - ✔✔Light
can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.
Given what you learned about light and chlorophyll this week, why do most plants
appear green to us? - ✔✔We perceive plants as green because chlorophyll is absorbing
violet, red, and blue light while reflecting the wavelengths that we see as green light.
What wavelengths (=colors) of light do most plants use as their primary source of
energy in photosynthesis? - ✔✔Plants use the wavelengths of violet, red, and blue as
their source of energy in photosynthesis.
Describe what happens in the light-dependent reactions. - ✔✔ATP is synthesized,
NADPH is generated, and water is split apart in the process to release oxygen as a
byproduct.
Describe what happens in the light-independent reactions. - ✔✔The E from ATP and
NADPH are used to build glucose, this is commonly referred to as the Calvin Cycle.
Why do plants perform photosynthesis? - ✔✔Plants perform photosynthesis to make
other molecules in the plant. The glucose produced by photosynthesis aids in building
cellulose which makes up the cell wall. It also makes ATP out of it as needed which is
used for all chemical reactions out of the cell.
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