BIOL 1200: Human Biology
Study Guide for EXAM 1 - Chapters 1 through 3
NOTE: This study guide is a general guideline. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. You should study your
lecture notes, read the chapters in the text, and study the summary and exercises at the end of the chapter.
1. Be able to name and describe the six characteristics of life that are common to all living organisms.
2. Describe the levels of organization of life. (See Fig. 1.2, p. 3)
3. Define energy. Name two ways in which organisms acquire energy. Define metabolism.
4. Define homeostasis. How is it important?
5. What is an adaptation? Explain the relationship between adaptations and evolutionary change.
6. Name and briefly describe the three domains of life.
7. Describe the four kingdoms belonging to Domain Eukarya. (See Fig. 1.6, p. 8) What types of organisms
might be found in each of these kingdoms?
8. Define science. What is the difference between objectivity and subjectivity? Which of these is the aim of
science?
9. Define: hypothesis, theory, principle (law).
10. Describe the steps of the scientific method.
11. Given an experimental situation, be able to identify the experimental (independent) variable, the
responding (dependent) variable, and the control group.
12. With regard to collected data, how are graphs and statistics important?
13. Explain the importance of scientific journals (primary sources of scientific information).
14. Define: matter, element, atom, isotope, compound, molecule, ion.
15. Be familiar with the subatomic particles composing an atom.
16. What can you tell from an atom’s atomic number, atomic mass, and atomic symbol?
17. What determines the chemical properties (reactivity) of an atom?
18. What are the differences between ionic and covalent bonds?
19. What is meant by polarity? How does it contribute to hydrogen bonding?
20. Be familiar with the properties of water.
21. Define: acid, base, buffer.
22. What is the pH scale? What is the amount of difference from one unit to the next on the pH scale?
23. What characteristic of carbon makes it ideal for forming the basis of molecules of life?
24. What is the difference between organic and inorganic molecules?
25. Name and describe the four categories of organic molecules.
26. What is condensation? What is hydrolysis?
27. How do you determine if a fat or oil is saturated or unsaturated?
28. Briefly explain the functions of proteins in humans/animals. (See p. 35)
29. What characteristic of a protein molecule determines its function?
30. How are proteins denatured? What effect does denaturation have on proteins?
31. Describe the four levels of protein structure.
32. What are some important nucleic acids? What, in general, is their function?
33. Compare the structures of DNA and RNA.
34. Describe the structure of ATP. What is the function of this molecule?
35. Define cell.
36. What is the cell theory?
37. Be able to explain surface area to volume relationships regarding cell size.
38. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
39. What is the function of the plasma membrane of a cell?
40. What is the cytoplasm?
41. Explain the importance of compartmentalization to eukaryotic cells.
42. Describe the structure and function of the following eukaryotic cell organelles: nucleus, ribosomes,
endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth), Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vesicles, mitochondria,
microtubules, cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella. (See p. 47)
43. What are the functions of adhesion junctions, tight junctions, and, gap junctions in animal cells?
44. What is the endosymbiotic hypothesis?
45. Describe the fluid-mosaic model of the plasma (cell) membrane.
, 46. Define: selectively permeable, diffusion, osmosis.
47. Define: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions.
48. Compare facilitated (passive) transport with active transport.
49. Define: endocytosis, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and exocytosis.
50. Define metabolism.
51. What is a metabolic pathway?
52. Define: substrates (reactants), intermediates, enzymes, coenzymes, end products.
53. What four features do enzymes have in common?
54. Define: active site, allosteric site.
55. Define activation energy. How is it altered when enzymes are present?
56. Describe the three components of an ATP molecule.
57. What is the function of ATP?
58. What is phosphorylation? What is the significance of the ATP/ADP cycle?
59. Define cellular respiration.
60. Describe the basic steps required in the breakdown of glucose by cellular respiration. Where does each
step occur in the cell? Which steps require oxygen? How many ATP molecules are produced in each
step? (See pp. 60 – 62)
61. What is fermentation? Where does it occur in the cell? When might it occur? Is oxygen used in the
fermentation process? How many ATP are generated from fermentation? What does the “burning”
sensation in overexerted muscles have to do with fermentation? What is oxygen debt? Distinguish
between lactate fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.
Study Guide for EXAM 1 - Chapters 1 through 3
NOTE: This study guide is a general guideline. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. You should study your
lecture notes, read the chapters in the text, and study the summary and exercises at the end of the chapter.
1. Be able to name and describe the six characteristics of life that are common to all living organisms.
2. Describe the levels of organization of life. (See Fig. 1.2, p. 3)
3. Define energy. Name two ways in which organisms acquire energy. Define metabolism.
4. Define homeostasis. How is it important?
5. What is an adaptation? Explain the relationship between adaptations and evolutionary change.
6. Name and briefly describe the three domains of life.
7. Describe the four kingdoms belonging to Domain Eukarya. (See Fig. 1.6, p. 8) What types of organisms
might be found in each of these kingdoms?
8. Define science. What is the difference between objectivity and subjectivity? Which of these is the aim of
science?
9. Define: hypothesis, theory, principle (law).
10. Describe the steps of the scientific method.
11. Given an experimental situation, be able to identify the experimental (independent) variable, the
responding (dependent) variable, and the control group.
12. With regard to collected data, how are graphs and statistics important?
13. Explain the importance of scientific journals (primary sources of scientific information).
14. Define: matter, element, atom, isotope, compound, molecule, ion.
15. Be familiar with the subatomic particles composing an atom.
16. What can you tell from an atom’s atomic number, atomic mass, and atomic symbol?
17. What determines the chemical properties (reactivity) of an atom?
18. What are the differences between ionic and covalent bonds?
19. What is meant by polarity? How does it contribute to hydrogen bonding?
20. Be familiar with the properties of water.
21. Define: acid, base, buffer.
22. What is the pH scale? What is the amount of difference from one unit to the next on the pH scale?
23. What characteristic of carbon makes it ideal for forming the basis of molecules of life?
24. What is the difference between organic and inorganic molecules?
25. Name and describe the four categories of organic molecules.
26. What is condensation? What is hydrolysis?
27. How do you determine if a fat or oil is saturated or unsaturated?
28. Briefly explain the functions of proteins in humans/animals. (See p. 35)
29. What characteristic of a protein molecule determines its function?
30. How are proteins denatured? What effect does denaturation have on proteins?
31. Describe the four levels of protein structure.
32. What are some important nucleic acids? What, in general, is their function?
33. Compare the structures of DNA and RNA.
34. Describe the structure of ATP. What is the function of this molecule?
35. Define cell.
36. What is the cell theory?
37. Be able to explain surface area to volume relationships regarding cell size.
38. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
39. What is the function of the plasma membrane of a cell?
40. What is the cytoplasm?
41. Explain the importance of compartmentalization to eukaryotic cells.
42. Describe the structure and function of the following eukaryotic cell organelles: nucleus, ribosomes,
endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth), Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vesicles, mitochondria,
microtubules, cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella. (See p. 47)
43. What are the functions of adhesion junctions, tight junctions, and, gap junctions in animal cells?
44. What is the endosymbiotic hypothesis?
45. Describe the fluid-mosaic model of the plasma (cell) membrane.
, 46. Define: selectively permeable, diffusion, osmosis.
47. Define: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions.
48. Compare facilitated (passive) transport with active transport.
49. Define: endocytosis, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and exocytosis.
50. Define metabolism.
51. What is a metabolic pathway?
52. Define: substrates (reactants), intermediates, enzymes, coenzymes, end products.
53. What four features do enzymes have in common?
54. Define: active site, allosteric site.
55. Define activation energy. How is it altered when enzymes are present?
56. Describe the three components of an ATP molecule.
57. What is the function of ATP?
58. What is phosphorylation? What is the significance of the ATP/ADP cycle?
59. Define cellular respiration.
60. Describe the basic steps required in the breakdown of glucose by cellular respiration. Where does each
step occur in the cell? Which steps require oxygen? How many ATP molecules are produced in each
step? (See pp. 60 – 62)
61. What is fermentation? Where does it occur in the cell? When might it occur? Is oxygen used in the
fermentation process? How many ATP are generated from fermentation? What does the “burning”
sensation in overexerted muscles have to do with fermentation? What is oxygen debt? Distinguish
between lactate fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.
