Human Biology Exam 2 Questions with
Complete Answers
What is the name of the process that allows our cells to extract energy from our
food? - ANSWER-Cellular respiration
What is the "point" of cellular respiration? - ANSWER-To make bunches of ATP
Why is molecular oxygen necessary? - ANSWER-To fully extract energy from our
food
Explain why molecular oxygen is necessary by stating why its legitimate to think of
this process as being akin to electricity. - ANSWER-Hydrogen electrons from
glucose or fatty acids, etc. are passed from one protein to another and eventually to
oxygen. This flow of electrons can be thought of as being driven by oxygen pulling
these electrons down a "power line" made of the proteins embedded in inner
mambrane of mitochondria
If glucose, fatty acids, and ketones are the molecules from which we extract energy
to live, why do we consider ATP our ultimate energy molecule? - ANSWER-Energy
is the capacity to do work, and work is the movement or rearrangement of matter, so
the fact that ATP changes the shape of molecules and causes them to move means
that ATP functions as energy
Why is it misleading (and incomplete) to say that plants breath carbon dioxide and
that peope breathe oxygen? - ANSWER-People and plants that live on land breath
air, and airid made of nitrogen, oxygen, and other molecules, including carbon
dioxide
Why is it incorrect and misleading to say that plants photosynthesize to make oxygen
for people? - ANSWER-Plants photosynthesize becaue they have chlorophylls and
other molecules that cause them to photozynthesize. If a person insists on
personifying plants, then one could say that plants photosynthesize to make food for
themselves. Oxygen is simply a waste by- product of the process that both plants
and animlas use in cellular respiration
What causes discomfort when holding ones breathe and the inevitable muscle
contractions that force one to breathe? - ANSWER-Build up of CO2 in the blood
What causes the buildup of CO2 in the blood? - ANSWER-Cellular respiration
What would eventually kill us if nothing else did? Why? - ANSWER-Oxygen,
becuase it damages our proteins and DNA when it steals electrons from them or
when it creates "free radicals" that steal electrons from our proteins and DNA
, Name and identify the different parts of our digestive system (only the parts named
in class) - ANSWER-Mouth, stomach, small intestines, pancreas, liver, and gall
bladder
In what parts of our digestive system do enzynes carry out chemical digestion? -
ANSWER-Mouth, stomach, and small intestine
Where does most enzyme- based digestion occur? - ANSWER-Small intestine
Which organ secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine? - ANSWER-
Pancreas
What is bile made by? - ANSWER-The liver
Where is bile stored? - ANSWER-The gall bladder
Where is bile secreted? - ANSWER-The small intestine
What is biles function? - ANSWER-To facilitate the breakdown/ digestion of lipids
Why must diaccharides and complex carbohydrates be digested if we are to make
use of them? - ANSWER-Because they are too large to be absorbed by the small
intestines
Why is it healthier to eat complex carbohydrates than simple sugars? - ANSWER-
Simple sugars are abosrbed quickly, and this rapid absorption can overburden the
pancreas and cause sugar concentration in the blood to spike, which in turn can
damage nerves, blood vessels, and tissues with high concentrations of nerves or
capillaries. In contrast, complex carbohydrates require more chemical reactions to be
digested, and as a result the glucose molecules theyre made of are absorbed more
slowly and more steadily, therby avoiding the glucose spikes associated with eating/
drinking simple sugars
Why is it correct to say that refined sugars such as pure sucrose, pure glucose, pure
fructose, or high fructose syrups are unhealthy if consumed in anything greater than
small amounts? - ANSWER-A. Refined sugar is easily and rapidly digested and
absorbed, causing spikes/ surges in blood sugar levels if consumed more rapidly
than small to moderate amounts
B. A surg of glucose can overwhelm our supply of insulin, causing damage to blood
vessels and nerves
C. Liver cells are the only cells in our bodies that metabolize fructose, and refined
sugar is 50% fructose, so too much fructose can overburden the liver and cause fatty
liver disease
Why is it nonsense for someone to say that sugar is poison? - ANSWER-Because
glucose, which is sugar, is the energy source our cells tend to prefer, and its energy
source *required* by cells of our central nervous system
Which organ detoxifies the by- product created when cells metabolize a proteins
amino acids? - ANSWER-Liver. The liver converts ammonium into urea
Complete Answers
What is the name of the process that allows our cells to extract energy from our
food? - ANSWER-Cellular respiration
What is the "point" of cellular respiration? - ANSWER-To make bunches of ATP
Why is molecular oxygen necessary? - ANSWER-To fully extract energy from our
food
Explain why molecular oxygen is necessary by stating why its legitimate to think of
this process as being akin to electricity. - ANSWER-Hydrogen electrons from
glucose or fatty acids, etc. are passed from one protein to another and eventually to
oxygen. This flow of electrons can be thought of as being driven by oxygen pulling
these electrons down a "power line" made of the proteins embedded in inner
mambrane of mitochondria
If glucose, fatty acids, and ketones are the molecules from which we extract energy
to live, why do we consider ATP our ultimate energy molecule? - ANSWER-Energy
is the capacity to do work, and work is the movement or rearrangement of matter, so
the fact that ATP changes the shape of molecules and causes them to move means
that ATP functions as energy
Why is it misleading (and incomplete) to say that plants breath carbon dioxide and
that peope breathe oxygen? - ANSWER-People and plants that live on land breath
air, and airid made of nitrogen, oxygen, and other molecules, including carbon
dioxide
Why is it incorrect and misleading to say that plants photosynthesize to make oxygen
for people? - ANSWER-Plants photosynthesize becaue they have chlorophylls and
other molecules that cause them to photozynthesize. If a person insists on
personifying plants, then one could say that plants photosynthesize to make food for
themselves. Oxygen is simply a waste by- product of the process that both plants
and animlas use in cellular respiration
What causes discomfort when holding ones breathe and the inevitable muscle
contractions that force one to breathe? - ANSWER-Build up of CO2 in the blood
What causes the buildup of CO2 in the blood? - ANSWER-Cellular respiration
What would eventually kill us if nothing else did? Why? - ANSWER-Oxygen,
becuase it damages our proteins and DNA when it steals electrons from them or
when it creates "free radicals" that steal electrons from our proteins and DNA
, Name and identify the different parts of our digestive system (only the parts named
in class) - ANSWER-Mouth, stomach, small intestines, pancreas, liver, and gall
bladder
In what parts of our digestive system do enzynes carry out chemical digestion? -
ANSWER-Mouth, stomach, and small intestine
Where does most enzyme- based digestion occur? - ANSWER-Small intestine
Which organ secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine? - ANSWER-
Pancreas
What is bile made by? - ANSWER-The liver
Where is bile stored? - ANSWER-The gall bladder
Where is bile secreted? - ANSWER-The small intestine
What is biles function? - ANSWER-To facilitate the breakdown/ digestion of lipids
Why must diaccharides and complex carbohydrates be digested if we are to make
use of them? - ANSWER-Because they are too large to be absorbed by the small
intestines
Why is it healthier to eat complex carbohydrates than simple sugars? - ANSWER-
Simple sugars are abosrbed quickly, and this rapid absorption can overburden the
pancreas and cause sugar concentration in the blood to spike, which in turn can
damage nerves, blood vessels, and tissues with high concentrations of nerves or
capillaries. In contrast, complex carbohydrates require more chemical reactions to be
digested, and as a result the glucose molecules theyre made of are absorbed more
slowly and more steadily, therby avoiding the glucose spikes associated with eating/
drinking simple sugars
Why is it correct to say that refined sugars such as pure sucrose, pure glucose, pure
fructose, or high fructose syrups are unhealthy if consumed in anything greater than
small amounts? - ANSWER-A. Refined sugar is easily and rapidly digested and
absorbed, causing spikes/ surges in blood sugar levels if consumed more rapidly
than small to moderate amounts
B. A surg of glucose can overwhelm our supply of insulin, causing damage to blood
vessels and nerves
C. Liver cells are the only cells in our bodies that metabolize fructose, and refined
sugar is 50% fructose, so too much fructose can overburden the liver and cause fatty
liver disease
Why is it nonsense for someone to say that sugar is poison? - ANSWER-Because
glucose, which is sugar, is the energy source our cells tend to prefer, and its energy
source *required* by cells of our central nervous system
Which organ detoxifies the by- product created when cells metabolize a proteins
amino acids? - ANSWER-Liver. The liver converts ammonium into urea
