General Biology 1 Final Exam
Question and answers already passed
2025/2026
Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biological organization from least to most complex and vice
versa. - correct answer ✔(least to most) Molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organisms,
populations, communities, ecosystems, the biosphere. (most to least) The biosphere, ecosystems,
communities, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules
What are the three domains of life? What does each include? - correct answer ✔Eukarya: plants, fungi,
animals, protists(eukaryotic). Bacteria(prokaryotes). Archaea(prokaryotes)
How are all living organisms related? - correct answer ✔DNA is the universal genetic language common
to all organisms
How is energy converted in an ecosystem? - correct answer ✔By the process of photosynthesis in
plants
What are the four major elements found in living organisms? - correct answer ✔Carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen
Distinguish between the following pairs of terms: neutron and proton, atomic number and mass
number, element and compound. - correct answer ✔neutrons (no electrical charge), protons (positive
charge); atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus, mass number is the sum of protons plus
neutrons in the nucleus; An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by
chemical reactions, A compound is a substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio
Given the atomic number and mass number of an atom, determine the number of protons, neutrons
and electrons. - correct answer ✔The atomic number is the number of protons. You subtract this
number from the mass number to get the mount of neutrons. The number of electrons equals the
number of protons
,Explain how isotopes of an element are similar. - correct answer ✔They have the same number of
protons but differ in the number of neutrons
Distinguish between nonpolar covalent, polar covalent and ionic bonds. - correct answer ✔In a
nonpolar covalent bond, the atoms share the electron equally. In a polar covalent bond, one atom is
more electronegative, and the atoms do not share the electron equally. Ionic bond is when anions and
cations attract each other
Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and explain how it differs from a covalent or ionic bond. -
correct answer ✔A hydrogen bond forms when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one
electronegative atom is also attracted to another electronegative atom
Describe the four characteristics of water that are emergent properties resulting from hydrogen
bonding. - correct answer ✔Cohesive behavior, Ability to moderate temperature, Expansion upon
freezing, Versatility as a solvent
Distinguish between hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances. Which is polar? Which is nonpolar? -
correct answer ✔A hydrophilic substance is one that has an affinity for water (Polar). A hydrophobic
substance is one that does not have an affinity for water (Nonpolar)
Distinguish between acids and bases. Describe the pH scale. - correct answer ✔An acid is a substance
that increases the H+ concentration of a solution. Acidic solutions have pH values less than 7. A base is a
substance that reduces the H+ concentration of a solution. Basic solutions have pH values greater than 7
Describe the basic structure of each functional group, and list the chemical properties of organic
molecules in which they occur. NH2 - basic; SH-stabilizes proteins; COOH - acts like an acid - correct
answer ✔NH2= -N in the middle (big blue ball) and a line up to one H (small white ball) and a line down
to one H (small white ball). (Amino group). SH= -S (big yellow ball) in the middle with a line straight to H
(small white ball). -SH or (HS-). (Sulfhydryl group). COOH= -C in the middle (big gray ball) with a double
bond (thick white line) up to one O (red ball) and then a line done to O(a red ball) H(white ball
connected to red ball by a line). (Carboxyl group)
, Which functional groups are found in amino acids? - correct answer ✔Carboxyl and amino groups
How does carbon's electron configuration explain its ability to form large, complex, diverse organic
molecules? - correct answer ✔With four valence electrons (outer shell), carbon can form four covalent
bonds with a variety of atoms
What happens during a dehydration (condensation) reaction and hydrolysis? - correct answer ✔A
dehydration reaction occurs when two monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule.
Hydrolysis adds a water molecule, breaking a bond. Polymers are disassembled to monomers by
hydrolysis
Distinguish between a saturated fat, unsaturated fat, phospholipid, and steroid. - correct answer
✔Saturated fatty acids have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds.
Solid at room temperature, most animal fats. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
Oils and are liquid at room temperature, plants fats and fish fats. In a phospholipid, two fatty acids and a
phosphate group are attached to glycerol. Steroids are lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton
consisting of four fused rings
What are the principal energy storage molecules and structural molecules of plants and animals? -
correct answer ✔Glycogen and starch
Explain how the structure of a protein is determined. - correct answer ✔The sequence of amino acids
How do prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells? - correct answer ✔Prokaryotic cells: No nucleus,
DNA in an unbound region called the nucleoid, No membrane-bound organelles, Cytoplasm bound by
the plasma membrane. Eukaryotic cells: DNA in a nucleus that is bounded by a double membrane,
Membrane-bound organelles, Cytoplasm in the region between the plasma membrane and nucleus,
Generally much larger than prokaryotic cells
List the components of the endomembrane system, describe their functions and summarize the
relationships among them. - correct answer ✔Nuclear envelope: encloses the nucleus, separating it
from the cytoplasm. Is a double membrane; each membrane consists of a lipid bilayer. Endoplasmic
reticulum: continuous with the nuclear envelope. Smooth ER - which lacks ribosomes, synthesizes lipids,
Question and answers already passed
2025/2026
Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biological organization from least to most complex and vice
versa. - correct answer ✔(least to most) Molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organisms,
populations, communities, ecosystems, the biosphere. (most to least) The biosphere, ecosystems,
communities, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules
What are the three domains of life? What does each include? - correct answer ✔Eukarya: plants, fungi,
animals, protists(eukaryotic). Bacteria(prokaryotes). Archaea(prokaryotes)
How are all living organisms related? - correct answer ✔DNA is the universal genetic language common
to all organisms
How is energy converted in an ecosystem? - correct answer ✔By the process of photosynthesis in
plants
What are the four major elements found in living organisms? - correct answer ✔Carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen
Distinguish between the following pairs of terms: neutron and proton, atomic number and mass
number, element and compound. - correct answer ✔neutrons (no electrical charge), protons (positive
charge); atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus, mass number is the sum of protons plus
neutrons in the nucleus; An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by
chemical reactions, A compound is a substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio
Given the atomic number and mass number of an atom, determine the number of protons, neutrons
and electrons. - correct answer ✔The atomic number is the number of protons. You subtract this
number from the mass number to get the mount of neutrons. The number of electrons equals the
number of protons
,Explain how isotopes of an element are similar. - correct answer ✔They have the same number of
protons but differ in the number of neutrons
Distinguish between nonpolar covalent, polar covalent and ionic bonds. - correct answer ✔In a
nonpolar covalent bond, the atoms share the electron equally. In a polar covalent bond, one atom is
more electronegative, and the atoms do not share the electron equally. Ionic bond is when anions and
cations attract each other
Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and explain how it differs from a covalent or ionic bond. -
correct answer ✔A hydrogen bond forms when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one
electronegative atom is also attracted to another electronegative atom
Describe the four characteristics of water that are emergent properties resulting from hydrogen
bonding. - correct answer ✔Cohesive behavior, Ability to moderate temperature, Expansion upon
freezing, Versatility as a solvent
Distinguish between hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances. Which is polar? Which is nonpolar? -
correct answer ✔A hydrophilic substance is one that has an affinity for water (Polar). A hydrophobic
substance is one that does not have an affinity for water (Nonpolar)
Distinguish between acids and bases. Describe the pH scale. - correct answer ✔An acid is a substance
that increases the H+ concentration of a solution. Acidic solutions have pH values less than 7. A base is a
substance that reduces the H+ concentration of a solution. Basic solutions have pH values greater than 7
Describe the basic structure of each functional group, and list the chemical properties of organic
molecules in which they occur. NH2 - basic; SH-stabilizes proteins; COOH - acts like an acid - correct
answer ✔NH2= -N in the middle (big blue ball) and a line up to one H (small white ball) and a line down
to one H (small white ball). (Amino group). SH= -S (big yellow ball) in the middle with a line straight to H
(small white ball). -SH or (HS-). (Sulfhydryl group). COOH= -C in the middle (big gray ball) with a double
bond (thick white line) up to one O (red ball) and then a line done to O(a red ball) H(white ball
connected to red ball by a line). (Carboxyl group)
, Which functional groups are found in amino acids? - correct answer ✔Carboxyl and amino groups
How does carbon's electron configuration explain its ability to form large, complex, diverse organic
molecules? - correct answer ✔With four valence electrons (outer shell), carbon can form four covalent
bonds with a variety of atoms
What happens during a dehydration (condensation) reaction and hydrolysis? - correct answer ✔A
dehydration reaction occurs when two monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule.
Hydrolysis adds a water molecule, breaking a bond. Polymers are disassembled to monomers by
hydrolysis
Distinguish between a saturated fat, unsaturated fat, phospholipid, and steroid. - correct answer
✔Saturated fatty acids have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds.
Solid at room temperature, most animal fats. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
Oils and are liquid at room temperature, plants fats and fish fats. In a phospholipid, two fatty acids and a
phosphate group are attached to glycerol. Steroids are lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton
consisting of four fused rings
What are the principal energy storage molecules and structural molecules of plants and animals? -
correct answer ✔Glycogen and starch
Explain how the structure of a protein is determined. - correct answer ✔The sequence of amino acids
How do prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells? - correct answer ✔Prokaryotic cells: No nucleus,
DNA in an unbound region called the nucleoid, No membrane-bound organelles, Cytoplasm bound by
the plasma membrane. Eukaryotic cells: DNA in a nucleus that is bounded by a double membrane,
Membrane-bound organelles, Cytoplasm in the region between the plasma membrane and nucleus,
Generally much larger than prokaryotic cells
List the components of the endomembrane system, describe their functions and summarize the
relationships among them. - correct answer ✔Nuclear envelope: encloses the nucleus, separating it
from the cytoplasm. Is a double membrane; each membrane consists of a lipid bilayer. Endoplasmic
reticulum: continuous with the nuclear envelope. Smooth ER - which lacks ribosomes, synthesizes lipids,
