BIOL 117 EXAM 1 CORE BIOLOGY CONCEPTS
REVIEW 2026
◉ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph.
Answer: y-axis
◉ theory of evolution.
Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for
both biological observations & the diversity of life
◉ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology?
Answer: there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific
questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
◉ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
,6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
◉ 1st law of thermodynamics.
Answer: energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be
transformed from one form into another
◉ how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms?.
Answer: - living organisms transform energy from sunlight -->
chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by
product
◉ 2nd law of thermodynamics.
Answer: the amount of entropy in the universe is constantly
increasing
◉ entropy.
Answer: amount of disorder in a system
◉ disorder.
Answer: # of states that a system can take on
, ◉ how does temperature affect entropy?.
Answer: higher temp --> molecules move faster --> more entropy
◉ how does the 2nd law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms?.
Answer: - living organisms are highly organized (takes a lot of
energy to maintain organization)
- cell is highly organized
- cells give off energy as heat --> movement of molecules in
surrounding environment increases --> entropy of entire system
increases
◉ does a dog or bucket of water have more entropy?.
Answer: bucket of water - less organized, more disorder
◉ how did the scientific method demonstrate that living organisms
come from other living organisms?.
Answer: belief of spontaneous generation --> refuted by Redi's
experiment (maggots appearing on rotting meat) & Pasteur's
experiment (microbes in sterilized broth)
◉ covalent bond.
REVIEW 2026
◉ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph.
Answer: y-axis
◉ theory of evolution.
Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for
both biological observations & the diversity of life
◉ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology?
Answer: there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific
questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
◉ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
,6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
◉ 1st law of thermodynamics.
Answer: energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be
transformed from one form into another
◉ how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms?.
Answer: - living organisms transform energy from sunlight -->
chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by
product
◉ 2nd law of thermodynamics.
Answer: the amount of entropy in the universe is constantly
increasing
◉ entropy.
Answer: amount of disorder in a system
◉ disorder.
Answer: # of states that a system can take on
, ◉ how does temperature affect entropy?.
Answer: higher temp --> molecules move faster --> more entropy
◉ how does the 2nd law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms?.
Answer: - living organisms are highly organized (takes a lot of
energy to maintain organization)
- cell is highly organized
- cells give off energy as heat --> movement of molecules in
surrounding environment increases --> entropy of entire system
increases
◉ does a dog or bucket of water have more entropy?.
Answer: bucket of water - less organized, more disorder
◉ how did the scientific method demonstrate that living organisms
come from other living organisms?.
Answer: belief of spontaneous generation --> refuted by Redi's
experiment (maggots appearing on rotting meat) & Pasteur's
experiment (microbes in sterilized broth)
◉ covalent bond.
