BIO 110 EXAM #1 (CHAPTERS 1–5) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
1.) Describe characteristics shared by all living things. - ANS ✔✔-made up of a common set of chemical
compounds
-made up of cells
- use molecules from env. to synthesize new molecules
-extract energy from env. and use it to do work
-contain genetic info to enable them to develop functional reproduction
-use a universal genetic code to build proteins
-regulate their internal environments
-exists in populations to evolve over time
2.) Describe current scientific thinking about the origin of life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-common
characteristics between organisms led to conclusion that life has common ancestry
3.) Describe the earliest forms of life. - ANS ✔✔all organisms were single-celled (prokaryotes)
Bacteria and Archaea- 2 main groups emerged early
-some eventually emerged to form eukaryotes.
-eukaryotic cells have membrane-enclosed organelles
-some began living in colonies; some cells specialized for diff. functions, leading to multicellular
organisms
4.) Explain how photosynthesis influenced the history of life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-2.5 billion years ago.
-This process transforms sunlight energy into chemical energy
-the basis of most life on earth: provides food for other organisms
-early photosynthesis cells were probs similar to cyanobacteria (prokaryotes)
-the atmosphere had no O₂ until photosynthesis
5.) Describe evidence that supports the common origin of all life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-if life had multiple
origins, we would not expect to see such striking similarities in chem. composition, cell structure and
function and genetic codes
-earth formed 4.6-4.5 billion years ago... 600 mil years before life evolved
-history of earth can be pictured as a 30 day month
6.) Explain the biological importance of the genetic code. - ANS ✔✔-common to all organisms
-Gregor Mendel showed that inherited trait existed indiscrete units (genes)
-Discovery of DNA and how it functioned, transformed biological science
-genome: sum total of all DNA mol. in organisms
-DNA contain long sequences of nucluotides
-genes are segments of DNA that encode info to hold proteins
-nucleotides sequence determine amino acid sequence in proteins
7.) Explain how natural selection can produce evolutionary change. - ANS ✔✔Charles Darwin proposed
, -different survival and reproduction in a population could account for much of evolution in life
-leads to adaptation: traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction
8.) Explain how scientists classify organisms according to evolutionary relationships. - ANS ✔✔-If
populations are isolated and evolve differences, they are eventually considered different species.
-Each species has a distinct scientific name, a binomial (genus and species).
Example: Homo sapiens
-Genus: Group of species that share a recent common ancestor.
-A phylogenetic tree illustrates the evolutionary histories of different groups.
Trees are built by analyzing and quantifying similarities and differences among species, including genome
sequences.
9.) Describe cellular differentiation and its significance to the range of living things observed today. - ANS
✔✔-In multicellular organisms, cells became specialized.
-Similar cell types can develop together into tissues.
-Different tissue types develop together into organs for specific functions, and organs can be grouped
into organ systems.
10.) Use evidence to explain the ability of cells to become specialized and to contribute a unique
function to the organism. - ANS ✔✔
11.) Describe how the rise of multicellular life required an internal environment in which the needs of
body cells could be served by specialized cells. - ANS ✔✔enabled multicellular eukaryotes to increase in
size and become more efficient at gathering resources and adapting to specific environments.
12.) Explain why cell activities and organs have to be regulated in order to maintain homeostasis. - ANS
✔✔
13.) Describe the hierarchy of the biological world. - ANS ✔✔-Living organisms interact; there is an
external hierarchy of the biological world.
-Populations of species that live and interact in a defined area form a community.
-Communities together with their physical environment constitute an ecosystem.
-The major ecosystems that cover broad geographic areas with distinctive physical features and
communities are known as biomes.
-Examples: Arctic tundra, coral reefs, tropical rainforests
-All of the biomes on our planet make up the biosphere.
14.) Explain the role of observation in scientific inquiry. - ANS ✔✔-Observation has been improved by
new technologies.
-Information, or data, must be quantified using mathematical and statistical methods.
15.) Explain the roles of inductive logic and deductive logic in scientific inquiry. - ANS ✔✔Inductive Logic:
-involves making observations and then formulating one or more possible scenarios (hypotheses) that
might explain the observations
Deductive Logic:
-logical thought process that starts with a premise believed to be true then predicts what facts would
also have to be true to be compatible with that premise
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
1.) Describe characteristics shared by all living things. - ANS ✔✔-made up of a common set of chemical
compounds
-made up of cells
- use molecules from env. to synthesize new molecules
-extract energy from env. and use it to do work
-contain genetic info to enable them to develop functional reproduction
-use a universal genetic code to build proteins
-regulate their internal environments
-exists in populations to evolve over time
2.) Describe current scientific thinking about the origin of life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-common
characteristics between organisms led to conclusion that life has common ancestry
3.) Describe the earliest forms of life. - ANS ✔✔all organisms were single-celled (prokaryotes)
Bacteria and Archaea- 2 main groups emerged early
-some eventually emerged to form eukaryotes.
-eukaryotic cells have membrane-enclosed organelles
-some began living in colonies; some cells specialized for diff. functions, leading to multicellular
organisms
4.) Explain how photosynthesis influenced the history of life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-2.5 billion years ago.
-This process transforms sunlight energy into chemical energy
-the basis of most life on earth: provides food for other organisms
-early photosynthesis cells were probs similar to cyanobacteria (prokaryotes)
-the atmosphere had no O₂ until photosynthesis
5.) Describe evidence that supports the common origin of all life on Earth. - ANS ✔✔-if life had multiple
origins, we would not expect to see such striking similarities in chem. composition, cell structure and
function and genetic codes
-earth formed 4.6-4.5 billion years ago... 600 mil years before life evolved
-history of earth can be pictured as a 30 day month
6.) Explain the biological importance of the genetic code. - ANS ✔✔-common to all organisms
-Gregor Mendel showed that inherited trait existed indiscrete units (genes)
-Discovery of DNA and how it functioned, transformed biological science
-genome: sum total of all DNA mol. in organisms
-DNA contain long sequences of nucluotides
-genes are segments of DNA that encode info to hold proteins
-nucleotides sequence determine amino acid sequence in proteins
7.) Explain how natural selection can produce evolutionary change. - ANS ✔✔Charles Darwin proposed
, -different survival and reproduction in a population could account for much of evolution in life
-leads to adaptation: traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction
8.) Explain how scientists classify organisms according to evolutionary relationships. - ANS ✔✔-If
populations are isolated and evolve differences, they are eventually considered different species.
-Each species has a distinct scientific name, a binomial (genus and species).
Example: Homo sapiens
-Genus: Group of species that share a recent common ancestor.
-A phylogenetic tree illustrates the evolutionary histories of different groups.
Trees are built by analyzing and quantifying similarities and differences among species, including genome
sequences.
9.) Describe cellular differentiation and its significance to the range of living things observed today. - ANS
✔✔-In multicellular organisms, cells became specialized.
-Similar cell types can develop together into tissues.
-Different tissue types develop together into organs for specific functions, and organs can be grouped
into organ systems.
10.) Use evidence to explain the ability of cells to become specialized and to contribute a unique
function to the organism. - ANS ✔✔
11.) Describe how the rise of multicellular life required an internal environment in which the needs of
body cells could be served by specialized cells. - ANS ✔✔enabled multicellular eukaryotes to increase in
size and become more efficient at gathering resources and adapting to specific environments.
12.) Explain why cell activities and organs have to be regulated in order to maintain homeostasis. - ANS
✔✔
13.) Describe the hierarchy of the biological world. - ANS ✔✔-Living organisms interact; there is an
external hierarchy of the biological world.
-Populations of species that live and interact in a defined area form a community.
-Communities together with their physical environment constitute an ecosystem.
-The major ecosystems that cover broad geographic areas with distinctive physical features and
communities are known as biomes.
-Examples: Arctic tundra, coral reefs, tropical rainforests
-All of the biomes on our planet make up the biosphere.
14.) Explain the role of observation in scientific inquiry. - ANS ✔✔-Observation has been improved by
new technologies.
-Information, or data, must be quantified using mathematical and statistical methods.
15.) Explain the roles of inductive logic and deductive logic in scientific inquiry. - ANS ✔✔Inductive Logic:
-involves making observations and then formulating one or more possible scenarios (hypotheses) that
might explain the observations
Deductive Logic:
-logical thought process that starts with a premise believed to be true then predicts what facts would
also have to be true to be compatible with that premise
