BIOD 171 FINAL EXAM STUDY

Microbiology is the study of what? - Microbiology is the study of microbes (microorganisms and viruses) and their biological processes. What is the smallest biological unit of life - cell What is a macromolecule? - A macromolecule is classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller subunits. What are the four main types of macromolecules? - Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates What various functions do proteins have in a cell - Proteins may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes. Others play a structural role while other proteins, such as filaments, enable movement. What are the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? - There are two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell. DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living organisms. RNA is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and using it to synthesize proteins. What is the plasma membrane, and what is it made up of? - The plasma membrane serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the cell from the outside surrounding environme