Guaranteed Test
Name five fundamental characteristics shared by all living organism. -CORRECT ANSWERS-1. Cells
2. Energy consumption
3. Information
4. Replication
5. Evolutionary adaptation
Describe the two components of cell theory. -CORRECT ANSWERS-1. All living things are made up of cell
or cells.
2. Cells come from other cells.
Define energy, and describe the major forms it can take. Understand in what way chemical bonds can be
considered a form of energy. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Energy is the capacity to do work or to supply heat.
Potential energy- may be stored. Kinetic energy- may be available in the form of motion. When chemical
bonds are formed, energy is released. The internal energy of the system goes down
Explain, both in mathematical terms and in plain English, how changes in entropy and potential energy
determine whether or not a reaction is spontaneous. Understand under what conditions a
nonspontaneous reaction can occur. -CORRECT ANSWERS-ΔG(ibbs free energy) = ΔH (enthalpy) - T ΔS
(entropy)
If ΔG is negative (big loss of potential energy, and/or big gain of disorder): the reaction is Exergonic (Exit
of energy). SPONTANEOUS
If ΔG is positive (big gain of potential energy, and/or big loss of disorder): the reaction is Endergonic
(Input of energy). NOT SPONTANEOUS
Explain and give examples of why proteins are essential to cell function. -CORRECT ANSWERS--Enzyme
Catalysis (chemistry)
-Cell receptors (signalling and immune response)
-Transport (food uptake, e.g.)
-Support (cell/organism structure)
-Motion (muscles, flagella)
-Regulation (gene expression)
,Sketch the basic structure of an amino acid, and describe why and how the side chains affect the
function and structure of each amino acid. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Structure: Central carbon atom bonded
to an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom and in the 4th position, a side
group (R-Group). The side chain is the chemical identity to the amino acid and extends out from the
backbone, making it possible for them to interact with each other and with water. (Visual
representation: slide 4)
Sketch a nucleotide, label its three basic parts, and identify the 2', 3', and 5' carbons. -CORRECT
ANSWERS-A nucleotide has a sugar or deoxyribose group, a phosphate that is attached on the 5' carbon
and an organic nitrogenous base which is attached to the 3' carbon. Ribose has an -OH on the 2' carbon,
Deoxyribose has a H' on the 2' carbon.
Describe the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of RNA, and explain in what ways
RNA differs from DNA. -CORRECT ANSWERS-RNA's primary structure consists of a sequence of nitrogen-
containing bases that contain information in the form of a molecular code. Its secondary structure
includes short double helixes and structures called hairpins that holds RNA strands together. Its tertiary
and quaternary structures that fold secondary structures into complex shapes or hold different RNA
strands together. RNA has Uracil instead of Thymine, it is single stranded, its ribose has an extra -OH
group, and it acts as a transcript of DNA expression. Also, DNA does not have a tertiary and quaternary
structure.
Explain why and how the secondary structure of DNA allows organisms to store and copy information. -
CORRECT ANSWERS-Complementary base pairing allows each strand of a DNA molecule to be copied
exactly, producing two daughter molecules. DNA's primary structure serves as a mold or template for
the synthesis of a complementary strand and DNA contains the information required for a copy of itself
to be made
Explain why RNA, and not DNA, was probably the first self-replicating molecule, and describe at least
one piece of experimental evidence that supports this hypothesis. -CORRECT ANSWERS-To make a copy
of itself, the first living organism had to provide a template that could be copied and catalyze
polymerization reactions that would link monomers into a copy of that template. RNA is capable of
both.
One experimental evidence is by Wendy Johnston and David Bartel. They found that ribozymes isolated
in each round are copied, the molecules that result are not identical in terms of their primary sequence
because mutations were introduced during the copying step. By isolating the best enzyme and copying
them in the next round, they continually selected ribozymes that were more efficient. This was to mimic
the process of natural selection
List the features shared by all carbohydrates. -CORRECT ANSWERS-A molecule made up of a bunch of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. These atoms are arranged in a few specific ways: they have a carbon
atom that's bonded to a carbonyl group (>C=O), several hydroxyl functional groups (-OH), and many C-H
bonds.
Sketch several representative monosaccharides, illustrating three ways in which monosaccharides can
differ from one another. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Monosaccharide have a carbonyl group at various
,locations , several hydroxyl functional groups at various locations, and many carbon-hydrogen (C-H)
bonds (energy). Linear form, ring form, alpha vs beta form.
Give examples of the four major functions that carbohydrates can perform in cells (raw materials,
structure, cell identity, and chemical energy storage). -CORRECT ANSWERS-Raw materials: Sugars
frequently furnish the raw "carbon skeletons" that are used as a building blocks in the synthesis of
important molecules. Amino acids use sugars as a starting point.
Structure: Cellulose and chitin, along with modified polysaccharide peptidoglycan, are key to structural
compounds. They form fibers that give cells and organisms strength and elasticity.
Cell identity: Enormous number of structurally distinct monosaccharides make it possible for an
enormous number of unique oligosaccharides to exist. As a result, each cell type and each species can
display a unique identity
Chemical energy storage: Kinetic energy in sunlight is converted to chemical energy stored in bonds of
carbohydrates by photosynthesis.
Sketch a phospholipid's molecular structure, and explain why phospholipids spontaneously form bilayers
in water. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Phospholipids have polar ends and nonpolar tails. The hydrophobic tails
on the phospholipid molecules react with one another, and are repelled by water. The polar head
groups on the phospholipids are hydrophilic and react with water. For these reasons, the phospholipids
organize themselves in such a way as to maximize the hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The
form that accomplishes this the best is a bilayer.
Predict which way a certain substance will diffuse, given its concentration on either side of a selectively
permeable membrane. -CORRECT ANSWERS-If a solution is hypertonic (the solution surrounding the cell
has higher concentration of solutes) water will rush out of the cell, shrinking it. If a solution is hypotonic,
(the solution surrounding the cell has less concentration of solutes) water will rush into the cell,
enlarging it. If a solution is isotonic, (the concentration of solute is the same inside and outside the cell)
the water stays as is.
Describe at least three ways in which membrane proteins can help substances cross a cell membrane. -
CORRECT ANSWERS-1. Carrier proteins are in the phospholipid bilayer (the membrane) and they
transport large molecules: glucose and amino acids via the proteins by changing the shape of them to
make them more easy to transport.
2. Channel proteins: Used for ions (as the membrane is polar and so cannot transport charged particles),
and they can be gated and so selected about what they allow through the protein.
, 3. Active Transport: Using ATP (energy) to move from a low to a high concentration of solutes (with
other diffusion it is from high to low diffusion) it transports molecules using carrier proteins, the only
difference is the direction e.g. from a high or a low concentration.
4. Fluid mosaic model: Due to the phospholipids in the bilayer and the fluid like consistancy of the
membrane, small non polar (non charged particles/molecules) can move through the membrane
unaided.
Define the difference between passive transport and active transport, and give examples of each. -
CORRECT ANSWERS--Passive transport- movement is determined by concentration, movement from
high to low. Doesn't require any energy. Oxygen and water and get into cells easily (Diffusion of oxygen
into an aerobically respiring cell).
-Active transport- Moving substances across a membrane against their concentration gradients (high to
low). Requires energy (ATP). Example: a cell uses energy to pump out a substance already present in the
extracellular fluid in concentrations higher than inside the cell
Explain what molecular "zip codes" are and how they function. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Molecular "zip
codes" determines where a protein should be delivered. Inside cells, materials are transported to their
destinations with the help of molecular "zip codes."
Describe the structural and functional importance of the cytoskeleton. -CORRECT ANSWERS-This
provides a structural framework within the cell, and plays a role in cell division, movement, and
transport.
Explain the dynamic nature of the cell. -CORRECT ANSWERS--Lots of chemical reactions occur each
second
-Molecules constantly enter and exit across the plasma membrane
-Products move along protein fibers
The cytoskeleton continually grows and shrinks
Understand the relationship between exergonic and endergonic reactions and ATP. -CORRECT
ANSWERS-ATP catalyzes endergonic reactions.
Example: ADP + Pi --> ATP
In exergonic reactions, ATP is released.
Example: ATP --> ADP + Pi
Describe the four components of cellular respiration. Part 1. -CORRECT ANSWERS-Glycolysis:
-starts by using ATP.