The Biology 400 Final exam will consist of approximately 75 multiple choice questions. The students will take the test on a
scantron. Each final exam period is 90 minutes long and students will get the entire time if needed to take the final.
Taking the exam will be a more positive experience if you study the following objectives. Chapter numbers are given for many
objectives and the number of questions covering each section is listed next to each chapter/unit. Be sure you set aside time in a
quiet place where you can concentrate and study most effectively. You should also study concept maps, past quizzes, worksheets
and lab reports you used this semester. Start studying well in advance of the test. I read that spending 12 minutes, two times a
day, seriously reviewing the material works well. Studying with a group is an excellent idea. Do your best so that you can feel
proud about your efforts.
Topics/Units to be Covered:
Scientific Inquiry and Methods of Science (Prologue)
Basic Biochemistry (Chapter 1)
Organic Biochemistry (Chapter 1)
Thermodynamics, Energy, and Organisms (Chapter 2)
Microscopy
Exploring the Cellular Basis of Life (Chapter 6)
Photosynthesis (Chapter 4)
Items that students need to study:
Learning targets for each topic above
Learning targets created specifically BY YOUR TEACHER for the final exam
Review and make corrections to old quizzes
Any assigned activities from packets
Any notes that you have taken throughout the semester
The ScreenCasts for each major topic are available at the dgsbio400 YouTube Channel
Things to study specifically for each unit:
Scientific Inquiry and Methods of Science
o State and describe the steps in the scientific method.
o Apply the scientific method to a given situation.
o Define and identify a scientific variable and explain its importance in an experiment.
o Compare an experimental set-up with a control set-up.
o Interpret graphs to answer questions.
o Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory.
Basic Biochemistry
o Explain the relationship between atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds.
o Describe the chemical make-up of living things.
o Interpret a chemical formula.
o Describe the particles that make up an atom, and describe how they interact.
o Interpret a chemical equation.
o Explain polarity and why the polar nature of water makes it a biologically important molecule.
o Distinguish between the ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonding.
Organic Biochemistry
o List the most abundant elements found in living things.
o Define organic compounds.
o Explain the primary importance of carbohydrates to living organisms.
o Describe the relationship between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
,o Explain the biological importance of lipids.
o Describe the chemical composition of lipids.
Explain several roles of proteins in living things.
o Describe the components of an amino acid, and explain how polypeptides form.
o Define the role of nucleic acids in biology.
o Distinguish between DNA and RNA.
o Identify the components of nucleotides.
o Identify each of the 4 organic compounds from its structural formula
, Thermodynamics, nEnergy, nand nOrganisms
o Define nenzymes, nand nexplain nhow nenzymes nhelp nto naccelerate nchemical nreactions.
o Describe nthe nrelationship nbetween nthat nactive nsite nof nan nenzyme nand nsubstrate.
o Explain nenzyme nspecificity.
o Describe nthe nfunction nand ncharacteristics nof nenzymes nand nexplain nhow nthey nwork.
o Describe nfactors nthat naffect nthe nactivity nof nenzymes.
o Discuss nthe nrole nof nATP nin nthe ncells nof norganisms.
Exploring nthe nCellular nBasis nof nLife
o Define n"cell".
o State nthe ncell ntheory.
o Name nand ndescribe nthe nstructures ncommon nto nall neukaryotic
ncells. nDifferentiate nbetween nprokaryotic nand neukaryotic ncells.
o Define norganelle.
o Compare nthe nfunctions nof nthe nmitochondria, nchloroplasts, nribosomes, nvacuoles, nGolgi nbodies, nand
nthe nendoplasmic nreticulum.
o Distinguish nbetween nanimal n& nplant ncells nin nterms nof npresence nor nabsence norganelles.
o Describe nthe ncharacteristics n(structures) nAND nfunctions nof ncell nmembranes. n Discuss nhow nthese
ncharacteristics ninfluence nthe ntype nof nmolecules nthat ncan npass nthrough nthe nmembrane nand nwhat
ntransport nprocesses neach ntype nof nmolecule nmust nuse.
o Compare nand ncontrast npassive nand nactive ntransport nincluding ndiffusion, nosmosis, nfacilitated
ndiffusion, nendocytosis n(including n2 ntypes), nexocytosis, nand nion npumps.
o Explain nthe nrelationship nbetween nhypertonic, nhypotonic, nand nisotonic.
o Compare nand ncontrast nplasmolysis nand nturgor npressure.
o Explain nthe nimpact nof nincreases nsurface narea non nrates nof ndiffusion nand nrelate nthis nconcept nto nwhy
ncells nmust nbe nsmall.
Microscopy
o Compare nthe nfield nof nview nunder nlow nand nhigh npowers, nby ndescribing nthe namount nof narea nseen
nunder na ncompound nlight nmicroscope.
o Calculate ntotal nmagnification nwhen nusing neach nobjective nlens non na nmicroscope.
o Describe nthe nprocedure nfor nlocating nan nobject nunder nlow nand nhigh npower.
Photosynthesis
o List nthe nproducts nof nphotosynthesis
o What nare nthe noptimal nwavelengths n(colors) nof nthe nvisible nspectrum nfor nphotosynthesis nproduction?
o What nis nthe nequation nthat nrepresents nphotosynthesis?
o What nis nthe nmost nimportant nresult nof nphotosynthesis?
o Where ndoes nthe noxygen nthat nis nreleased nfrom nphotosynthesis noriginate?
o List nall nthe nproducts nof nthe nlight nreaction?
o What nchemical nsubstances nare nrequired nfor nthe nproduction nof nglucose nin nthe nCalvin nCycle?
o How ndoes nlight nintensity naffect nphotosynthesis?
o What nother nfactors naffect nchanges non nphotysynthesis?
Helpful nTest nTaking nTips:
Pay nattention nto nstudy nsessions nthat nyour nteacher nmay noffer nduring nclass ntime nprior nto nthe nfinal
nexam. n It nis npossible nthat nyour ninstructor nmay noffer ntips nand nhints nabout nthe nexam nduring nthese
nstudy nsessions.
Take nnotes nand nask nquestions nabout nitems nyou nmay nbe nconfused nabout.
Eat na ngood nbreakfast nbefore nthe ntest. nHaving nfood nin nyour nstomach nwill ngive nyou nenergy nand nhelp nyou
nfocus nbut navoid nheavy nfoods nwhich ncan nmake nyou ngroggy.
Get nat nleast n8 nhours nof nsleep nbefore nthe ntest, nso nthat nyou'll nbe nwell nrested nenough nto nfocus nduring nthe ntest
Make nsure nyou nbring nseveral n#2 npencils nand nan neraser nfor nthe ntest.
Good nwork….not nGood nLuck!
scantron. Each final exam period is 90 minutes long and students will get the entire time if needed to take the final.
Taking the exam will be a more positive experience if you study the following objectives. Chapter numbers are given for many
objectives and the number of questions covering each section is listed next to each chapter/unit. Be sure you set aside time in a
quiet place where you can concentrate and study most effectively. You should also study concept maps, past quizzes, worksheets
and lab reports you used this semester. Start studying well in advance of the test. I read that spending 12 minutes, two times a
day, seriously reviewing the material works well. Studying with a group is an excellent idea. Do your best so that you can feel
proud about your efforts.
Topics/Units to be Covered:
Scientific Inquiry and Methods of Science (Prologue)
Basic Biochemistry (Chapter 1)
Organic Biochemistry (Chapter 1)
Thermodynamics, Energy, and Organisms (Chapter 2)
Microscopy
Exploring the Cellular Basis of Life (Chapter 6)
Photosynthesis (Chapter 4)
Items that students need to study:
Learning targets for each topic above
Learning targets created specifically BY YOUR TEACHER for the final exam
Review and make corrections to old quizzes
Any assigned activities from packets
Any notes that you have taken throughout the semester
The ScreenCasts for each major topic are available at the dgsbio400 YouTube Channel
Things to study specifically for each unit:
Scientific Inquiry and Methods of Science
o State and describe the steps in the scientific method.
o Apply the scientific method to a given situation.
o Define and identify a scientific variable and explain its importance in an experiment.
o Compare an experimental set-up with a control set-up.
o Interpret graphs to answer questions.
o Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory.
Basic Biochemistry
o Explain the relationship between atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds.
o Describe the chemical make-up of living things.
o Interpret a chemical formula.
o Describe the particles that make up an atom, and describe how they interact.
o Interpret a chemical equation.
o Explain polarity and why the polar nature of water makes it a biologically important molecule.
o Distinguish between the ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonding.
Organic Biochemistry
o List the most abundant elements found in living things.
o Define organic compounds.
o Explain the primary importance of carbohydrates to living organisms.
o Describe the relationship between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
,o Explain the biological importance of lipids.
o Describe the chemical composition of lipids.
Explain several roles of proteins in living things.
o Describe the components of an amino acid, and explain how polypeptides form.
o Define the role of nucleic acids in biology.
o Distinguish between DNA and RNA.
o Identify the components of nucleotides.
o Identify each of the 4 organic compounds from its structural formula
, Thermodynamics, nEnergy, nand nOrganisms
o Define nenzymes, nand nexplain nhow nenzymes nhelp nto naccelerate nchemical nreactions.
o Describe nthe nrelationship nbetween nthat nactive nsite nof nan nenzyme nand nsubstrate.
o Explain nenzyme nspecificity.
o Describe nthe nfunction nand ncharacteristics nof nenzymes nand nexplain nhow nthey nwork.
o Describe nfactors nthat naffect nthe nactivity nof nenzymes.
o Discuss nthe nrole nof nATP nin nthe ncells nof norganisms.
Exploring nthe nCellular nBasis nof nLife
o Define n"cell".
o State nthe ncell ntheory.
o Name nand ndescribe nthe nstructures ncommon nto nall neukaryotic
ncells. nDifferentiate nbetween nprokaryotic nand neukaryotic ncells.
o Define norganelle.
o Compare nthe nfunctions nof nthe nmitochondria, nchloroplasts, nribosomes, nvacuoles, nGolgi nbodies, nand
nthe nendoplasmic nreticulum.
o Distinguish nbetween nanimal n& nplant ncells nin nterms nof npresence nor nabsence norganelles.
o Describe nthe ncharacteristics n(structures) nAND nfunctions nof ncell nmembranes. n Discuss nhow nthese
ncharacteristics ninfluence nthe ntype nof nmolecules nthat ncan npass nthrough nthe nmembrane nand nwhat
ntransport nprocesses neach ntype nof nmolecule nmust nuse.
o Compare nand ncontrast npassive nand nactive ntransport nincluding ndiffusion, nosmosis, nfacilitated
ndiffusion, nendocytosis n(including n2 ntypes), nexocytosis, nand nion npumps.
o Explain nthe nrelationship nbetween nhypertonic, nhypotonic, nand nisotonic.
o Compare nand ncontrast nplasmolysis nand nturgor npressure.
o Explain nthe nimpact nof nincreases nsurface narea non nrates nof ndiffusion nand nrelate nthis nconcept nto nwhy
ncells nmust nbe nsmall.
Microscopy
o Compare nthe nfield nof nview nunder nlow nand nhigh npowers, nby ndescribing nthe namount nof narea nseen
nunder na ncompound nlight nmicroscope.
o Calculate ntotal nmagnification nwhen nusing neach nobjective nlens non na nmicroscope.
o Describe nthe nprocedure nfor nlocating nan nobject nunder nlow nand nhigh npower.
Photosynthesis
o List nthe nproducts nof nphotosynthesis
o What nare nthe noptimal nwavelengths n(colors) nof nthe nvisible nspectrum nfor nphotosynthesis nproduction?
o What nis nthe nequation nthat nrepresents nphotosynthesis?
o What nis nthe nmost nimportant nresult nof nphotosynthesis?
o Where ndoes nthe noxygen nthat nis nreleased nfrom nphotosynthesis noriginate?
o List nall nthe nproducts nof nthe nlight nreaction?
o What nchemical nsubstances nare nrequired nfor nthe nproduction nof nglucose nin nthe nCalvin nCycle?
o How ndoes nlight nintensity naffect nphotosynthesis?
o What nother nfactors naffect nchanges non nphotysynthesis?
Helpful nTest nTaking nTips:
Pay nattention nto nstudy nsessions nthat nyour nteacher nmay noffer nduring nclass ntime nprior nto nthe nfinal
nexam. n It nis npossible nthat nyour ninstructor nmay noffer ntips nand nhints nabout nthe nexam nduring nthese
nstudy nsessions.
Take nnotes nand nask nquestions nabout nitems nyou nmay nbe nconfused nabout.
Eat na ngood nbreakfast nbefore nthe ntest. nHaving nfood nin nyour nstomach nwill ngive nyou nenergy nand nhelp nyou
nfocus nbut navoid nheavy nfoods nwhich ncan nmake nyou ngroggy.
Get nat nleast n8 nhours nof nsleep nbefore nthe ntest, nso nthat nyou'll nbe nwell nrested nenough nto nfocus nduring nthe ntest
Make nsure nyou nbring nseveral n#2 npencils nand nan neraser nfor nthe ntest.
Good nwork….not nGood nLuck!
