Bio 1500 Final Exam Study Guide with
correct answers 100%
Think of the concept of deep time. How would you describe the distribution of events over time? Are
they evenly distributed? If not, how then? - Correct Answers There is an uneven distribution of life
formation on Earth if you look at it from a yearly scale. From the formation of the Earth to the
introduction of algae, everything was pretty evenly spaced; however, following the ice age, there is an
exponential growth of life forms within a very short period of time
According to scientific evidence, approximately how long ago did Earth form? - Correct Answers 4.6
billion years ago
For how long did Dinosaurs roam on Earth? - Correct Answers approximately 165 million years
There are limits the usefulness of diffusion in biological processes. What limitations can you think of? -
Correct Answers Diffusion, though typically consistent, has patterns that don't follow specific rules. For
example, in the pattern of high concentrations moving to low concentrations, not every particle will use
that specific method. Additionally, the limits of space and time occur as it will take a much more
significant amount of time for diffusion to occur in spaces that are over what is normally seen in a
typical rate.
How does random movement of individual particles result in predictable movement form high to low
concentrations? Explain in 3-4 sentences. Come up with your own words: don't copy your notes. -
Correct Answers Although an individual particle does not follow a specific movement, the likelihood
that some or most particles will end up crossing from high to low concentrations during their diffusion
allows us to recognize an overall pattern. If you watch a specific particle, it is likely, but not guaranteed,
that it will move from high to low.
Why is it important, in this context, to distinguish between Oxygen and O2? - Correct Answers Oxygen
and dioxygen differ in their chemical bonds but also have differences when it comes to the impact which
they hold. Oxygen forms dioxygen which makes up the air we breathe.
When did O2 first appear in the atmosphere, both in years, and after which event? - Correct Answers
O2 first appeared 3000 mya following the development of the first land masses appeared on Earth.
,Explain why oxygen levels stayed constant for over one billion years at a relatively low level. - Correct
Answers Oxygen levels stayed consistent before the development of eukaryotes, starting with
cyanobacteria. Later, algae chloroplasts developed which began the process of photosynthesis that
impacted the earth's oxygen levels.
What does this sentence mean: "60% of Earth's minerals are biogenic (i.e. generated by life)"? - Correct
Answers It means that they formed after O2 appeared in the atmosphere and ocean. Life on Earth
caused a dramatic change in oxygen levels as a result of photosynthesis, meaning that any mineral
formed with oxygen was due to the rise in plant life.
Aside from insect size, what other variables did Clapham and Karr measure? - Correct Answers They
measured the size of insect predators, such as birds during these time periods. They used this data to
introduce the idea that insect size was more closely related to predatorial size rather than high oxygen
levels, due to the fact that insect sizes were shrinking during some of the highest rises in oxygen.
Suppose you discovered a new form of energy. How would you decide whether it should be categorized
as kinetic vs potential energy? - Correct Answers Kinetic energy is the energy of movement. If the form
includes any sort of heat, light, or electricity, then it can be classified as kinetic.
Potential energy is energy that is stored. This includes chemical energy, which is a bond of 4 hydrogen
and 1 carbon atom. If this is the chemical makeup, then the energy is potential.
Describe the relationship between the wavelength of energy and the amount of energy it carries. -
Correct Answers Shorter wavelengths are an increase in energy as they have more "bags" of energy
photons. Longer wavelengths are a decrease in energy, there is a longer space between peaks meaning
that there are less "bags" crossing a spectrum in the same amount of time that a shorter wavelength
would.
Describe the three things that can happen to light when it strikes a surface. - Correct Answers Light can
be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.
Given what you learned about light and chlorophyll this week, why do most plants appear green to us? -
Correct Answers We perceive plants as green because chlorophyll is absorbing violet, red, and blue light
while reflecting the wavelengths that we see as green light.
,What wavelengths (=colors) of light do most plants use as their primary source of energy in
photosynthesis? - Correct Answers Plants use the wavelengths of violet, red, and blue as their source of
energy in photosynthesis.
Describe what happens in the light-dependent reactions. - Correct Answers ATP is synthesized, NADPH
is generated, and water is split apart in the process to release oxygen as a byproduct.
Describe what happens in the light-independent reactions. - Correct Answers The E from ATP and
NADPH are used to build glucose, this is commonly referred to as the Calvin Cycle.
Why do plants perform photosynthesis? - Correct Answers Plants perform photosynthesis to make
other molecules in the plant. The glucose produced by photosynthesis aids in building cellulose which
makes up the cell wall. It also makes ATP out of it as needed which is used for all chemical reactions out
of the cell.
Review the definitions for Gene and Allele. What is the difference between them, what is their
relationship? - Correct Answers a gene is a segment of dna while an allele is a different form of that
gene
Explain why we have two copies of each gene in our cells. - Correct Answers we have two copies of each
gene in our cells because a dna strand has two strands and 2 chromosomes
Given that we have two copies of each gene, do we also have two different alleles for each gene? How
else would you word the relationship between the two? - Correct Answers because there is two copies
of each gene we can have at most two different possible alleles as these alleles are components of
genes
Many lessons about genes imply that for each gene, two alleles exist in the population. Is that so? If not,
how would you describe this relationship? [Note, this question is about populations, not individuals as
the previous one was] - Correct Answers there is not necessarily two alleles for each gene but alleles
differ from person to person meaning that although one individual can have a maximum of two, there
are infinitely many different base pairs because two alleles between dna and individuals will not be the
same.
, What are the four "steps" (or postulates) of natural selection? Describe them, using a (hypothetical)
example. - Correct Answers 1. there is a variety of dolphins. some are pink and some are blue
2. the offspring are a mix up of pink and blue, and there is a pretty even distribution of the two colors
3. for some reason, the sharks do not like the color pink and tend to either eat or seriously injure the
dolphins who are pink.
4. as a result, there will one day only be blue dolphins since the pink dolphins have specifically been
targeted, making them unable to reproduce.
Think about the definitions of fitness and adaptation. How do these evolutionary definitions differ from
the everyday use of these words? How can this be misleading? - Correct Answers fitness regards a living
thing's ability to survive and reproduce in an environment adaptation whereas to us fitness means the
general health of a person. adaptation is the trait that increases fitness and is produced by natural
selection, it is not a sensory adaptation like we as humans have where our pupils become smaller in
bright light.
Think of the definition of fitness - how could you measure the fitness of an individual? - Correct Answers
you could measure the fitness of an individual by determining how well they are able to survive and
adapt in a new environment, somewhat like the show survivor
Using the definition of Evolution: How would you define or describe what a "mechanism of evolution"
is? - Correct Answers a mechanism of evolution is something that facilitates evolution but is not the
main reason for it. for example, natural selection is a mechanism of evolution and it makes a huge
difference, but it is not the only thing that impacts evolution as a whole.
What evolutionary innovation lead to the great oxygenation event? What type of organisms existed on
earth before that? Why did this innovation lead to a 'revolution'? - Correct Answers Cyanobacteria
evolved photosynthesis as it was 10-20x more efficient than heterotrophs. Autotrophs spread fast and
allowed for a quicker production of oxygen.
Aside from building minerals - what were other consequences of this event? How did they affect life on
earth, then, and today? - Correct Answers The ozone layer formed which is what protects us from UV-B
rays that are harmful. There was also a global mass extinction of cells as they had not yet evolved to an
oxygenized atmosphere.
It seems counterintuitive to us today that O2 has negative effects on life. Explain how the examples that
are mentioned in the video provide evidence for this. - Correct Answers The development of high levels
correct answers 100%
Think of the concept of deep time. How would you describe the distribution of events over time? Are
they evenly distributed? If not, how then? - Correct Answers There is an uneven distribution of life
formation on Earth if you look at it from a yearly scale. From the formation of the Earth to the
introduction of algae, everything was pretty evenly spaced; however, following the ice age, there is an
exponential growth of life forms within a very short period of time
According to scientific evidence, approximately how long ago did Earth form? - Correct Answers 4.6
billion years ago
For how long did Dinosaurs roam on Earth? - Correct Answers approximately 165 million years
There are limits the usefulness of diffusion in biological processes. What limitations can you think of? -
Correct Answers Diffusion, though typically consistent, has patterns that don't follow specific rules. For
example, in the pattern of high concentrations moving to low concentrations, not every particle will use
that specific method. Additionally, the limits of space and time occur as it will take a much more
significant amount of time for diffusion to occur in spaces that are over what is normally seen in a
typical rate.
How does random movement of individual particles result in predictable movement form high to low
concentrations? Explain in 3-4 sentences. Come up with your own words: don't copy your notes. -
Correct Answers Although an individual particle does not follow a specific movement, the likelihood
that some or most particles will end up crossing from high to low concentrations during their diffusion
allows us to recognize an overall pattern. If you watch a specific particle, it is likely, but not guaranteed,
that it will move from high to low.
Why is it important, in this context, to distinguish between Oxygen and O2? - Correct Answers Oxygen
and dioxygen differ in their chemical bonds but also have differences when it comes to the impact which
they hold. Oxygen forms dioxygen which makes up the air we breathe.
When did O2 first appear in the atmosphere, both in years, and after which event? - Correct Answers
O2 first appeared 3000 mya following the development of the first land masses appeared on Earth.
,Explain why oxygen levels stayed constant for over one billion years at a relatively low level. - Correct
Answers Oxygen levels stayed consistent before the development of eukaryotes, starting with
cyanobacteria. Later, algae chloroplasts developed which began the process of photosynthesis that
impacted the earth's oxygen levels.
What does this sentence mean: "60% of Earth's minerals are biogenic (i.e. generated by life)"? - Correct
Answers It means that they formed after O2 appeared in the atmosphere and ocean. Life on Earth
caused a dramatic change in oxygen levels as a result of photosynthesis, meaning that any mineral
formed with oxygen was due to the rise in plant life.
Aside from insect size, what other variables did Clapham and Karr measure? - Correct Answers They
measured the size of insect predators, such as birds during these time periods. They used this data to
introduce the idea that insect size was more closely related to predatorial size rather than high oxygen
levels, due to the fact that insect sizes were shrinking during some of the highest rises in oxygen.
Suppose you discovered a new form of energy. How would you decide whether it should be categorized
as kinetic vs potential energy? - Correct Answers Kinetic energy is the energy of movement. If the form
includes any sort of heat, light, or electricity, then it can be classified as kinetic.
Potential energy is energy that is stored. This includes chemical energy, which is a bond of 4 hydrogen
and 1 carbon atom. If this is the chemical makeup, then the energy is potential.
Describe the relationship between the wavelength of energy and the amount of energy it carries. -
Correct Answers Shorter wavelengths are an increase in energy as they have more "bags" of energy
photons. Longer wavelengths are a decrease in energy, there is a longer space between peaks meaning
that there are less "bags" crossing a spectrum in the same amount of time that a shorter wavelength
would.
Describe the three things that can happen to light when it strikes a surface. - Correct Answers Light can
be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.
Given what you learned about light and chlorophyll this week, why do most plants appear green to us? -
Correct Answers We perceive plants as green because chlorophyll is absorbing violet, red, and blue light
while reflecting the wavelengths that we see as green light.
,What wavelengths (=colors) of light do most plants use as their primary source of energy in
photosynthesis? - Correct Answers Plants use the wavelengths of violet, red, and blue as their source of
energy in photosynthesis.
Describe what happens in the light-dependent reactions. - Correct Answers ATP is synthesized, NADPH
is generated, and water is split apart in the process to release oxygen as a byproduct.
Describe what happens in the light-independent reactions. - Correct Answers The E from ATP and
NADPH are used to build glucose, this is commonly referred to as the Calvin Cycle.
Why do plants perform photosynthesis? - Correct Answers Plants perform photosynthesis to make
other molecules in the plant. The glucose produced by photosynthesis aids in building cellulose which
makes up the cell wall. It also makes ATP out of it as needed which is used for all chemical reactions out
of the cell.
Review the definitions for Gene and Allele. What is the difference between them, what is their
relationship? - Correct Answers a gene is a segment of dna while an allele is a different form of that
gene
Explain why we have two copies of each gene in our cells. - Correct Answers we have two copies of each
gene in our cells because a dna strand has two strands and 2 chromosomes
Given that we have two copies of each gene, do we also have two different alleles for each gene? How
else would you word the relationship between the two? - Correct Answers because there is two copies
of each gene we can have at most two different possible alleles as these alleles are components of
genes
Many lessons about genes imply that for each gene, two alleles exist in the population. Is that so? If not,
how would you describe this relationship? [Note, this question is about populations, not individuals as
the previous one was] - Correct Answers there is not necessarily two alleles for each gene but alleles
differ from person to person meaning that although one individual can have a maximum of two, there
are infinitely many different base pairs because two alleles between dna and individuals will not be the
same.
, What are the four "steps" (or postulates) of natural selection? Describe them, using a (hypothetical)
example. - Correct Answers 1. there is a variety of dolphins. some are pink and some are blue
2. the offspring are a mix up of pink and blue, and there is a pretty even distribution of the two colors
3. for some reason, the sharks do not like the color pink and tend to either eat or seriously injure the
dolphins who are pink.
4. as a result, there will one day only be blue dolphins since the pink dolphins have specifically been
targeted, making them unable to reproduce.
Think about the definitions of fitness and adaptation. How do these evolutionary definitions differ from
the everyday use of these words? How can this be misleading? - Correct Answers fitness regards a living
thing's ability to survive and reproduce in an environment adaptation whereas to us fitness means the
general health of a person. adaptation is the trait that increases fitness and is produced by natural
selection, it is not a sensory adaptation like we as humans have where our pupils become smaller in
bright light.
Think of the definition of fitness - how could you measure the fitness of an individual? - Correct Answers
you could measure the fitness of an individual by determining how well they are able to survive and
adapt in a new environment, somewhat like the show survivor
Using the definition of Evolution: How would you define or describe what a "mechanism of evolution"
is? - Correct Answers a mechanism of evolution is something that facilitates evolution but is not the
main reason for it. for example, natural selection is a mechanism of evolution and it makes a huge
difference, but it is not the only thing that impacts evolution as a whole.
What evolutionary innovation lead to the great oxygenation event? What type of organisms existed on
earth before that? Why did this innovation lead to a 'revolution'? - Correct Answers Cyanobacteria
evolved photosynthesis as it was 10-20x more efficient than heterotrophs. Autotrophs spread fast and
allowed for a quicker production of oxygen.
Aside from building minerals - what were other consequences of this event? How did they affect life on
earth, then, and today? - Correct Answers The ozone layer formed which is what protects us from UV-B
rays that are harmful. There was also a global mass extinction of cells as they had not yet evolved to an
oxygenized atmosphere.
It seems counterintuitive to us today that O2 has negative effects on life. Explain how the examples that
are mentioned in the video provide evidence for this. - Correct Answers The development of high levels
