BIOL 3204 EXAM 1 - 3 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What differentiates science from non-science? - Answer -Science is "to know" which
means science is a mechanism for learning about natural phenomena, through
observation and experimentation
Non-science is any system of knowledge or thought that can NOT be addressed by the
scientific method
Belief systems include:
- Aesthetics
- Cultural Norms
- Religion
What does the acronym CONPTT mean in context? - Answer -Consistent: Repeatable
Observable: Evidence-based occurrence can be observed
Natural: Cause or mechanism can be demonstrated
Predictive: The natural cause can be used to make predictions
Testable: These predictions are testable (hypotheses)
Tentative: Subject to modification upon additional studies
What is physiology? Note how different definitions given in lecture exemplify the breadth
of the field - Answer -Study of how anatomical features provide function
- Putting parts into motion/function
"Knowledge of nature"
- The study of how living organisms function
Understanding normal function to diagnose disease
- Abnormal function/disorder
One specific definition of physiology is a regulatory feedback loop - Answer -The study
of how and why parts function in living systems
- Two fundamental concepts: homeostasis and feedback loops
- Homeostasis: a stable equilibrium maintained by physiology
Difference between positive and negative feedback loops - Answer -Positive Feedback
Loops: The response reinforces the stimulus sending the variable farther from the
setpoint
- An outside factor is required to shut off a positive feedback loop
- Blood clotting/cutting yourself
Negative Feedback Loops: The response counteracts the stimulus, shutting off the
response loop.
- Thermoregulation via sweat glands (sweating)
- Heat stimulates sweat and sweat directly reduces heat
What is comparative method in physiology? - Answer -Used to predict/explain
physiological variation within the world.
,- Through evolutionary time, we share a history with all organisms (info stored in DNA)
- Current physiology represents 4 billion years of evolution (all living things equally
derived)
Can you give an example of a question that might be answered using the comparative
method? - Answer -Does this particular version of this trait share a common ancestor?
- All inherited traits come from a common ancestor
The common ancestor of any 2 living species on a phylogenetic tree - Answer -A
phylogenetic tree is a model of evolutionary relationships among a set of organisms
Definition of "more closely related" - Answer -"More closely related" means how long
ago they shared a common ancestor
What were some of the major human health achievements from 1900-1999? - Answer -
- Healthier mothers and babies
- Vaccination
- Control of infectious disease
- Safer and healthier foods
- Fluoridation of drinking water
- Recognition of tobacco use as a hazard
- Motor vehicle safety
- Safer workplaces
- A decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke
Be able to name something that specifically contributed to increased life expectancy -
Answer -- Healthier mothers and babies. If fewer babies were dying, more chances of
life expectancy to extend increased
- A decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke
Understand the limitation of correlative data - Answer -Cannot be used to draw
conclusions about the casual relationships among the measured variables.
Be able to distinguish proximate (how) vs. ultimate (why) explanations for physiological
traits - Answer -Proximate (How):
- Mechanism (genetics, biochemistry)
- Development (environment, GxE)
Ultimate (Why):
- Function (adaptive value)
- Phylogeny (evolutionary constraint)
- These explanations do not always exist
- Adaptive? Evolutionary constraint?
- Neutral?
, What are some distinguishing features of the four major classes of biomolecules? Be
able to identify examples of each major class if shown a picture of a chemical structure -
Answer -Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
- Contain carbon atoms
- Synthesized by living organisms
- The "currency" of energy and growth - metabolism
Biomolecules - Answer -Molecules (2 or more atoms bonded together) of biological
importance
- A few small, inorganic molecules: water, salts, acids and bases, gas
Carbohydrates - Answer -- 1:2:1
- Simplest carbohydrate: monosaccharide (one sugar)
- Cannot be broken down and still be a carbohydrate (sugar)
- Carbon + water in ratio of CH2O
- C6H12O6
- Monosaccharide
- Mono + Mono = Disaccharide
- Mono ++++ = Polysaccharide
Lipids - Answer -Fats are often made of triglycerides
- There are many other types of lipids (only similar in the fact that they are hydrophobic)
Eicosanoids - Answer -Critically important cell signaling molecules
(Arachidonic Acid)
- Inflammation
- Allergy
- Fever
- Childbirth
- Pain
Prostaglandins: involved in the inflammation response and related to common over-the-
counter pain medication (anti-inflammatory( and inhibit prostaglandin synthesis
- Short-circuits the signaling process to reduce the inflammation response
Steroids - Answer -All synthesized from cholesterol
Phospholipids - Answer -Phospholipid bilayer
- Major component in cell membranes
- Composed of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail
Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides - Answer -5 Carbon sugar + phosphate group +
nitrogenous base
- DNA and RNA
- Have other uses as well in energy transfer and cell signaling
What differentiates science from non-science? - Answer -Science is "to know" which
means science is a mechanism for learning about natural phenomena, through
observation and experimentation
Non-science is any system of knowledge or thought that can NOT be addressed by the
scientific method
Belief systems include:
- Aesthetics
- Cultural Norms
- Religion
What does the acronym CONPTT mean in context? - Answer -Consistent: Repeatable
Observable: Evidence-based occurrence can be observed
Natural: Cause or mechanism can be demonstrated
Predictive: The natural cause can be used to make predictions
Testable: These predictions are testable (hypotheses)
Tentative: Subject to modification upon additional studies
What is physiology? Note how different definitions given in lecture exemplify the breadth
of the field - Answer -Study of how anatomical features provide function
- Putting parts into motion/function
"Knowledge of nature"
- The study of how living organisms function
Understanding normal function to diagnose disease
- Abnormal function/disorder
One specific definition of physiology is a regulatory feedback loop - Answer -The study
of how and why parts function in living systems
- Two fundamental concepts: homeostasis and feedback loops
- Homeostasis: a stable equilibrium maintained by physiology
Difference between positive and negative feedback loops - Answer -Positive Feedback
Loops: The response reinforces the stimulus sending the variable farther from the
setpoint
- An outside factor is required to shut off a positive feedback loop
- Blood clotting/cutting yourself
Negative Feedback Loops: The response counteracts the stimulus, shutting off the
response loop.
- Thermoregulation via sweat glands (sweating)
- Heat stimulates sweat and sweat directly reduces heat
What is comparative method in physiology? - Answer -Used to predict/explain
physiological variation within the world.
,- Through evolutionary time, we share a history with all organisms (info stored in DNA)
- Current physiology represents 4 billion years of evolution (all living things equally
derived)
Can you give an example of a question that might be answered using the comparative
method? - Answer -Does this particular version of this trait share a common ancestor?
- All inherited traits come from a common ancestor
The common ancestor of any 2 living species on a phylogenetic tree - Answer -A
phylogenetic tree is a model of evolutionary relationships among a set of organisms
Definition of "more closely related" - Answer -"More closely related" means how long
ago they shared a common ancestor
What were some of the major human health achievements from 1900-1999? - Answer -
- Healthier mothers and babies
- Vaccination
- Control of infectious disease
- Safer and healthier foods
- Fluoridation of drinking water
- Recognition of tobacco use as a hazard
- Motor vehicle safety
- Safer workplaces
- A decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke
Be able to name something that specifically contributed to increased life expectancy -
Answer -- Healthier mothers and babies. If fewer babies were dying, more chances of
life expectancy to extend increased
- A decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke
Understand the limitation of correlative data - Answer -Cannot be used to draw
conclusions about the casual relationships among the measured variables.
Be able to distinguish proximate (how) vs. ultimate (why) explanations for physiological
traits - Answer -Proximate (How):
- Mechanism (genetics, biochemistry)
- Development (environment, GxE)
Ultimate (Why):
- Function (adaptive value)
- Phylogeny (evolutionary constraint)
- These explanations do not always exist
- Adaptive? Evolutionary constraint?
- Neutral?
, What are some distinguishing features of the four major classes of biomolecules? Be
able to identify examples of each major class if shown a picture of a chemical structure -
Answer -Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
- Contain carbon atoms
- Synthesized by living organisms
- The "currency" of energy and growth - metabolism
Biomolecules - Answer -Molecules (2 or more atoms bonded together) of biological
importance
- A few small, inorganic molecules: water, salts, acids and bases, gas
Carbohydrates - Answer -- 1:2:1
- Simplest carbohydrate: monosaccharide (one sugar)
- Cannot be broken down and still be a carbohydrate (sugar)
- Carbon + water in ratio of CH2O
- C6H12O6
- Monosaccharide
- Mono + Mono = Disaccharide
- Mono ++++ = Polysaccharide
Lipids - Answer -Fats are often made of triglycerides
- There are many other types of lipids (only similar in the fact that they are hydrophobic)
Eicosanoids - Answer -Critically important cell signaling molecules
(Arachidonic Acid)
- Inflammation
- Allergy
- Fever
- Childbirth
- Pain
Prostaglandins: involved in the inflammation response and related to common over-the-
counter pain medication (anti-inflammatory( and inhibit prostaglandin synthesis
- Short-circuits the signaling process to reduce the inflammation response
Steroids - Answer -All synthesized from cholesterol
Phospholipids - Answer -Phospholipid bilayer
- Major component in cell membranes
- Composed of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail
Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides - Answer -5 Carbon sugar + phosphate group +
nitrogenous base
- DNA and RNA
- Have other uses as well in energy transfer and cell signaling
