Proteins
What are the building blocks of proteins?
Amino acids
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid
In what organelle does translation occur?
Ribosome
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life in an area
What is the scientific name for a two-part naming system?
Binomial nomenclature
What type of bond joins amino acids together?
Peptide bond
Which nitrogenous base pairs with adenine in DNA?
Thymine
What molecule carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosome?
mRNA
Name one level at which biodiversity can be measured.
Genetic, species, or ecosystem diversity
Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Charles Darwin
Explain the difference between a primary and tertiary protein structure.
Primary = amino acid sequence; tertiary = overall 3D folding
What enzyme unwinds the DNA double helix during replication?
Helicase
What is the role of tRNA during translation?
Carries amino acids to the ribosome
Why is high biodiversity generally beneficial to ecosystems?
Greater stability and resilience to change
What is a homologous structure?
Similar structures inherited from a common ancestor
Describe what happens during protein denaturation.
Protein loses its shape and function due to changes such as temperature or pH
Why is DNA replication described as semi-conservative?
Each new DNA molecule contains one original and one new strand
A mutation changes a DNA base. How could this affect the protein produced?
May change the amino acid sequence and protein function
Give one human activity that reduces biodiversity and explain its impact.
Habitat destruction, pollution, introduced species, etc.
Explain how natural selection leads to adaptation in a population.
Individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully
A protein stops functioning after a change in pH. Explain why this occurs using protein structure.
Altered bonds change tertiary structure and active site shape
Describe the process of DNA replication, including the roles of helicase, DNA polymerase, and complementary base pairing.
Helicase unwinds and separates the DNA strands. DNA polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to each strand using base-pairing rules (A-T and C-G), producing two identical DNA molecules, each with one original and one new strand.
Trace the path of information from a gene to a functional protein.
DNA → transcription → mRNA → translation → protein
Compare genetic diversity and species diversity and explain why both are important for ecosystem survival.
Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species, while species diversity is the variety of different species in an ecosystem. Both are important because they help ecosystems adapt to changes, resist diseases, and remain stable.
Evaluate why classification systems change over time as new evidence becomes available.
New genetic and evolutionary evidence can alter relationships between organisms