Chapter 1
Intro to Biology
Intro to Biology
What are the three main points of the cell theory?
1. All living organisms are composed of cells.
2. Cells are the smallest units of life.
3. New cells come only from pre-existing cells. (Cell Division)
What is matter made up of? What is that defined by?
Matter is made up of elements. Elements cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions.
What makes a molecule organic?
It contains both carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Why do cells need a good surface area to volume ratio?
To absorb nutrients efficiently. (Think of a balloon filling with water)
Animal cells lack cell walls, but they are covered by an elaborate ...?
Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
- Made up of various proteins
- ECM proteins bind to cell-surface receptor proteins.
1. Prokaryotic Cells: (1. Small and Simple 2. No membrane-bound organelles 3. No nucleus)
2. Eukaryotic Cells: (1. Larger and more complex 2. Membrane-bound organelles 3. Has a nucleus)
What are the 3 main subatomic particles? Where are they located in an atom?
1. Proton (Nucleus)
2. Neutron (Nucleus)
3. Electron (Electron Shell)
Why is carbon one of the main elements found in living organisms? (2 main reasons!)
1. Carbon is the best at forming large, complex, and varied molecules.
2. Carbon can form both nonpolar and polar bonds (This allows for hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules)
What is cytosol? Is it the same as cytoplasm? If not, what is cytoplasm?
Cytosol is not the same as cytoplasm. Cytosol is the fluid that fills the cell within the cell membrane. Cytoplasm is the entire interior of the cell, including all of the organelles except for the nucleus.
'free' carboxyl group.
*The free amine group is called the N-terminus, and the free carboxyl group is called the C-Terminus
What are the 12 levels of organization? (In order!)
1. Atom
2. Molecule
3. Organelle
4. Cell
5. Tissue
6. Organ
7. Organ System
8. Organism
9. Population
10. Community
11. Ecosystem
12. Biosphere
How are ions formed? What are the two types of ions?
Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses electrons. An ion that lost an electron is called a cation (+). An ion that gained an electron is called an anion (-).
What is the process of monomers coming together to form polymers called? What is the reverse called?
1. Coming together = Dehydration Synthesis (Think freeze-dried candy!)
2. Coming Apart = Hydrolysis (Think diluting. It spreads things out)
What organelle makes proteins? Does that organelle have a membrane?
Most animals have enzymes that can hydrolyze (break down)....?
Starch (Main energy storage in plants)
1. DNA is transcribed to make RNA.
2. RNA is then translated to make protein.
What are isotopes? What makes them different? What can NOT change?
Isotopes are different forms of the same element. They have different numbers of neutrons. They have the same number of protons. If an element loses or gains protons, it becomes a different element.
Name the monomers, polymers, and the bonds between the 4 main organic molecules.
1. Carbohydrates
- Monomer: Monosaccharides
- Polymer: Polysaccharides
- Bond: Glycosidic Bond
2. Proteins
- Monomer: Amino Acids
- Polymer: Proteins
- Bond: Peptide Bonds
3. Nucleic Acids
- Monomers: Nucleotides
- Polymers: Nucleic Acids
- Bond: Phosphodiester Bonds
4. Lipids:
- No individual monomers or polymers. Just hydrophobic!
- Triglycerides
- Phospholipids
- Steroids
- Waxes
What are the 4 inner prokaryotic structures? What do they do?
1. Nucleoid: Loosely contains DNA. NOT a nucleus.
2. Main Chromosome: A single chromosome that contains ALL the genetic info for the organism.
3. Plasmids: Small circular pieces of DNA that exist independently of the main chromosome. (These are optional)
4. Ribosomes: Make protein!
A special type of nucleotide is not a building block for nucleic acid, but instead has an important function on its own. This nucleotide is called...? What does it do?
ATP. It carries chemical energy in its easily hydrolyzed (broken down) bonds.
List the three domains and the corresponding six kingdoms of the tree of life.
Domain 1: Domain Bacteria (Prokaryotes)
- Kingdom 1: Kingdom Bacteria
Domain 2: Domain Archaea (Prokaryotes)
- Kingdom 2: Kingdom Archaea
Domain 3: Domain Eukarya (Eukaryotes)
- Kingdom 3: Kingdom Plantae
- Kingdom 4: Kingdom Fungi
- Kingdom 5: Kingdom Protista
- Kingdom 6: Kingdom Animalia
What makes water properties make it so great for life?
2. Adhesion
3. High specific Heat
4. High heat of vaporization
5. Floating of Ice on Liquid Water (H-Bonds are more ordered in ice, making it less dense than water.)
What are the 4 levels of protein structure? What does it mean if a protein is denatured?
1. Primary Structure (Polypeptides are formed via covalent bonds between amino acids)
2. Secondary Structure (H-Bonds between atoms in the polypeptide backbone.)
3. Tertiary Structure (Final folded form created by interactions between R groups)
4. Quaternary Structure (All polypeptides that make up the final functional protein complex together. Made from interactions between multiple polypeptide chains. )
What are microtubules? What do they do?
Long, cylinder-like structures made of protein that help to maintain cell shape and act as tracks which things can be moved in the cell.
A .... is an isotope with an unstable atomic nucleus.