Basic Biology
What is the smallest unit of organization that can perform all activities required for life?
The Cell
What are the 4 elements that make up 96% of living matter?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen (CHON)
True or false: Water does not support all life.
What does organic chemistry study?
compounds that contain carbon
What are the 4 large biological molecules?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Proteins
2 questions, 2 different answers:
they have no nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles; generally smaller than the other type of cell.
have membrane-bound organelles (including a nucleus); generally larger than the other type of cell. "like YOU and me"
prokaryote
eukaryote
2 different definitions, 2 different terms:
the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element
a substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions
Atom
Element
What is waters 4 properties that create an environment for life?
Cohesive behavior
Ability to moderate temperature
Expansion upon freezing
Versatility as a solvent
How do carbon chains vary?
Length
Shape (branching or straight)
Placement of double bonds
Presence of rings
4 questions, 4 answers:
Where are alpha -OH rings forms found? What are the uses for alpha rings?
Where are beta -OH rings forms found? What are the uses for beta rings?
Alpha: Below and storage
Beta: Above and structure
What are the 2 main points from Darwin's book?
Descent with modification (defines evolution)
Natural selection is the mechanism
How many electrons will each shell hold?
1st shell: 2 electrons
2nd shell: 8 electrons
3rd shell: 8 electrons
Define cohesion and adhesion. What are the differences between the two?
Cohesion: The tendency of similar molecules (typically water) to stick together due to hydrogen bonding. Bonus: surface tension!
Adhesion: an attraction between different substances, for example, between water and plant
cell walls
Define an isomer.
What are the 3 examples of isomers. Give a small definition of what they are.
Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties
Structural isomers have different covalent arrangements of their atoms
Cis-trans isomers have the same covalent bonds but differ in spatial arrangements
Enantiomers are isomers that are mirror images of each other
How do fatty acids vary?
What are the differences between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids?
length (number of carbons) and number and location of double bonds
Unsaturated: double bonds, liquid at room temp
Saturated: no double bonds, solid at room temp
What are 3 observations of Natural Selection?
genetic variability
unequal reproductive success
advantageous traits accumulate
What are the 3 main types of bonds you can see? Give a small description/fact of each.
Covalent: share electrons (unequal: nonpolar and equal: polar), etc
Ionic: metal and nonmetal, cations and anions are attracted, etc
Hydrogen: weak bonds, bonded to FON (fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen), partial charges, etc
3 questions, 3 answers:
How do you define an acid, and how do you define a base? What is a buffer?
Acid: any substance that increases the H+ concentration of a solution (1-6)
Base: any substance that reduces the H+ concentration of a solution (8-14)
Buffer: substances that minimize changes in concentrations of H+ and OH– in a
solution
True or False. Enantiomers important in the pharmaceutical industry.
True: 2 enantiomers of a drug may have different effects. Usually only one isomer is biologically active
What are the functions of proteins?
Hint: there are 7.
structural support
storage
transport
cellular communications
movement
defense against foreign substances
enzymes
What we can conclude/infer from Natural Selection?
Individuals that are best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. And, over time, more individuals in a population will have the advantageous traits
Draw the element chlorine (Cl). Make sure to include proton number and the neutron number.
Would you be able to solve for its atomic mass?
*insert picture of chlorine*
protons: 17
neutrons: 18
electrons: 18
mass: 35
What are 2 examples of things that can threaten water quality?
acid precipitation and ocean acidification
Label all 7 functional groups. Include what elements are in each!
Bonus: Which of the functional groups are hydrophobic, and which are hydrophilic?
Hydroxyl group (-OH)
Carbonyl group (-C=O)
Carboxyl group (-COOH)
Amino group (-NH2)
Sulfhydryl group (-SH)
Phosphate group (-PO4)
Methyl group (-CH3): hydrophobic
Give an example of a nucleic acid.
What is a nucleic acid comprised of?
DNA and RNA
a nitrogenous base
a pentose sugar (DNA = deoxyribose, RNA= ribose)
one or more phosphate groups