Unit I. The Science of Life

I.        What is the Nature of Scienctific Study? (This Question is Weighted 5X.)
            A. Compare and contrast scienctific and nonscientific fields.
            B. Explain What is meant by the scientific method.
                1. List and explain the step that are typically taken during the scintific method.
                2. Explain how the scientific method is modified during scientific investigations.
            C. Explain the differences between hypotheses, facts and theories.
            D. Explain the difference between Induction and deductive reasoning.
            (How is each used during scientific investigations?)
            E. Explain the difference between basic and applied science.

            Concept Area: The Nature of Science
 

II.         What is meant by being "alive" ?  (Describe essential characteristics of living organisms.)

            Concept Area: Defining Life
 

III.        What was the historical development of our current system of classification of living
            organisms?  (This question is weighted 5X.)
            A. Explain the diference between natural and artifical classification systems.
                (homology vs. analogy)
            B. Describe some early classification schemes.  (Aristotle, Theophrastus)
            C. Why is Carolus Linnaeus considered the father of modern taxonomy?
            D. What role did Ernst Haeckel play in the development of modern taxonomy?
            E. What role did R. H. Whittaker play in the development of modern taxonomy?

            Concept Area: The Historical Development of Modern Taxonomy
 

IV.       What are the major differences among the six major modern kingdoms?

            Concept Area: Modern Kingdoms
 

V.         How is our modern taxonomic hierarchy structured into seven major levels?

            Concept Area: The Taxonomic Hierarchy
 

VI.        Why is it sometimes difficult to determine a species?

            Concept Area: Species
 

VII.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of using binomial nomenclature
            compared to common names?

            Concept Area: Nomenclature
 
 
 

Unit II  Ecology

I.     What levels (above the individual organism level) that are a concern of ecology?

Concept Area: Ecological Study ( population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere)
 

II.     What is the importance of some of the some of the major biotic and abiotic components of a pond? (This question is
        weighted 5X.)
            A. What are several ways that biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem interact?
            B. How do living things interact with one another through trophic relationships?
                (Food Chain?  Food Web?  Food Cycle?)

Concept Area: Ecosyten Interactions
 

III.    What is meant by the pyramids of biomass and energy?  (This question is weighted 2X.)
            A. Give an example from an aquatic ecosystem of organisms that fit into the following trophic levels:
                 producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
            B. what are the first and second laws of thermodynamic?
            C. Why is the sun considered the ultimate source of energy for all natural ecosystems?

Concept Area: Complex Trophic Levels
 

IV.     What are the various phases for the normal growth curve for natural populations?
          (What are some of the factors that limit and stabilize populations - cause carrying capacity to be reached?)

Concept Area: Population Dynamics
 

V. Why can minerals be recycled within an ecosystem but energy cannot be recycled?

Concept Area: The Flow of Materials and Energy Within an Ecosystem
 

VI. How can the actions of man have a harmful effect on a natural ecosystem?

Concept Area: Man and Environment
 

VII. What are the differences among the following ecological relationships: parasitism, mutualism and commensalism?

Concept Area: Symbiotic Relationships
 

VIII. What is the difference between an organisms habitat and niche?

Concept Area: Niche and Habitat
 

IX. What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Concept Area: Competitive Exclusion
 

X. What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Concept Area: Ecological Succession
 

XI. How does secondary succession produce a climax community (stages?)?

Concept Area: Ecological Succession
 

XII. What are the major biomes in the United States and what are the primary physical factors that cause their
        existance?

Concept Area: Biomes
 
 
 

Unit III  Chemistry

I. What are the major levels of Biological organization according to Odum?  (Which are living and non-living?)
Concept Area: Biological Organization

II. What are the basic ideas in the Atomic Theory? (weighted 6X)
        A. What are atoms and elements?
        B. What are the basic particles that make an atom?
        C. What is meant by an isotope?
        D. What is the difference between atoms and molecules?
        E. What are the primary differences between ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonds?
        F. How do reactants differ from products in a chemical equation?
        G. What are ions?
Concept Area: The Atomic Theory

III. How do acids, bases and buffers differ?
Concept Area: Acids, Bases, Buffers

IV. What are some of the special properties of water that make it critical to all living organisms?
Concept Area: The Chemical Properties of Water

V. What is the nature of organic chemistry?  (weighted 3X)
        A. How does organic chemistry differ from inorganic chemistry?
        B. Why does organic chemistry make life possible?
        C. Which of the following types of formula is most accurate for organic chemicals: chemical formula,
             structural formula?
Concept Area: The Nature of Organic Chemistry

VI. What are the primary differences among the three major classes of organic chemicals? (weighted 3X)
        A. What is the elemental make-up and molecular structure of the carbohydrates?
            (simple sugars, double sugars, and polysaccharides)
        B. What is the elemental make-up and molecular structure of the lipids?
            (fats and oils)
        C. What is the elemental make-up and molecular structure of the proteins?
            (amino acids, peptide bonds, primary, secondary and tertiary structure)
Concept Area: The Major Classes of Organic Molecules

VII. What differences exist among gases, liquids and solids with respect to kinetic molecular energy?
Concept Area: The States of  Matter

VIII. What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?
        (isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions)
Concept Area: Diffusion and Osmosis
 

Unit IV  The Cell

I. What are  some of the major events in the history of cell biology?  (weighted 3X)
    A. Describe the achievements of: Von Leuwenhooke, Hooke, Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow
    B. Explain how the theories of biogenesis and spontaneous generation relate to the cell theory.
    C. Explain the major uses of the light and electron microscopes in cell biology.
Concept Area: Historical Development of Cell Biology

II. What  are the major differences between prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells?
Concept Area: Basic Cell Types

III.  What is the structure and function of each of the following organelles: nucleous, nucleolus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi bodies, mitochondrion, ribosomes, lysosomes, chloroplasts, microtubules, microelements and vacuoles?
Concept Area: Cell Organelles

IV. What are the differences between the Fluid Mozaic and Unit Membrane models to explain membrane structure and function?
(simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion and active transport)
Concept Area: Cell Membranes

V. How do hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions affect living cells?
Concept Area: Osmosis in Living cells
 

VI. What are the major differences between plant and animal cells?
Concept Area: Plants vs. Animals

VII. Why there is an overall limit to the size of living cells?
Concept Area: Cell Size
 

Unit V. Energy Metabolism   Ch. 5 in your textbook

I. What is the molecular structure of enzymes and how do they function?
Concept Area: Enzymes

II. How are the processes of oxidation and reduction related?
Concept Area: Oxidation and Reduction

III. How do the colors of light relate to the electromagnetic spectrum?  Which colors are most important in photosynthesis?
Concept Area: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

IV. What are the major biochemical steps in the process of photosynthesis?  (weighted 5X)
    A. What is the fine structure of chloroplasts and how does each part relate to the process of photosynthesis?
    B. What are the major biochemical steps in the light and dark phases of photosynthesis?
    C. What are the roles of ATP and NADP in photosynthesis?
    D. In what phase of Photosynthesis is food actually made?
    E. What are the major differences between C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis?
Concept Area: Photosynthesis

V. What is the importance of ATP in living cells?
Concept Area: ATP and Energy Transfers

VI. What are the major biochemical steps in the process of cellular respiration? (weighted 5X)
    A. What is the fine structure of the mitochondrion and how does each part relate to the process of cellular respiration?
    B. What are the major biochemical steps in glycolysis and the ETC & Krebs Cycle?
    C. What are the roles of ATP, NAD and FAD in cellular respiration?
    D. What are the major differences between anaerobic and aerobic respiration?
    E. How is the process of cellular respiration linked to other cellular processes such as fat synthesis and amino acid synthesis?
Concept Area: Cellular Respiration

VII. What is the main difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph?
Concept Area: Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

VIII. How do the laws of thermodynamics relate to energy transfers in organisms (especially the tracing of cellular energy back to the sun)?
Concept Area: Laws of Thermodynamics