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Hierarchical Organization of Living Systems: From Atoms to the Biosphere, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Biology

This document explores the hierarchical organization of life, from atoms to the biosphere. It defines key terms like organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and ecosystems, providing examples for each level. The document also examines the characteristics of living organisms, including organization, energy transformation, growth, and response to stimuli. It delves into the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, highlighting the presence of membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells. The document further examines the nature of atoms, including their composition, atomic number, mass number, and the concept of valence electrons. It explains the types of chemical bonds, including covalent bonds (polar and nonpolar) and hydrogen bonds, and their significance in biological systems. The document also discusses the properties of water, its importance for life, and the role of hydrogen bonds in these properties. Finally, it introduces the four major classes of organic molecules: ca

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Biology 190A Exam 1 Study Guide
Chapter 1
1. Describe the hierarchical organization of living systems (from atoms to the
biosphere); Know all of the terms in the hierarchy and be ready to recognize
an example of each (e.g. know what are: organs, population, community,
ecosystems, and all other parts of the hierarchical organization).
Start with the simplest unit, the atom, and progresses to molecules
(groups of atoms bonded together), organelles (specialized structure
within a cell that performs a specific function), cells (Basic Unit of Life),
tissues (A Group of cells working together), organs (A Collection of
Tissues that perform a complex function), organ systems (Multiple
organs working to perform complex bodily functions), organisms ( A
single individual) , populations (a group of the same species) ,
communities (different species interacting in the same habitat),
ecosystems (All living organisms in an area), and finally the biosphere
(The sum of all ecosystems on Earth).
2. What are the characteristics of living organisms that we discussed in class?
Organization
Life requires transformations of Energy and Matter
Living organisms Grow
Response to stimuli
3. What is the difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells
Lack a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles
Smaller than Eukaryotic cells
Eukaryotic cells
Contain membrane enclosed organelles including a DNA
containing nucleus
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Biology 190A Exam 1 Study Guide Chapter 1

  1. Describe the hierarchical organization of living systems (from atoms to the biosphere); Know all of the terms in the hierarchy and be ready to recognize an example of each (e.g. know what are: organs, population, community, ecosystems, and all other parts of the hierarchical organization).  Start with the simplest unit, the atom, and progresses to molecules (groups of atoms bonded together), organelles (specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function), cells (Basic Unit of Life), tissues (A Group of cells working together), organs (A Collection of Tissues that perform a complex function), organ systems (Multiple organs working to perform complex bodily functions), organisms ( A single individual) , populations (a group of the same species) , communities (different species interacting in the same habitat), ecosystems (All living organisms in an area), and finally the biosphere (The sum of all ecosystems on Earth).
  2. What are the characteristics of living organisms that we discussed in class?  Organization  Life requires transformations of Energy and Matter  Living organisms Grow  Response to stimuli
  3. What is the difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?  Prokaryotic cells  Lack a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles  Smaller than Eukaryotic cells  Eukaryotic cells  Contain membrane enclosed organelles including a DNA containing nucleus
  1. What does it mean to say that structure and function are related?  The way something is shaped can affect its function
  2. What is an emergent property?  characteristics that show up when parts of a system interact, but are not present in the individual parts alone
  3. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?  Quantitative data is numerical information that can be measured and counted, while qualitative data is descriptive and non- numerical, basically describing why or how something happens rather than just how much or how many.
  4. How is a scientific hypothesis different from a scientific theory?  A scientific hypothesis is an explanation based on observations that lead to a testable prediction while scientific theory is broader in scope but is supported by a large body of evidence and general enough to spin off many new testable hypotheses Chapter 2 Topic 1: The Nature of Atoms
  5. Describe an element based on its composition of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Which of these makes an element unique to other elements?  Neutrons – no electrical charge o #protons + #neutrons = Atomic Mass o # neutrons = mass number - atomic number  Protons – positive charge o Atomic Number = # of protons  Electrons – negative charge o #protons = # electrons in a neutral atom
  1. How many neutrons does Carbon-14 have in its nucleus? How does this compare to Carbon-12?  Carbon-12 has 6 Protons & 6 Neutrons  Carbon-14 has 6 Protons & 8 Neutrons Topic 2: Chemical Bonding
  2. What are covalent bonds? Draw an example. What is the difference between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds? What is the difference between single and double covalent bonds?  Covalent Bond is the sharing of a pair of valence Electrons by two atoms o Single bond = sharing 1 pair of Electrons o Double Bond = sharing 2 pairs of Electrons  Types of Covalent bonds o Non-polar bond is the equal share of the electrons o Polar bond is where one atom is more electronegative, and the atoms do not share the electrons equally creating partial charges
  3. What are ionic bonds? Draw an example.

 Ionic Bonds is an attraction between a Anion (negative) and Cation (positive)

  1. What are hydrogen bonds? Draw an example.  Hydrogen Bonds form when a hydrogen atom covalently bonds to one electronegative atom and is also attracted to another electronegative atom nearby
  2. Define reactants, products, and chemical equilibrium.  Reactants are the starting molecules of a chemical reaction  Products are the final molecules of a chemical reaction  Chemical Equilibrium is reached when the forward and reverse reaction rates are equal
  3. Characteristics and Properties of Water  Cohesive Behavior  Ability to moderate temperature  Expansion upon freezing  Versatility as a solvent
  4. Define polar molecules and electronegativity.  Polar molecules, with the oxygen region having a partial negative charge and the hydrogens having a partial positive  Electronegativity is a property that measures an atoms tendency to attract electrons when forming a bond Na (^) Cl Table Salt

o The tendency of different types of molecules to cling to each other, like when water molecules stick to the surface of a glass container.  Surface tension: o A property of liquids where the surface acts like a thin elastic film due to the inward cohesive forces pulling molecules at the liquid-air interface, allowing objects denser than water to float on it.  Solubility: o The ability of a substance to dissolve in a given solvent, measured by the amount of solute that can be dissolved in a specific volume of solvent at a given temperature. Chapter 3: Topic 1: Carbon: The Framework for Biological Macromolecules

  1. Describe how many simultaneous covalent bonds can be formed with one carbon atom and why.  A carbon atom can form four simultaneous covalent bonds because it has four valence electrons in its outermost shell by forming covalent bonds with each of them
  2. Describe the structure of each of the 7 functional groups discussed in class (week 4).  Hydroxyl (-OH) (alcohol): o This group is polar due to the electronegative oxygen atom, making molecules containing it hydrophilic (water-loving).  Carbonyl (C=O )(aldehyde/ketone):

o The C=O bond is polar and can be found in aldehydes (where one side is attached to a hydrogen) and ketones (where both sides are attached to carbon chains).  Carboxyl (-COOH) (carboxylic acid): o This group is acidic because it can readily donate a hydrogen ion due to the polar C=O and O-H bonds.  Amino (-NH2): o This group acts as a base because it can accept a hydrogen ion due to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom.  Sulfhydryl (-SH) (thiol): o This group is important for protein structure as it can form disulfide bonds with other sulfhydryl groups.  Phosphate (-OPO3^-2): o This group is often found in biological molecules like DNA and phospholipids, and carries a negative charge.  Ether (-CH3): o This group consists of an oxygen atom bridging two carbon chains.

  1. List the 4 types of macromolecules. Define monomer, polymer, dehydration synthesis, and hydrolysis  Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids  Monomer: o A small molecule that acts as a building block for larger molecules called polymers, essentially a single repeating unit within a polymer chain.  Polymer: o A large molecule composed of many repeating subunits called monomers, linked together by chemical bonds.  Dehydration Synthesis: o A chemical reaction where two molecules join by forming a new bond, with the release of a water molecule. This process is crucial for building polymers from monomers.

 While structural polysaccharides like cellulose and chitin have linear, tightly packed chains of glucose derivatives, providing strong structural support in organisms  Cellulose in plant cell walls  Chitin in insect exoskeletons and some fungi cell walls.

  1. Why can humans digest cellulose, but not starch?  Humans cannot digest cellulose, but can digest starch because our bodies lack the necessary enzyme to break down the beta-glycosidic linkages found in cellulose Topic 3: Lipids: Diverse Group of Hydrophobic Molecules
  2. Explain the structure of triglycerols and that fats function as energy-storage molecules  A triglyceride is a type of fat molecule composed of a glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acid chains, acting as a primary energy storage molecule in the body due to the high energy density stored within the long hydrocarbon chains of the fatty acids; when the body needs energy, these triglycerides are broken down to release the stored energy.  LONG TERM ENERGY
  3. Describe the differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids  Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms in their chain, while unsaturated fatty acids have at least one double bond
  4. Describe the structure of phospholipids, understand how they arrange to form membrane, and know that there are other types of lipids (eg, steroids, cholesterol)  A phospholipid o Glycerol molecule as the backbone

o Two fatty acid chains (hydrophobic tails) o Phosphate group with a polar molecule attached (hydrophilic head)  Steroids like cholesterol, which can also be found within the cell membrane, provide additional structural support and fluidity regulation