Study Guide Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life
Campbell et al. Biology. 8th ed., Chapter 2
Study hint: While working through this study guide, make a list of key terms in
the right margin. Usually, these terms are boldfaced in the study guides or they
appear in the referenced figures. Consult one of the glossaries if you are not
sure of definitions.
Do all concept checks.
0. Application
1. Read the interview with Deborah M. Gordon (pp. 28-29). In this interview,
Dr. Gordon draws an analogy between an ant colony and human
development, one of the topics in our class. Ants communicate with each
other through chemical signals, which, as we have seen in chapter 7, also
govern communication between and within cells. Location,
concentration and specificity give meaning to the chemical signals in an
ant colony just as they do in a cell (key strategy 4). What is a complex
system and can cells be considered such?
2. How does exposure to UV light promote skin cancer?
3. Why are most drugs manufactured as salts?
4. Why does a human brain react to the chemical message delivered by
heroin?
5. What are free radicals? Why are they dangerous? And why can you
minimize their negative effects with antioxidants?
Note: usually it is not enough to write down the answers to the following
questions. You also need to understand and learn them. For help memorizing
these concepts check out the interactive "study drills" on your CD ROM or the
worksheet at the Biology Place
I. The big picture
Cells are lipid-bound droplets of water in which various ions and molecules
are dissolved. The properties of life are based on chemical interactions.
6. Chemical interactions are important on every level of biological
organization (see DNA, transmembrane protein channels, and ant
colonies). Whether atoms and molecules interact with each other and to
which effect depends on their location, concentration, and specific
© Crima Pogge, CCSF for Bio 101A, page 1
