Principles of Biology I
Dr. Shonah A. Hunter
This is a guide for your studying efforts and should not be your only study plan. Make sure you also use the text book, your notes and the other unit study guides I have provided to you.
YOU MUST ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE TOPICS RELATE TO EACH OTHER.
Ch 1
Be able to state the criteria of living things and recognize examples.
Why are they important in biological systems?
How do they relate to the other topics we covered during the semester?
Describe the scientific methods; what scientists do and how they do it.
Recognize how scientists conduct investigations.
Be able to describe how scientists display their data in graphic format.
Be able to interpret data from a graph.
Recognize the differences between science and non-science.
Ch 2
What are the biologically important elements?
What is important about protons, neutrons, electrons to biological systems?
What types of bonds can elements form and why are they important to biological
systems - be able to give/recognize examples.
Describe the many ways water is important to biological systems.
Understand why acids/bases, pH, and buffers are so important to biological systems.
Ch 3
Explain how biological systems can be so diverse even though they are composed of
few kinds of elements.
Describe and recognize the different kinds of macromolecules, their general structure
and their primary functions.
Be able to relate them to other topics we discussed in later chapters.
Ch 4
What are the different kinds of cells? What are their similarities and differences?
Why is extensive internal compartmentalization so important to eukaryotes?
Understand the role of organelles and how they interact with each other in the cell.
Describe the reasons for small cell size.
Ch 5
Describe the structure of the membrane and its function in regulating movement into
and out of the cell.
Understand how molecules move across membranes and recognize examples of the
most common ways molecules move.
Explain why these are important to biological systems.
Explain how large molecules move into and out of the cell with the aid of the
membrane.
Recognize the ways that cell surfaces are modified to provide for cellular support and
communication.
Ch 6
State the laws of thermodynamics and describe how they are related to biological
systems.
Describe metabolic pathways and how energy and enzymes are involved.
Explain how enzymes function and factors that affect their activity.
Describe how enzyme reactions are regulated.
Understand the role of ATP in providing energy for the cell.
Ch 7
Explain the purpose of photosynthesis and its importance in the ecosystem.
Describe how the light reaction works and the products from it.
Explain how the Calvin cycle (C3) reaction works and the products from it.
Recognize the different adaptive advantages of C3, C4 and CAM plants.
Ch 8
What is the purpose of cell respiration?
Describe the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration and the organisms
that use it.
Explain glucose metabolism and the electron transport chain.
What is the role of O2 in aerobic respiration?
Describe how ATP is produced.
How does this relate to energy and the metabolic pathways discussed in
previous chapters?
Ch 9
Describe the purpose of cell division.
Recognize the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Recognize the products of mitosis.
Ch 10
Describe the purpose of meiosis
Recognize the products of meiosis
Recognize the role of meiosis in creating variability of gametes
Recognize the differences between meiosis and mitosis
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction vs. asexual
reproduction