mastering biology ch1,2,3 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Your baby starts crying. Because she hasn't eaten in 2 hours, you declare, "The baby must be hungry." Based on the scientific method, your statement is a(n) __________.
answer
hypothesis
question
A fundamental characteristic of life on Earth is that __________.
answer
living things grow and reproduce
question
The three natural processes that form the basis for evolution are __________.
answer
genetic variation, inheritance, and natural selection
question
The complexity of living systems __________.
answer
is also highly organized
question
A scientific theory assumes all of the following except __________.
answer
a scientific theory can never be proven wrong
question
Your textbook lists seven characteristics that living organisms possess as a group. However, if you could condense these seven characteristics down to two general descriptive properties exclusive to all living organisms, what would they be?
answer
Macromolecular complexity and multiple levels of organization
question
Which scientist(s) is/are credited with developing the theory of evolution in the mid-1800s?
answer
Both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallac
question
All of the following characteristics define life except __________.
answer
the ability to do math
question
A group of researchers developed a hypothesis and tested it by designing an experiment. The results of the experiment did not support the original hypothesis. What should the researchers do next?
answer
They should reject the original hypothesis and develop a new hypothesis.
question
Identify a characteristic that is representative of some, but not all, life-forms.
answer
movement over great distances
question
A scientist is testing whether a new cancer drug will work on prostate cancer in humans. To properly interpret results of an experiment, control experiments are needed. Which of the following treatments would serve as a control in these experiments, so that the researchers can conclude that the changes they see in the patients are due to the drug?
answer
Some patients receive a "mock" injection that contains the same solution base and the same volume as the drug but does not actually contain the drug itself.
question
An autotrophic organism __________.
answer
would be one that derives its energy from a renewable external energy source such as sunlight (i.e., photosynthetic organisms)
question
The diversity of life is mainly due to __________.
answer
genetic variation
question
Why is a control needed in an experiment?
answer
To provide a comparison with the experimental results obtained when changing the variable
question
An understanding of basic biological concepts __________.
answer
permits a deeper, and sometimes profound, appreciation of the world around us
question
Experiments are carefully designed in an attempt to __________.
answer
test a single experimental variable
question
Simple experiments generally isolate and test one __________ at a time.
answer
variable
question
A scientist examines an organism and finds that it is eukaryotic, heterotrophic, multicellular, and it absorbs nutrients. She concludes that the organism is most likely a member of the Kingdom __________.
answer
fungi
question
The organic complexity and organization of living organisms depends on the periodic capture of raw materials and energy. Ultimately, the source of this energy is __________.
answer
the sun
question
Which of these experiments would best test the following hypothesis: "Bacteria do not arise spontaneously on meat; they are carried onto meat by droplets of water"?
answer
Place meat in two separate containers: Add droplets of water to one container and no water to the second container. Cover the containers and compare the growth of bacteria in the two containers.
question
Organisms that can make their own food are called __________; organisms that must obtain energy from molecules made by other organisms are called __________.
answer
autotrophs; heterotrophs
question
The process of evolution involves __________.
answer
natural selection of organisms that produce more offspring under certain environmental conditions
question
Natural selection would be best illustrated by which of the following?
answer
A bacterial cell in the human body with a genetic variation that allows it to survive when the person takes antibiotics
question
Which of the following statements is correct?
answer
Mutations are accidental changes in genes.
question
In a famous experiment that helped disprove the possibility of spontaneous generation, Francesco Redi hypothesized that, contrary to popular belief, maggots did not appear spontaneously but came from flies. He predicted that if flies were kept away from meat, then maggots would not appear. To test his hypothesis, Redi placed identical pieces of meat in two identical jars and placed the two jars on the same windowsill. He placed a lid on one jar and left the other uncovered for several days. In the experiment, the control is __________.
answer
the meat in the jar without the lid
question
________ is the study of living things.
answer
biology
question
a(n) _________ consists of all the organisms and their nonliving environment within a given area
answer
ecosystem
question
____________________ is the process of generating hypotheses from a well-supported generalization such as scientific theory
answer
deductive reasoning
question
a plant or other organism that can make its own food is known as a(n) ________. an animal or other organism that cannot make its own food is known as a(n) ________.
answer
autotroph; heterotroph
question
a statement describing an expected observation outcome of a specific experiment is known as a ________.
answer
prediction
question
bacteria are ______, or single-celled, organisms. in contrast, most fungi, plants, and animals are many-celled, or _________.
answer
unicellular; multicellular
question
a(n) __________ cell lacks a nucleus. a(n) ___________ cell has a true membrane-enclosed nucleus
answer
prokaryotic; eukaryotic
question
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living things?
answer
creating energy
question
Homeostasis is a living organism's
answer
ability to maintain constant internal conditions even when environmental conditions change.
question
Which of the following can be found in bacteria, but not viruses?
answer
a cell membrane
question
Viruses are
answer
not alive because they are not made of cells and require a host cell for reproduction.
question
Which of the following statements about viruses is FALSE?
answer
The widespread use of antibiotics has led to resistant strains of viruses.
question
Why is combination drug therapy for HIV/AIDS less likely to lead to resistance than single drug therapy?
answer
The likelihood of one virus spontaneously mutating to be resistant to several different drugs at the same time is extremely small.
question
Suppose you were in charge of sending an unmanned space probe to a new planet in search of life. The probe would be able to collect and test samples and make observations, but the planet is too far away for the probe to be able to bring samples back to Earth. The probe is small and would only be able to run a few tests, so you want to pick a test for evidence of life that is broad enough to incorporate all forms of life as we know it. Which one of the following tests would be the best to use in this situation?
answer
a test for the presence of cells that contain DNA
question
An organ, such as the liver, is composed of _____.
answer
tissues
question
Which of these is an organ system?
answer
digestive
question
What are the two main types of cells?
answer
prokaryotes and eukaryotes
question
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
answer
to provide a standard for comparison
question
Which of these is a characteristic of all life?
answer
growing
question
What is the eventual fate of all energy acquired by life?
answer
It becomes heat.
question
A scientist examines an organism and finds that it is eukaryotic, heterotrophic, multi-cellular, and it absorbs food molecules. Which kingdom will she likely place the organism in?
answer
Fungi
question
A 57-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital with an infected toe, and the infection was spreading rapidly. The damage was being caused by an unknown microorganism that could not be cultured in the lab. Doctors observed that antibiotics, which kill only prokaryotes, were ineffective. They suspected that the microbe was a fungus, so they tried the drug Amphotericin, which targets the ergosterols in fungal cells. Because animal cells contain cholesterols, not ergosterols, they are unaffected by the drug. Shortly after receiving Amphotericin, the patient improved, her infection ceased, and she was released from the hospital. In this scenario, what was the hypothesis?
answer
Antibiotics will not kill the microbe because it is a fungal species.
question
Scientific experimentation generally leads to more questions. True or False?
answer
true
question
Which is the correct sequence of increasing organization?
answer
Cell, tissue, organ, organ system
question
Francesco Redi designed an experiment to test the notion of spontaneous generation. He left the first jar of meat open to the air and covered the second jar. The first jar would be called the ________ jar.
answer
control
question
Chromosomes are made of
answer
deoxyribonucleic acid
question
Why do heterotrophs require "food" for survival?
answer
Food provides the organic chemicals needed by heterotrophs.
question
All of the following are true of all living organisms EXCEPT that they
answer
possess either DNA or RNA.
question
Imagine you are waiting backstage for your cue to come onstage when you notice that you are breathing rapidly and beginning to feel light-headed. As you try to control your anxiety and slow your breathing, you think about what you learned in your biology class this week and realize that your hyperventilation is changing your blood pH. Explain.
answer
Rapid breathing increases the pH of your blood, making it more basic.
question
What allows one atom to physically interact with a second atom?
answer
Number of electrons in the outer energy shell
question
Why are hydrophobic molecules such as fats and oils unable to dissolve in watery solutions?
answer
Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other, excluding the hydrophobic molecules.
question
When an atom ionizes, what happens?
answer
It gives up or takes up one or more electrons.
question
All elements are __________.
answer
a unique form of matter
question
An atom has two electrons in its inner energy shell, eight in the second, and one in the outermost shell. What is the most likely outcome for this atom in terms of chemical bonding?
answer
The atom will lose its outermost electron, becoming an ion with a charge of +1.
question
The molecule H2SO4 is ionized to H+ ions and SO4- ions in water. Would you predict this to result in a solution that is acidic or basic?
answer
The solution would be acidic, as there would be more H+ than OH- ions.
question
Which of the following is not a subatomic particle?
answer
Ion
question
One solution has a pH of 2 and another has a pH of 3. What would be the relative difference in H+ ion concentration?
answer
A tenfold difference in concentration
question
Oxygen atoms have an atomic number of 8. Neon atoms have 10 electrons. Predict whether or not these atoms are generally reactive with other atoms (i.e., can form chemical bonds with other atoms). Explain your answer.
answer
Oxygen is reactive because its outermost electron shell contains six electrons (is not filled); neon is not reactive because its outermost electron shell contains eight electrons (is filled).
question
Nonpolar covalent bonds are different from polar covalent bonds because __________.
answer
electrons are shared equally in nonpolar covalent bonds and are shared unequally in polar covalent bonds.
question
The atomic number of carbon is 6. A carbon atom has __________ protons and __________ electrons.
answer
six, six
question
The chemical bonding properties of an atom are determined directly by __________.
answer
the outer shell of electrons
question
Isotopes are __________.
answer
atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
question
Which of the following is not true of covalent bonds?
answer
They result when atoms gain or lose one or more electrons.
question
The basic structural units of matter and life are __________.
answer
atoms
question
Atoms are the basic building blocks of elements. Atoms are made up of three different subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons). Which subatomic particle defines the fundamental nature of each element?
answer
Protons
question
Covalent bonds __________.
answer
share electrons with another atom
question
If electrons in water molecules were equally attracted to the hydrogen and oxygen nuclei, water molecules would be __________.
answer
less polar
question
Why is water essential for life?
answer
Water is a good solvent, water moderates the effects of temperature, and when water freezes, it forms ice that floats.
question
How many covalent bonds can the nitrogen (atomic number = 7) atom form?
answer
Three
question
Imagine that you wanted to make a time capsule in which you would seal important artifacts from your life (pictures, poems, a lock of your baby hair, etc.), to be opened by your heirs 1,000 years from now. To prevent these artifacts from decaying, you want to fill the capsule with a gas that would be least reactive. Which of these gases would you choose: oxygen gas (O2) carbon dioxide (CO2), argon gas (Ar), or hydrogen gas (H2)? (The atomic numbers of the atoms in these molecules are as follows: oxygen = 8; carbon = 6; argon = 18; and hydrogen = 2.)
answer
Argon gas
question
An oxygen atom with eight protons in its nucleus would be expected to have how many electrons?
answer
Eight electrons
question
A hypothetical atom has one electron shell that can hold 10 electrons. This atom has seven protons and is electrically neutral. How many covalent bonds can this atom form?
answer
Three
question
Which of the following lists of terms is in the correct order of size, going from smallest to largest?
answer
Electron, proton, atomic nucleus, atom, molecule
question
What is the atomic number of an atom that has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons?
answer
6
question
Which of these refers to atoms with the same atomic number but different atomic masses?
answer
These atoms are isotopes.
question
Fluorine's atomic number is 9 and its atomic mass is 19. How many neutrons does fluorine have?
answer
10
question
An uncharged atom of boron has an atomic number of 5 and an atomic mass of 11. How many protons does boron have?
answer
5
question
Atoms with the same number of protons but with different electrical charges _____.
answer
are different ions
question
In salt, what is the nature of the bond between sodium and chlorine?
answer
ionic
question
An ionic bond involves _____.
answer
an attraction between ions of opposite charge
question
A(n) _____ refers to two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
answer
molecule
question
A(n) _____ bond joins these two oxygen atoms.
answer
double covalent
question
Each water molecule is joined to _____ other water molecules by ____ bonds.
answer
four ... hydrogen
question
The unequal sharing of electrons within a water molecule makes the water molecule _____.
answer
polar
question
The tendency of an atom to pull electrons toward itself is referred to as its _____.
answer
electronegativity
question
In a neutral solution the concentration of _____.
answer
hydrogen ions is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions
question
In order to maintain a constant pH, buffers act to either accept or release H+. True or False?
answer
true
question
Scientists recommend a diet rich in antioxidants to stay healthy. What occurs at the atomic level to explain this recommendation?
answer
Antioxidants stop the chain reaction of cellular damage caused by free radicals.
question
What is meant by the statement that water has a high specific heat?
answer
It can absorb a lot of energy without changing temperature.
question
Sweating is a useful cooling mechanism for humans because water
answer
takes up a great deal of heat in changing from its liquid state to its gaseous state.
question
The innermost electron shell of an atom can hold up to _____ electrons.
answer
2
question
Which of these relationships is true of an uncharged atom?
answer
The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.
question
What determines the types of chemical reactions that an atom participates in?
answer
the number of electrons in the outermost electron shell
question
Cancer is caused by mutating DNA. What exactly do cigarette smoke and radiation do that can cause cancer?
answer
Cigarette smoke and radiation both cause free radicals, which damage DNA, leading to mutation.
question
What is a hydrogen bond?
answer
a weak bond between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom in a neighboring molecule
question
How do the hydrogen bonds between water molecules compare to the covalent bonds within water molecules?
answer
The hydrogen bonds are more easily broken than the covalent bonds.
question
How does water dissolve salt?
answer
The partial positive charges of the hydrogen atoms on water surround the negative charge of a chlorine ion.
question
Why are hydrophobic molecules such as fats and oils unable to dissolve in watery solutions?
answer
Hydrophobic molecules are nonpolar, so they can't form hydrogen bonds with water. Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other, excluding the hydrophobic molecules.
question
Because the specific heat of land is less than the specific heat of water, which of the following should be true?
answer
After a warm day, lakes should be warmer at night than the land around them.
question
Why does ice float?
answer
The hydrogen bonds in solid water force the molecules farther apart than the same bonds in liquid water.
question
Which basic property of a single water molecule accounts for all of its special features, including adhesion and cohesion, its ability to act as a solvent, and its high specific heat?
answer
the polar nature of water
question
A(n) ______ contains the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons, than another form of the same element.
answer
isotope
question
___________ compounds do not interact with water
answer
hydrophobic
question
a(n) _______ is a subatomic particle found in an atoms nucleus that has no electrical charge.
answer
neutron
question
a(n) ______________________ is a chemical bond in which atoms share a pair of electrons
answer
covalent bonds
question
_____________ compounds will interact with water
answer
hydrophilic
question
If you examined the human body, which of the following combinations of elements would be most common?
answer
O, N, H, C
question
Radioactive isotopes are biological tools that are often used to
answer
detect brain tumors.
question
What determines the cohesiveness of water molecules?
answer
Hydrogen bonds
question
Water moves through a plant because of the property of
answer
cohesion
question
The human body must maintain a constant pH. In the blood, bicarbonate serves as a(n) ________ to help maintain the necessary pH.
answer
buffer
question
At the gym one day, you notice a new energy bar being sold that advertises quick energy for your workout. To impress you further, it is claimed that this bar contains only carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. What kind of biological molecule(s) would you be eating if you ate this energy bar?
answer
carbohydrates and lipids
question
The general class of biological molecules containing large, nonpolar regions, which make them insoluble in water, is called __________.
answer
lipids
question
Lipids contain fatty acids, which are made mostly of nonpolar bonds. Will these molecules be soluble or insoluble in water? Explain.
answer
they would be insoluble in water due to their nonpolar bonds
question
Proteins are polymers of __________.
answer
amino acids
question
Phospholipids contain a "head group" that is __________ and two fatty acid "tails" that are __________.
answer
hydrophilic;hydrophobic
question
"Organic" is a term that can have different meanings. What does this term mean to a chemist?
answer
organic compounds are compounds of carbon and hydrogen.
question
A nucleotide is composed of __________.
answer
a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base
question
Saturated fats __________.
answer
contain the max # of hydrogen atoms possible
question
Protein functions in cells include __________.
answer
defense, catalysis of biochemical reactions, structure and movement, and transport
question
During the process of polymerization (synthesis of biological polymers), water is __________, and the reaction is consequently called a __________ reaction.
answer
removed; dehydration
question
Which type(s) of organic molecules contain a phosphate functional group?
answer
both nucleic acids and phospholipids
question
Which of the following functional groups would you expect to help make an organic molecule soluble in water?
answer
a carbon backbone with many hydroxyl groups, OH
question
How are large organic molecules (macromolecules) synthesized?
answer
by a dehydration reaction utilizing monomers
question
Which of the following choices does not properly pair an organic compound with one of its building blocks (subunits)?
answer
nucleic acid-glycerol
question
If a lipid is completely saturated, would you predict it to be liquid or solid at room temperature?
answer
it would be solid at room temperature
question
Fat accumulates in our bodies when we overeat. This is because __________.
answer
lipids are a form of long term energy storage
question
A scientist is studying the metabolism of proteins in yeast and wants to follow the formation of proteins from the earliest possible point. In her experiment, she will feed the yeast's radioactive nutrients and follow the fate of the radioactivity in the cells. Which of the following atoms will allow her to exclusively follow proteins in the cell?
answer
radioactive sulfur
question
Carbohydrates __________.
answer
can function as a source of energy or can function as an extremely durable structural material, depending on the specific nature of the chemical bonds between subunits(monomers)
question
How are humans able to use the energy in the starch of a potato but not in the cellulose of celery?
answer
our bodies can't break the bonds in cellulose but can break those in starch.
question
Foods that are high in fiber are most likely to be derived from __________.
answer
plants
question
A characteristic of the carbon atom that contributes to its ability to form an immense diversity of organic molecules is its __________.
answer
ability to covalently bond with up to four other atoms
question
What is the difference between a simple sugar and a complex carbohydrate?
answer
complex carbohydrates are polymers of single sugars
question
Complex carbohydrates have numerous roles in plant cells, including __________.
answer
long term energy storage and giving of structure to plant cell walls
question
The quaternary level of protein structure __________.
answer
refers to a functional complex of two or more 3-d proteins
question
The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in pits in the desert. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies relatively quickly, leaving lifelike mummies. The trunk region of the body dehydrates much more slowly than peripheral regions such as the hands or feet. Based on what you know about how biological molecules are broken apart by the process of hydrolysis, which regions of a mummy's body would give the most intact pieces of DNA?
answer
fingers
question
Proteins are macromolecules that can perform many different functions within an organism. This diversity of function is due to the unique nature of one of the protein macromolecule's four functional groups, which is bound to a central carbon atom. Which functional group is responsible for the wide diversity of function attributed to proteins?
answer
the R group
question
When a protein is denatured __________.
answer
the protein's normal three-dimensional structure is altered, leaving the primary structure and protein function compromised
question
Whether hair is naturally straight or curly is determined by __________.
answer
the appropriate location of disulfide bonds in keratin
question
Excess nitrogen wastes in our food are converted to urea. Which of the following types of foods would you expect to increase the levels of urea in your blood?
answer
meats that contain a lot of protein and legumes that contain a lot of nucleic acid
question
Which functional group is polar, acidic, and involved in peptide bonds?
answer
carboxyl
question
Which of the following forms the exoskeleton of insects, crabs, and spiders?
answer
chitin
question
What is the role of DNA and RNA in cells?
answer
preserving and expressing genetic information
question
The nucleotide base that is in DNA but not RNA is __________.
answer
thymine
question
Each fatty acid contains __________.
answer
a long chain of carbon and hydrogen and a carboxyl group at one end
question
Prions are __________.
answer
made of only proteins
question
The components of triglycerides are __________.
answer
one glycerol and three fatty acids
question
Which type of nucleic acid is found in the chromosomes of cells?
answer
DNA
question
Why are functional groups on organic compounds important?
answer
functional groups are more likely to participate in chemical reactions and are mainly responsible for the properties and chemical reactivity or organic molecules.
question
Which of the following carbohydrates is a disaccharide?
answer
sucrose
question
Which functional group helps to change gene expression when it is attached to nucleotides?
answer
methyl
question
Disulfide bridges form in proteins between __________ in the __________ structure.
answer
two cysteine molecules; tertiary
question
Obesity and a diet rich in saturated fats __________ LDL, while exercise __________ HDL.
answer
increases; increases
question
Complex macromolecules are separated into their component parts through the process of __________.
answer
hydrolysis
question
Cholesterol is used by cells __________.
answer
as a component of cell membranes, to insulate nerve cells in the brain, and as a building block for steroid types of hormones
question
You have identified a protein that is unable to form disulfide bridges. This would affect which of the following?
answer
tertiary structure of the protein
question
In which of the following molecules would rearranging the order of the subunits have an effect on molecular function?
answer
both protein and DNA
question
The bond that links amino acids in a protein is called a __________ bond.
answer
peptide
question
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) functions as a(n) __________.
answer
form of energy storage
question
The sequence of amino acids linked together form the __________ structure.
answer
primary
question
All of the following compounds contain carbon. Which one is an inorganic compound?
answer
carbon dioxide
question
You are telling your friend that organic molecules are all made up of carbon backbones with hydrogens. She doesn't understand how there can be so many different organic molecules if they all are made up of the same basic components. You explain that organic molecules
answer
vary because they possess different functional groups
question
What is the difference between carbohydrates and lipids?
answer
carbohydrates have mostly polar bonds and lipids do not
question
Which of these is NOT a lipid?
answer
RNA
question
Which of these is rich in unsaturated fats?
answer
olive oil
question
A function of cholesterol that does not harm health is its role _____.
answer
as a component of animal cell membranes
question
Why are organic molecules so diverse compared to inorganic molecules?
answer
the carbon molecules in an organic compound can make four bonds
question
Cholesterol, testosterone, and estrogen are examples of
answer
steroids
question
Which fact is most important in explaining why wrong base pairs are rarely incorporated into the double helix?
answer
Nucleotide pairing affects the action of DNA polymerase.
question
In an experiment, a scientist fed radioactive nucleotides to a cell that was previously non-radioactive. After the cell duplicated its DNA, which statement would be true?
answer
Each DNA helix would have one radioactive strand and one non-radioactive strand.
question
In DNA replication,
answer
the replica strands are complementary to the templates.
question
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
answer
Unsaturated fats contain double bonds
question
What is the most common bond in a lipid?
answer
nonpolar covalent bonds
question
Enzymes are ________ that catalyze chemical reactions within the body.
answer
proteins
question
What is the difference between an organic compound and an inorganic compound?
answer
Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen. Inorganic compounds don't.
question
Proteins are polymers of _____.
answer
amino acids
question
What type of bond joins the monomers in a protein's primary structure?
answer
peptide
question
The secondary structure of a protein results from _____.
answer
hydrogen bonds
question
Tertiary structure is NOT directly dependent on _____.
answer
peptide bonds
question
Which nucleotide molecule functions as an energy carrier in the cell?
answer
ATP
question
What maintains the secondary structure of a protein?
answer
hydrogen bonds between the amino group of one peptide bond and the carboxyl group of another peptide bond
question
An atom's nucleus is composed of
answer
protons and neutrons.