BIO 151 Exam 1 Review Questions

These conceptual, critical thinking practice exam questions are designed to test your
understanding and application of unit 1 topics. This is not intended to replicate any questions
present on the exam and is ungraded. Take your time to see if you understand these topics before
looking at the answer keys as this is meant to show you what concepts you need to review before
the exam tomorrow. We will be reviewing this at Rachel’s preceptor session on 9/19/2022 at
4:00-5:10. Come prepared with questions!

PROPERTIES OF LIFE

1. A protocell can be a water-filled sphere of lipids or oil floating in water. The outside water
contains some interacting chemicals that are forming and breaking bonds, which the protocell
takes in through diffusion. Now the protocell begins to spin. It bumps into another protocell
from a different population, whose behavior is that it merges with other protocells. As a
result of their interaction, the two protocells merge. However, they immediately split back
into two protocells, each of which is now a hybrid of the two populations of protocells.

Which of the properties of life was displayed by the protocells even if they are not actually
classified as living? Choose all that apply.

A. Order, in that it has a form of a membrane separating its interior from the environment
B. Ability to process, transfer and/or transform energy (i.e., metabolism)
C. Ability to respond to stimuli in the environment
D. Carry out homeostasis, or maintain optimal internal conditions, such as pH and temperature
E. Reproduce to make new individuals
F. Regulation, where materials taken in are directed toward storage vs. growth vs. metabolism.
G. Growth and development of specialized structures and body forms.

2. List all properties of life and provide an example of each.

Property of Life Example

MACROMOLECULES

1. The feature of a DNA molecule that leads to the manufacture of a specific polypeptide is
the
J. type of sugar in the molecule.
K. the sequence of amino acids.
L. sequence of bases.
M. double helical shape.

3. Describe how an adaptation, such as better running speed, relates to natural selection
4. Explain what chemical properties make carbon so important to the structure of all organic
molecules.
5. For each macromolecule, list the polymer and the monomer along with an example of each.

Macromolecule Polymer Monomer

Lipid
Carbohydrate
Protein
Nucleic Acids

6. Why have trans fats been banned from some restaurants? How are they created?

7. How do phospholipids contribute to cell membrane structure? What significant features do

they add to the cell membrane structure?

8. How do the differences in amino acid sequences lead to different protein functions?

9. What causes the changes in protein structure through the three or four levels of structure?
Describe each level.

10. How does a chaperone work with proteins?

11. The word hydrolysis is defined as the lysis of water. How does this apply to polymers?

12. What role do electrons play in dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis?

13. Which of the following bodily process would most likely be hindered by a lack of water in
the body?**
14. Which of these best describes the production of sucrose, maltose, and lactose?

15. Describe the differences between Starch and Cellulose. What are each of these made of?

16. Describe exocytosis vs endocytosis and each process.

ACTIVE/PASSIVE TRANSPORT
17. What is required to move an object from high to low concentration and what is the name of
this process?
18.
Up or Down Requires ATP? Description
concentration gradient?
Passive Transport
Active Transport
Facilitated Transport

19. Why does the rate of diffusion decrease within facilitated diffusion when the concentration of
that substance increases?

CELL STRUCTURE QUESTIONS

20. Where are alcohols and other toxins processed within the cell?

21. Which element of the cell theory has practical applications in health care because it promotes
the use of sterilization and disinfection?
A. All cells come from pre-existing cells.
B. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
C. A cell is the basic unit of life.
D. A nucleus and organelles are found in prokaryotic cells.
22. What are the advantages and disadvantages of light microscopes? What are the advantages
and disadvantages of electron microscopes?

1. Advantage: In light microscopes, the light beam does not kill the cell. Electron
microscopes are helpful in viewing intricate details of a specimen and have high
resolution. Disadvantage: Light microscopes have low resolving power. Electron
microscopes are costly and require killing the specimen.
2. Advantage: Light microscopes have high resolution. Electron microscopes are
helpful in viewing surface details of a specimen. Disadvantage: Light microscopes
kill the cell. Electron microscopes are costly and low resolution.
3. Advantage: Light microscopes have high resolution. Electron microscopes are
helpful in viewing surface details of a specimen. Disadvantage: Light microscopes
can be used only in the presence of light and are costly. Electron microscopes uses
short wavelength of electrons and hence have lower magnification.
4. Advantage: Light microscopes have high magnification. Electron microscopes are
helpful in viewing surface details of a specimen. Disadvantage: Light microscopes
can be used only in the presence of light and have lower resolution. Electron
microscopes can be used only for viewing ultra-thin specimens.

23. Mitochondria are observed in plant cells that contain chloroplasts. Why do you find
mitochondria in photosynthetic tissue?

1. Mitochondria are not needed but are an evolutionary relic.

2. Mitochondria and chloroplasts work together to use light energy to make sugars.
3. Mitochondria participate in the Calvin cycle/light independent reactions of
photosynthesis.
4. Mitochondria are required to break down sugars and other materials for energy.

24. Which of these is a possible explanation for the presence of a rigid cell wall in plants?

1. Plants remain exposed to changes in temperature and thus require rigid cell walls to
protect themselves.
2. Plants are subjected to osmotic pressure and a cell wall helps them against bursting
or shrinking.
3. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall to protect themselves from grazing animals.
4. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall to prevent the influx of waste material.

25. Bacteria do not have organelles; yet, the same reactions that take place on the mitochondria
inner membrane, the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP, and chloroplasts, photosynthesis, take
place in bacteria. Where do these reactions take place?

1. These reactions take place in the nucleoid of the bacteria.

2. These reactions occur in the cytoplasm present in the bacteria.
3. These reactions occur on the plasma membrane of bacteria.
 4. These reactions take place in the mesosomes.

26. What are the structural and functional similarities and differences between mitochondria and
chloroplasts?

1. Similarities: double membrane, inter-membrane space, ATP production, contain

DNA. Differences: mitochondria have inner folds called cristae, chloroplast contains
accessory pigments in thylakoids, which form grana and a stroma.
2. Similarities: DNA, inter-membrane space, ATP production, and chlorophyll.
Differences: mitochondria have a matrix and inner folds called cristae; chloroplast
contains accessory pigments in thylakoids, which form grana and a stroma.
3. Similarities: double membrane and ATP production. Differences: mitochondria have
inter-membrane space and inner folds called cristae; chloroplast contains accessory
pigments in thylakoids, which form grana and a stroma.
4. Similarities: double membrane and ATP production. Differences: mitochondria have
inter-membrane space, inner folds called cristae, ATP synthase for ATP synthesis,
and DNA; chloroplast contains accessory pigments in thylakoids, which, form grana
and a stroma.

27. Inhibitors of microtubule assembly, vinblastine for example, are used for cancer
chemotherapy. How does an inhibitor of microtubule assembly affect cancerous cells?

1. The inhibitors restrict the separation of chromosomes, thereby stopping cell division.
2. The inhibition of microtubules interferes with the synthesis of proteins.
3. The inhibitors bind the microtubule to the nuclear membrane, stopping cell division.
4. The inhibitor interferes with energy production.

28. What organelles only exist in plant cells?

29. What organelles only exist in plant cells?

30. What structures are present in prokaryotic cells?