Benchmark 1 Study Guide

Honors Biology

Lab Safety

• When working with chemicals, heat, or glassware, safety goggles and an apron should always be worn

• Know how to use all safety equipment and where it is located in case of an emergency

• Never place a stopper in a test tube before heating

Metric Measurements• Time = Seconds (s)• Distance/Length = Meters (m)• Volume/Liquids = Liters (L)• Temperature = Celsius (C)• Mass = Grams (g)

Common Biology MeasurementsSmall measurements:

• Milli = 0.001• Micro = 0.00001• Nano = 0.000000001

• Microscopic organisms = micro or nanometers in length

• Short distance = mm

• Small liquid dosage = mL

Common Lab Measurement Tools:

• A graduated cylinder is used for precise mL measurements

• A beaker is used for L measurements

• A meter stick with cm/mm is used for precise short lengths

Experimental Design

Independent Variable• What “I” set up

(CAUSE)

• Always plotted on the X-axis

Dependent Variable• What “I” measure

(EFFECT)

• Always plotted on the Y-axis

Practice #1. . .

1. What is the IV of this experiment?

2. In what unit is the IV measured?

3. What is the DV of this experiment?

4. In what unit is the DV measured?

Practice #2. . .

1. What is the IV of this experiment?

2. What is the DV of this experiment?

3. Can you think of three constants that would be appropriate?

Practice. . .

1. Based upon the data table, what question do you think this experiment was trying to answer?

Explain. . .

Practice #3. . . The table below shows the number of species of different types of

simple land plants.

1. According to the table, approximately what proportion of all simple plant species are bryophytes?    

A    1/3  B    1/2  C    2/3  D    3/4

Which of these is an accurate statement about the data? 

A   The beginning and the end of the song sparrow's sound pattern are identical.  

B    The swamp sparrow's sound pattern is similar to the white-crowned sparrow's sound pattern.  

C    The end of the white-crowned sparrow's sound pattern is very different from its beginning.  

D    The end of the swamp sparrow's sound pattern is identical to the end of the song sparrow's sound pattern.

Bias

• Placebos are used to set up control groups when human beings are test subjects

• Placebo = sugar pill – It is identical in shape, size, and color to medication but it contains no medicine.

Bias• Unintentional

– Accidental sources of bias

– May be the result of not setting up enough constants OR forgetting to set up a control group

• Intentional

– Purposely skewing data, omitting trials, or falsifying test results

– Usually done to make your hypothesis appear correct

Remember: GOOD SCIENTIFIC DESIGN IS REPEATABLE BY ANYONE WITH SIMILAR RESULTS

Important Properties of Water• High Heat Capacity: Allows for

temperature homeostasis in living things and keeps bodies of water at a relatively stable temperature

• Polarity: Causes cohesion of water molecules and adhesion of water to other substances

• High Surface Tension: Gives small insects the ability to skim across water/due to cohesion

• Universal Solvent: Many substances are able to dissolve in to water forming solutions. – Example: Fluoride dissolves into

drinking water because it is attracted to polar water molecules

Water and pH

• Water is neutral with a pH of 7.

• All substances below 7 = acids

• All substances above 7 = bases

• The further from 7 a substance is, the STRONGER it is considered on the pH scale

pH Scale

Remember:

BOTTOM of the pH scale = acids

TOP of the pH scale = bases

(It is not based upon orientation of a particular picture)

Inorganic Vs. Organic

• Inorganic = no carbon

• WATER

• MINERALS

• Organic = containing carbon bonded to hydrogen and oxygen

• CARBOHYDRATES• LIPIDS• PROTEINS • NUCLEIC ACIDS

VITAMINS

Building Blocks

• Carbohydrates. . .

• Lipids. . .

• Proteins. . .

• Nucleic Acids. . .

• . . .monosaccharides

• . . .fatty acids

• . . .amino acids

• . . .nucleotides (1 sugar + 1 phosphate + 1 base)

Important ExamplesCarbohydrates = Quick energy

source!!!

CELLULOSE: source of dietary fiber/makes up cell walls in plants and bacteria

GLUCOSE: molecule created during photosynthesis and used for cellular energy

STARCH: used in plants to store energy/digested by animals because it contains lots of energy

Lipids = long-term energy storage

FATS: molecule used for energy storage in animals

--Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature

--Saturated fats are solid at room temperature

PHOSPHOLIPIDS: makes up cell membranes for all organisms

Important Examples

Proteins: Raw materials for structure

ENZYMES: Special proteins that catalyze important metabolic activities/chemical reactions

Nucleic Acids: Storage and transmission of genetic information

DNA: Holds genetic information

RNA: oversees protein production

Important Examples

Vitamins

D – Bone growth

C – Heals wounds

K – Muscle movement and regulation

Minerals

Iron – moves oxygen through blood

Potassium – Muscle regulation

Calcium – strong bones and teeth

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

• Enzyme Function is Specific: the shape of the enzyme’s active site determines which substrate can fit

• Enzymes lower activation energy

• Enzyme reactions keep our metabolic activity functioning properly

Factors Affecting Enzyme Function

Temperature

• Low temps slow enzyme function

• As temperature increases, enzyme function first increases, then stops (denatured)

pH

• Too high OR too low from optimal range denatures enzymes

• Remember: Denatured enzymes are permanently destroyed