Biology Practice Final Exam: Spring 2025

Key Concepts and Questions

Aquatic Ecosystem and Nutrients

• Question 1: Graph interpretation regarding nutrient increase impacting organism growth.
  • Key Concept: Rapid nutrient increase can negatively affect some organisms (Correct Answer: A).

Sodium Channels in Nerve Cells

• Question 2: Effect of toxin blocking sodium channels.
  • Key Concept: Blocking sodium channels prevents action potential initiation (Correct Answer: D).

Eukaryotic Promoter Mutation

• Question 3: Mutation effect on promoter region without affecting coding region.
  • Key Concept: Improper transcription initiation reduces/eliminates protein production (Correct Answer: C).

Mouse Genetics

• Question 4: Yellow and white fur inheritance and lethal alleles.
  • Key Concept: Yellow fur is dominant but lethal when homozygous; expected 50% offspring white (Correct Answer: D).

Pedigree Analysis: Autosomal Dominant Trait

• Question 5: Likelihood of dominant phenotype occurring consecutively.
  • Key Concept: Probability calculations using genotypes (Correct Answer: D).

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

• Question 6: Geologists’ influence on Darwin.
  • Key Concept: Gradual change over time results in major differences (Correct Answer: C).

Xerophytes vs. Hydrophytes

• Question 7: Adaptations in dry vs. wet environments.
  • Key Concept: Reduced leaf surface area and thick cuticles in xerophytes (Correct Answer: B).

Genetic Testing in Horses

• Question 8: Gel electrophoresis to determine parentage.
  • Key Concept: Matching bands with possible parents (Correct Answer: B).

Intestinal Absorption

• Question 9: Animal with least nutrient absorption capability.
  • Key Concept: Structural differences in intestines affect absorption (Correct Answer: C).

True/False Statements

• Question 10: Stamen’s function is pollen production (True).
• Question 11: Oxygen concentration comparison between atria (False).
• Question 12: Lagging strand synthesis and polymerase directionality (False).
• Question 13: Impact of keystone species on ecosystem stability (True).

Origin of Cells

• Question 14: First cell types appearing.
  • Key Concept: Anaerobic and Prokaryotic (Correct Answer: C).

Plant Growth Environment

• Question 15: Different growth outcomes without mutations.
  • Key Concept: Epigenetic modifications influence growth (Correct Answer: E).

Trophic Levels and Energy

• Question 16: Graph representing energy relationships.
  • Key Concept: Energy pyramid structure (Correct Answer: A).

Consequences of Mass Extinctions

• Question 17: Evolutionary effects of mass extinctions.
  • Key Concept: Adaptive radiation following extinction events (Correct Answer: D).

Alternative Splicing

• Question 18: Mechanism of generating protein diversity.
  • Key Concept: Different exon combinations are removed (Correct Answer: D).

Muscle Contraction Cycle

• Question 19: Steps in muscle contraction sequence.
  • Key Concept: Binding and release sequences of ATP and calcium (Correct Answer: A).

Finch Beak Differentiation

• Question 20: Evolutionary concept explaining beak size variation.
  • Key Concept: Divergent evolution due to resource use (Correct Answer: E).

Frameshift Mutation Impacts

• Question 21: Outcomes of early frameshift mutations.
  • Key Concept: Different amino acid sequence downstream (Correct Answer: A).

Blood Vessel Identification

• Question 22: Identifying type of blood vessel based on elasticity.
  • Key Concept: Arteries have thick, elastic walls (Correct Answer: A).

Population Genetic Changes

• Question 23: Factors causing allele frequency changes.
  • Key Concept: All factors listed cause changes in allele frequencies (Correct Answer: E).

Word Bank Associations

• Question 24: Antibody released by plasma cells.
• Question 25: Virus structure, envelope surrounding some viruses.
• Question 26: Polygenic trait due to multiple gene involvement.

DNA Sequence Mutation

• Question 27: Effect of specific DNA mutation.
  • Key Concept: Single amino acid altered, affecting function (Correct Answer: B).

Blood Transfusion Compatibility

• Question 28: Determining suitable blood donors for Samantha.
  • Key Concept: Compatibility with O+ blood type (Correct Answer: C).

Genetic Trait Probability

• Question 29: Calculating heterozygous individuals under H-W equilibrium.
  • Key Concept: Population genetics calculations (Correct Answer: B).

Processes in Diagrams

• Question 30: Identifying biological process in a diagram context.
  • Key Concept: Likely photosynthesis-related process (Correct Answer: C).