Biology Exam Crash Course Review

Introduction

• Final review for end-of-course biology exam (EOC or state exam)
• Target audience: 9th or 10th graders (varies by school/state)
• Fast-paced review of important exam content and skills

Basic Chemistry of Life

• Matter & Elements: All matter is composed of elements, which are made of atoms.
• Organic Compounds: Essential for life, containing carbon.
  • Categories: nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids
  • Monomers:
    • Nucleic acids: nucleotides
    • Proteins: amino acids
    • Carbohydrates: monosaccharides
    • Lipids: fatty acids and glycerol
  • Mnemonic: Clean Later Party (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic acids)
  • Enzymes: Type of protein, important biological macromolecules

Properties of Water

• Polarity: Water is polar, with partial charges
• Solubility:
  • Hydrophilic: water-loving, soluble
  • Hydrophobic: water-fearing, insoluble
• Special Properties:
  • Cohesion: water attracted to itself
  • Adhesion: water attracted to other substances
  • Capillary Action: cohesion and adhesion working together
  • High Surface Tension: allows insects to stand on water

Cell Biology

• Cell Basics: All living things have cells with a cell membrane, DNA, and cytoplasm.
• Cell Membrane: Phospholipid bilayer, hydrophilic heads, hydrophobic tails
• Cell Types:
  • Eukaryotic: nucleus, membrane-bound organelles
  • Prokaryotic: no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles
  • Eukaryotic Examples: animals, plants
  • Prokaryotic Examples: bacteria, archaea
• Plant vs. Animal Cells:
  • Plant cells: cell wall, chloroplasts, large vacuole
  • Animal cells: multiple small vacuoles

Cell Membrane Transport

• Simple Diffusion: Movement from high to low concentration
• Facilitated Diffusion: Movement from high to low concentration with protein help
• Active Transport: Movement from low to high concentration, requiring ATP
• Osmosis: Water movement, types of solutions:
  • Isotonic: equal solute concentration
  • Hypotonic: lower solute concentration outside
  • Hypertonic: higher solute concentration outside

Enzymes

• Biological catalysts, types include ligase, helicase, polymerase
• Affected by temperature and pH

Cellular Respiration

• Process: Glucose + Oxygen → ATP + CO2 + Water
• Location: Mitochondria
• Types:
  • Aerobic: requires oxygen
  • Anaerobic (Fermentation): no oxygen, less efficient

Photosynthesis

• Process: Sunlight + CO2 + Water → Glucose + Oxygen
• Location: Chloroplasts
• Significance: Provides energy for plants, oxygen for respiration

Fermentation

• Lactic Acid Fermentation: In muscles, produces lactic acid
• Alcoholic Fermentation: In yeast, produces ethanol and CO2

Genetics

• DNA Structure: Double helix, A-T and G-C pairing
• Protein Synthesis:
  • Transcription: DNA to mRNA
  • Translation: mRNA to proteins
• Mendelian Genetics: Dominant and recessive alleles, genotypes and phenotypes
• Punnett Squares: Predicting offspring traits

Evolution

• Natural Selection: Survival and reproduction of the fittest
• Evidence: Fossil records, DNA, embryology

Ecology

• Biodiversity: Variety in ecosystems, resilience
• Food Chains and Webs: Energy flow, trophic levels
• Human Impact: Pollution, conservation efforts

Conclusion

• Numerous resources available for more in-depth study
• Encouragement for exam preparation

This concludes the crash review. For a deeper dive into any of these topics, refer to other resources and materials.