Biology Midterm Study Guide

Biochemistry:
Characteristics of Life:
Living things are called: organisms
Biology is: study of life
1. Contain one or more cells :
a. All living things are organized
b. Simplest level at which life may exist is the cell.
c. Cells are not all alike
d. All cells perform various jobs or functions.
2. Reproduction:
a. Reproduction - production of offspring
b. Every member of a particular species doesn’t have to be able to
reproduce in order for the species to survive because as long
as some can reproduce offspring will still be produced.
c. If all individuals in a species were sterile, the species would not
be living.
d. Reproduction is not essential for the survival of an individual
organism but is essential for the survival of the species
e. Two Basic kinds of reproduction:
i. Asexual - Reproduce by self, clone
ii. Sexual - Reproduce with two organisms
3. Growth & Development:
a. All organisms begin life as single cells
b. Development - Changes that take place during life
c. Growth - Increase of living material
d. Unicellular organisms: GROW
e. Multicellular organisms: Grow AND Develop
f. Growth of a living thing vs. non-living thing: Living is making
own living material, non-living is growing through other living
materials
4. Obtain & Use Energy
a. Energy - Ability to make things change
b. Energy powers life processes
c. Autotroph - Make their own food for energy from sun (ex.
plants)
d. Heterotroph - Obtain energy from foods they eat
e. Plants make their own food through process of
photosynthesis

5. Response / Maintain Homeostasis

a. Stimuli that organisms respond to : Air, water, weather,
temperature, other organisms
b. Organisms must also respond to any changes in order to stay
healthy & survive
c. Two internal factors that organisms respond to: body
temperature and hormone levels
d. Ex: Sweating to cool off body. Venus flytrap senses fly.
e. If light is applied to human eye, what is the response? Blink or
squint
f. Homeostasis - Keeping everything in the body in balance

Levels of Organization
 (non-living)
Atoms / molecules
Macro molecules
Organelles
(living)
Cell
Tissues
Organs
Organ systems
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome

Atom / Molecule - Smallest part of an element or compound

 Macromolecule - Big boy molecules. Main 4 are: Proteins, Lipids (fats),
Nucleic acids, and Carbohydrates
Organelle - Parts of a cell such as the nucleus
Cell - Smallest level at which life exists
Tissue - Group of similar cells working together
Organ - A group of similar tissues working together like the heart or lungs
Organ system - Group of organs working together
Organism - A living thing that may be unicellular or multicellular
Population - A group of one kind of organism living in an area
Community - Several populations of organisms living together
Ecosystem - All living & nonliving things on earth
Biome - All the living and nonliving things living in a similar environment
such as a desert

Macromolecules

Name Monomer Function Example Elements Diagram

Protein Amino acids Build cells, do Meat Carbon, Idk chief

work inside Hydrogen,
organisms, Oxygen,
act as Nitrogen
enzymes

Carbohydrate Monosaccharide Used by body Glucose C6H12O6

(simple sugar) for energy
and structural
support
Nucleic Acid Nucleotides Carry genetic DNA carbon,
info hydrogen,
oxygen,
nitrogen, and
phosphorous
.

Lipids Glycerol / fatty acids Storing Oil carbon,

energy, hydrogen,
providing andoxygen.
structure to Some of
cell them also
contain
nitrogen and
phosphorus.

Light dependent: needs light to function (photosynthesis)

Light independent: does not need light to function (cellular respiration)