Exam Topics for EBIO 1210, Exam 1, by Topic
Water and the Chemical Context of Life
Chemical context of life
1. Be able to explain how the electronegativity and other atomic properties of oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and
carbon (C) relates to molecules they form and their roles in life’s energy conversions
2. Be able to differentiate between the three major types of chemical bonds (ionic, polar covalent, and
nonpolar covalent) and predict what type of bond would be formed between specific atoms (e.g. Why do C
and H form nonpolar covalent bonds).
3. Be able to calculate the number of electrons that are shared in a given covalent bonding situation.
4. Be able to recognize the relative electronegativity of different atoms and predict the resulting charge
distribution in polar molecules of comprised of elements with differing electronegativities.
Water and the environment
5. Be able to relate the hydrogen bond to three properties of water (with examples) that are based on the
ability of water to form hydrogen bonds and are key to supporting life
6. Be able to sort examples from lecture into water-soluble (hydrophilic/polar) and fat-soluble
(hydrophobic/non-polar) substances
Macromolecule formation,breakdown, and energy content
1. Be able to apply the principle of synthesis via water removal (dehydration) and breakdown via water
addition (hydrolysis) to macromolecules synthesis and breakdown.
2. Be able to predict the relative energy content of fats versus other lipids, carbohydrates, or proteins, and
relate this to the energy stores used in different types of organisms and tissues
3. Know the monomers, polymers, elemental components (C, H, O, N, etc.), molecular components (e.g. fats
are made of one glycerol and 3 fatty acids) and basic functions of the 4 classes of macromolecules
Carbohydrates
1. Know the names and common functions/uses of the mono-, di-, and polysaccharides discussed in lecture.
For disaccharides, know which monosaccharides comprise each.
2. Be able to predict the chemical formula of sugars composed of more than one monosaccharide
3. Relate differences in lactose intolerance among human populations to their historic diets
4. Relate the molecular structures of starch and cellulose to their respective digestibility by different
organisms
5. Know the role of the caecum in animal digestive tracts
Lipids
1. Be able to recognize the structural differences between saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, phospholipids,
and steroids
2. Be able to relate the structural differences between different fats (saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and
omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fats) to their differences in fluidity, energy content, and health effects
3. Know the building blocks and functions for each of the major lipid groups (fats, phospholipids, steroids)
4. Know how lipids can be used in cellular respiration
5. Be able to relate the structural building blocks of phospholipids to their function in biological membranes
6. Be able to classify cholesterol as a steroid and link it to its origin in the human diet as well as its role as
precursor for other important steroids (sex and stress hormones & vitamin D)
7. Be able to predict which lipids are least/most hydrophobic from their structural building blocks
Tour of the Cell (Structures involved in information flow from nucleus to targets)
1. Be able to relate the components of the endomembrane system (nuclear envelope, ER, transport vesicles,
Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, & plasma membrane) to their respective functions and know which organelles
they interact with
2. Understand the flow of information in a cell (DNA -> RNA -> protein)
3. Be able to relate additional cellular structures (nuclear pores, free and bound ribosomes, cytoskeleton) to
their respective functions
4. Be able to predict which types of organelles would be in higher abundance in specialized cells (e.g. testes,
which produce testosterone, would have more smooth ER)
Different Kinds of Cells
1. Know the 3 domains of life and be able to relate them to differences in cell structure
2. Be able to use presence or absence of certain cell structures/features to predict the organism in which a
given cell is found (prokaryote vs. animal vs. plant)
3. Be able to relate mitochondria and chloroplasts to their respective metabolic roles and main products (i.e.
what do they do, and what do they make?)
Membranes
Basic membrane structure & function
1. Be able to relate the basic structures of biological membranes to their principal functions (i.e. What makes
up a membrane, and what do all those parts do?)
2. Be able to identify factors affecting membrane fluidity in various organisms
3. Be able to relate saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to the ecology of organisms (e.g. what fatty acids
would dominate a desert plant? Animal?)
Movement of molecules across membranes
4. Be able to predict the passage of hydrophilic (polar or charged) and hydrophobic (nonpolar) molecules
through biological membranes
5. Structure and function of membrane channels (example aquaporins): Be able to predict where amino acids
with hydrophilic versus hydrophobic R-groups are found in transport proteins
6. Be able to predict when ATP energy is needed to fuel active transport
7. Be able to predict the direction of water movement via osmosis
8. Be able to explain how energy is used and transferred in the Na+/K+ pump. How does the structure and
function of this pump relate to its purpose in the body?
9. Be able to explain the difference between exocytosis and endocytosis.
Cell-environment interaction
10. Be able to identify the solution surrounding a cell as hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic.
11. Be able to predict what will happen to a cell after an extended period of time in a solution that is
hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic
Signal delivery across membranes
12. Be able to distinguish protein hormone versus a steroid hormone communication (i.e. How does signal
transduction differ between the two?)