The final exam will consist of multiple choice, true-false, matching and short answer questions for a total of 125 points.

I have tried to make sure that I've covered everything that may be on your final exam, however, the following is by no means everything on the test. This guide emphasizes main topics that are covered on the test in one fashion or another. Study your notes, the test is based on the notes given in class. Read your book to back up the notes given in class. Concentrate on the topics given in class when reading your book. Study groups can help - but you need to study not just talk! You will really learn the material if you can teach it to someone. Good Luck!

Do not study the stuff that you already know. Concentrate on the things that you do not know or understand. What you want to understand is the big picture. What were the main take home ideas that you learned or should have learned from each topic? There will be some recall, conceptual understand and application questions, however they will not be as in depth as the first four exams. Good Luck!!!

Attributes of Life: Chapter 1

What is biology? Know the taxonomic hierarchy of organization. What are the 7 attributes of life? Know the 5 points to the cell theory. What is the lowest level of organization that possesses all the attributes of life? Evolution: natural selection, Darwin, differential reproduction. What is the core them in biology which ties all the others together? Hypothesis testing, etc

Chemistry of Life: Chapter 2

Know what atoms, elements & compounds are. Know the charges for the components of an atom and which are involved in chemical bond formations. Know which elements make up 96% of all living matter. Know the trace element that is involved in the bind of oxygen to red blood cells? What are Isotopes? What are radioactive isotopes? Know which component of an atom allows for bonds. Know the following types of bonds: covalent (polar & non-polar), ionic, hydrogen, peptide bond. What type of bond can be found in a water molecule? What type of bond is found between water molecules? Know the 5 properties of water and their significance to the environment and you? What is pH a measure of? Know the differences between acids, bases and buffers. How does our body get rid of excess acid?

Molecules of Life: Chapter 3

Know what is meant by organic. Know the molecules that C tends to bind with.

Macromolecules (examples & functions of each): Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis (digestion) and how each is involved in polymer formation or breakdown. Know which reactions involved the removal of water or the addition of water. Carbohydrates: what are the subunits? Know the 3 elements found in carbohydrates. Know how carbos are classified. Know the function of glycogen, starch, cellulose & chitin.

Lipids: know the 3 major groups of lipids. Know the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats. Know the difference between hydrophobic and hydrophilic. How is cholesterol used in our cells? What's the most abundant lipid in our body?

Nucleotide based molecules: know the components of a nucleotide. Know the difference between DNA & RNA. What is ATP and its function? Know the function of nucleotide-base molecules.

Proteins: what are the subunits of proteins? Know the 4 levels of protein structure and the bonds associated with them. What are the functions of proteins? What is denature? Know why cells are small - this relates to diffusion.

Cells & Membranes: Chapter 4

Know the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Know the different types of organelles and their functions. Know the components of the plasma membrane, its structure and function. Know the difference between diffusion, osmosis, active and passive transport - which do or do not require energy. Know what isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions are and their affects on cells. Know how large molecules move into and out of cells.

Bioenergetics & Enzymes: Chapter 5

Energy - kinetic and potential (know examples of each). Know the difference between exergonic & endergonic reactions (examples for each). Which requires energy & which yields energy? Know the laws of Thermodynamics. Know the difference between anabolism & catabolism. What is metabolism?

What are enzymes and how they work? What is an active site - what types of molecules bind there? What is energy of activation? Know the different factors that influence enzymatic activity. Know how some pesticides & antibiotics effect enzyme activity.

Cellular respiration: (Chapter 6)

Know the difference between oxidation and reduction. Know the general function of glycolysis, Kreb's cycle & the electron transport chain. Know the locations of these reactions and generally what they do in cellular respiration. Which component produces most of the ATP? Which component is most often blocked during poisonings?  Where is most of the ATP produced & how? Know alcohol and lactic acid fermentation - where does it take place, reactant, products and amount of ATP produced. Know the Cori cycle - where does it occur. What happens when you begin to breakdown proteins? What is the fate of the foodstuff that we eat if they are not burned for energy?

Photosynthesis - where does it take place, reactants, products (Chapter 7)

Light reaction - where does it take place, reactants, products (ATP, NADPH, and O₂). Know what oxygen is produced from. Calvin cycle - where does it take place, products (sugar) and the possible fates of these products. What is the greenhouse effect? Know the role of CO₂ and plants in relation to the greenhouse effect.

DNA replication - where, when & why does it occur (Chapter 10)

Know the structure of DNA - nitrogenous bases, 5 carbon sugar, phosphate group, types of bonds. Know Chargaff’s rule - base pairing of the nitrogenous bases (A = T and C º G) and some basic biotechnology

MITOSIS: Chapter 8

Know the different phases and what is occurring during each. Know the cell cycle. Cytokinesis. Differences between plant and animal cells. Difference between chromatin, chromosomes and chromatids. Know how many chromosomes are in the daughter cells after mitosis. What is mitosis for? What is the problem with cancer cells? Know role of telomeres & telomerases. Know what a zygote is.

MEIOSIS: Chapter 8

What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction? Where does meiosis occur? When does it occur? Why does it occur? When does it occur? What are spermatogenesis and oogenesis & their products? What are the sexual sources for variation? Crossing over? Independent assortment? What is nondisjunction? Know the number of chromosomes we have.

GENETICS: Chapter 9

Know the following terms: alleles, genotype, phenotype, homozygous, heterozygous, complete dominance, incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, polygenic inheritance. Be able to determine the genotype if given the phenotype. Know how to do basic genetic problems. What are sex-linked genes?   Basic genetics stuff and conceptual problems.