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Biochemistry
What kind of data is needed to answer scientific questions about how organisms respond
to changes in their external environment?
The data required to answer scientific questions about how organisms respond to changes in
external environment is essentially what kind of internal environment exists for a particular
organism; its response to external stimuli is reliant upon the set up and complexity of body
systems and cells, primarily the nervous system.
What types of molecules do organisms use for building blocks and excrete as wastes?
Organisms utilize macromolecules as building blocks for the vast majority of chemical
structures within the body, with a primary example existing in the use of lipids in the
composition of the plasma membrane of all cells.
The structure of a molecule accounts for function largely based off the properties of the
monomers that make up the macromolecule. An example of this is the phospholipids that
make up the cell membrane; each individual phospholipid has a hydrophilic head, and two
hydrophobic tails, which results in the composition of the plasma membrane consisting of
heads facing out into extracellular material and the cytoplasm, and the tails making up the
middle of the membrane.
What is the role of ATP in coupling the cells anabolic and catabolic processes?
The role of ATP in coupling the cells anabolic and catabolic processes is that the latter
releases energy in the form of ATP, which is then used to fuel anabolic reactions, which
require energy.
How do the laws of thermodynamics relate to the biochemical processes that provide
energy to living systems?
The laws of thermodynamics apply to the flow of energy and matter through an ecosystem.
In particular, the first law, which states that energy is conserved, refers to the fact that in
spite of the 10% trophic efficiency, the other 90% at each level is being used in other
biological activities, such as homeostasis. The second law applies to the level of entropy or
disorder in the universe, which is required for species diversity.
Protein structure relates to the function of enzymes as a result of the existence of several
binding sites on the enzyme. These sites and the receptors that bind to them determine
whether or not the enzyme will be active or if it will be shut down.
Enzymes regulate the rate of chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required
for the reaction to take place.
The Cell
How does cell structure and function help to maintain dynamic homeostasis in living
organisms?
Free energy and matter are required to sustain the dependent relationships organisms have
with one another; the fitness of an organism is based off of its ability to find food and a
hospitable environment, all of which is contingent on autotrophs converting free energy to
usable mass.
What mechanisms and structural features of cells allow organisms to capture, store, and
use free energy?
Chloroplasts of plant cells and other autotrophic organisms allow for free light energy to be
captured, and, through the process of photosynthesis, for it to be converted into glucose and
other sugars.
Cells conduct long distance signaling through the use of various hormones, which bind to
intracellular or cell surface receptors, which in turn relay what the cells response should
be. The signal molecule will reach intracellular receptors through signal transduction
pathways or by other means. Short distance signaling can be done through physical contact
of peripheral proteins designed to recognize fellow cells.
Substances can cross membranes through diffusion, passive transport, facilitated diffusion
and active transport, the last of which is the only one to require energy.
How do the structure of lipids and proteins allow for their functioning in membranes and
properties of membranes?
Each individual phospholipid has a hydrophilic head, and two hydrophobic tails,
which results in the composition of the plasma membrane consisting of heads facing
out into extracellular material and the cytoplasm, and the tails making up the
middle of the membrane. This means that hydrophobic substances can pass through
with ease, while hydrophilic substances have a great deal of trouble breaking
through.
Cell Energetics
What mechanisms and structural features of cells allow organisms to capture, store, and
use free energy?
How are the chemical products of the light-trapping reactions coupled to the synthesis of
carbohydrates?
How do the energy yielding products of oxidative decarboxylation and the Krebs cycle
form ATP in chemiosmosis?
Genetics
What is the purpose of meiosis and how do the events of meiosis cause variety?
What features of meiosis are important in sexual reproduction?
Why is meiosis important in heredity?
How do the structures of nucleic acids relate to their functions of information storage
and protein synthesis?
How does DNA account for phenotype?
How do mutations arise and affect phenotype?
How does scientific knowledge build on previous findings?
How do prokaryotic cells control gene expression?
What are the processes involved in DNA technology & what are its applications.
What legal and ethical problems may arise from DNA technology?
How does the cell cycle assure genetic continuity?
How does mitosis allow for the even distribution of genetic information to next cells?
What are the mechanisms of cytokinesis in plant and animal cells?
How is the cell cycle regulated?
How can aberrations in the cell cycle lead to tumor formation?
How does failure of the cell cycle control mechanisms lead to cancer?
Evolution
How did the membrane of early life differ from membranes today?
What is the endosymbiotic theory and what organelles evolved through symbiosis?
Plants
What are the major divisions of plants and what are their evolutionary relationships?
How does plant anatomy and physiology show increasing adaptation to land?
Body Systems
What is an immune response and how does your body recover from a cold or flu?
Ecology
How do organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere?
How do biotic and abiotic factors affect community structure and ecosystem function?
Why is conservation important and how can we reduce the biodiversity crisis?