State University of New York College at Old Westbury
Bio. 2100 – Biology for Non-Majors – Dr. Eric Schwartz
Topics to Review for Exam 1
To properly prepare for the exam please review your notes on each topic listed below. If you are not confident that you fully understand a topic, go back and read the text book on that topic. If you are still unclear on a topic please ask me to explain what you don’t understand. Asking me in person is the most efficient way for me to be able to explain something to you and be certain that you understand my response. You may certainly e-mail me questions that you may have and I will make every effort to respond to your e-mails as soon as possible. However, please realize that an e-mail response can’t be as in-depth as an in person explanation. Also, I may not be able to respond to your e-mail immediately so if you e-mail me right before an exam I may not be able to get back to you in time for the exam.
Chapter 1 –
· Know and understand what Biology is
· Know and understand the typical characteristics of living things.
· Know and understand the classification system we use to categorize living things and it’s importance
· Know and understand what the biosphere is and understand the relationships between populations, communities, and the environment
· Know and understand examples of different types of ecosystems as well as knowing and understanding the dynamics of what happens to Energy and Chemicals in ecosystems.
· Know and understand the Scientific Method
Chapter 2 –
· Know and understand what matter is
· Know and understand what atoms are and what the structure of an atom is, including how many electrons are in each shell, what the atomic number and mass represent, what molecules are, what compounds are, what isotopes are, what ions are, etc.
· Know and understand the differences between Ionic and Covalent Bonding
· Know and understand what polar molecules are
· Know and understand the special characteristic of water which make it important to living things
· Know and understand the concepts of acids and bases including what each are and what the pH scale measures as well as what buffers are and what they do
· Know what monomers and polymers are and what types of monomers make up each of the types of polymers and the reactions used to build up and break down polymers
· Know and understand the basic structure of Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids and Nucleic Acids including unique characteristics of each, and what each is used for in living things.
· Know and understand the different levels of organization of proteins and how shape is critical to their function, as well as what can cause the shape to change.
· Know and understand the differences and similarities between DNA and RNA
Chapter 3 –
· Know and understand what the cell theory states
· Know and understand the differences between Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
· Know and understand the names of, the structure of, and the functions of each of the organelles
· Know and understand the Endosymbiotic Hypothesis
Chapter 4 -
· Know and understand the basic structure, function, and characteristics of the plasma membrane including but not limited to the phopsholipid bilayer, the embedded proteins, the carrier and channel proteins, the glycocalyx, glycolipids, glycoproteins, etc.
· Know and understand the concept of selective (differential) permeability and it’s importance
· Know and understand the various ways in which materials can get across the plasma membrane including whether they are active or passive and what special structures are necessary and examples of each
· Know and understand the concept of osmosis and diffusion and understand the concept of tonicity including what happens when animal and plant cells are placed in various types of solution