BIOL 1010 Exam #1 Take Home portion

Lauren Skipps
NAME_________________________

YOU MUST ANSWER IN THE SPACE PROVIDED. You may want to use pdfescape.com

1) DESCRIBE TWO of the Emergent Properties of life and explain why they are
emergent. (2 points)

Reproduction: All living things must reproduce

Growth and Development: All things must grow and develop

2) If you suddenly realized that your car keys were missing, how would you use the
scientific method to address the problem? Make sure to list all the steps. (3 points)
1. Make and Observation: My car keys are missing
2. Ask a Question: Where are my Keys?
3. Form Hypothesis: My Keys will be where I last had them.
4. Make a Prediction: If I look where I last had my keys I will find them
5. Experiment: Check the last place I had my Keys
6. Result/Conclusion: My keys where on the kitchen counter because I last had
them at breakfast.

3) HYPOTHESES are easier to disprove than to prove. Explain. (2 points)

It takes just one observation to refute and eliminate a hypothesis whereas
when you are proving a hypothesis you have many variables to consider.

4) Describe what it is about the chemistry of CARBON atoms that allows organic
molecules to be so large and complex ? Would any other ELEMENT be able to
substitute for carbon ? Explain. (HINT: talk about energy levels, orbitals, electrons
and bonds.) (2 points)
No other element could substitute for Carbon because carbon atoms have a valence of 4
meaning that it can have 4 covalent bonds. This allows Carbon to make multiple bonds with
other atoms to make complex and large molecules.

5) Draw a nitrogen atom (atomic number 7 and mass number 15) showing the protons,
neutrons and electrons. (2 points)

Electron
N
i pair

N
NN7pro

7 Neu 1 pair

1 pair

6) Describe the structure of a WATER molecule and explain how that structure allows
water to have some unique properties. (2 points)
Water has a polar covalent bond consisting of one oxygen atom and two hydgrogen atoms
that is bent into a mickey mouse shape (I like to think of it as). Because of the bent structure wa
water becomes cohesive and a versatile solvent. It can expand when frozen.

7) List three types of POLYMERS found in cells. Also, list the subunits that make up
each type and explain what functions they have in cells. (3 points)

Polysaccharide: simple sugars that form the cells ring structures

Proteins: Amino Acids that organize the inside of the cell
Lipids: The structural component in the cell membrane

8) Explain the rolls of dehydration and hydrolysis as they apply to the formation and
breakdown of polymers. Draw an example of each. (3 points)

Dehydration forms polymers by fusing molecules and creating water molecules

in the process
Hydrolysis is when the polymer in broken down to create two monomers

9) Describe the cellular role for the following structures: (4 points)

Nucleus

Where the DNA is stored

The Cells create and envelope membrane that encloses the nucleus
while protein lined pores allow data to be moved in and out
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Makes lipids which contribute to the cells membrane

Golgi apparatus

Sorts the proteins and fuses it the the outer membrane

Mitochondria

Produces the cells energy or ATP

10) Explain why cells have to be small. (2 points)

The larger the cell the smaller the surface-to-volume ratio gets.
This would be a problem for all the organelles inside the cell!