Question 1

Which of the following best describes an 'emergent property' in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

A property that arises from the interaction of parts within a system, which cannot be predicted by examining the parts alone.

Question 2

Place the following levels of biological organization in the correct sequence from smallest to largest: organ, cell, tissue, organism, molecule.

Accepted Answer

Molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organism

Question 3

Which four elements make up more than 95% of the human body’s mass?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen

Question 4

Which type of chemical bond is formed when two atoms share electrons unequally due to a difference in electronegativity?

Accepted Answer

Polar covalent bond

Question 5

Water molecules are able to form hydrogen bonds with each other. Which property of water molecules allows this to occur?

Accepted Answer

The polarity of water molecules, resulting in partial positive and negative charges

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why ice floats on liquid water?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonds stabilize and keep the molecules of ice farther apart than the molecules of liquid water.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a function of carbohydrates in the human body?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing chemical reactions

Question 8

A dehydration synthesis reaction is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A reaction in which two monomers are joined together by removing a molecule of water.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is correct?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms, making them solid at room temperature.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the structure of a phospholipid and its role in biological membranes?

Accepted Answer

A phospholipid has a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails, forming a bilayer that makes up the plasma membrane.

Question 11

Which of the following best distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus, while eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.

Question 12

Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrion

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)?

Accepted Answer

It is involved in the synthesis of proteins that are either secreted from the cell, incorporated into the cell’s plasma membrane, or sent to an organelle.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the endosymbiotic theory is correct?

Accepted Answer

It proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes a peptide bond?

Accepted Answer

A covalent bond formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another.

Question 16

Which level of protein structure is directly dependent on hydrogen bonding between backbone atoms, resulting in alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets?

Accepted Answer

Secondary structure

Question 17

A mutation causes a change in the primary structure of a protein. Which of the following is a likely consequence?

Accepted Answer

It may alter the protein’s secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, potentially affecting its function.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why phospholipids form bilayers in water?

Accepted Answer

Their hydrophilic heads interact with water while their hydrophobic tails avoid water, resulting in a bilayer.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

It modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about DNA and RNA is correct?

Accepted Answer

DNA stores genetic information, while RNA is involved in protein synthesis.

General Biology I: Core Concepts and Study Guide

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards