Unit 1 Reading Guide                                                                                                   

Introduction, Overview, Themes of Biology

1. Describe the unifying themes of biology
2. Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biology
3. Explain how the properties of life emerge from complex organization
4. Describe seven emergent properties associated with life
5. Distinguish between holism and reductionism
6. Explain how technological breakthroughs contributed to the formulation of the cell theory
7. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
8. Explain the phrase: "form fits function."
9. List the kingdoms of life and distinguish among them
10. Describe how Darwin's ideas contributed to the conceptual framework of biology
11. Describe scientific methods and processes
12. Describe the characteristics of scientific hypotheses
13. Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning
14. Explain the interdependence of science and technology

Terms:

Basic Chemistry

1. Define element and compound
2. State the four elements essential to life that make up 96% of living matter
3. Describe the structure of an atom
4. Define and distinguish among atomic number, mass number, atomic weight, and valence
5. Given the atomic number and mass number of an atom, determine the number of neutrons
6. Explain why radioisotopes are important to biologists
7. Explain the octet rule and predict how many bonds an atom might form
8. Explain why the noble gases are non-reactive
9. Distinguish among nonpolar covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds
10. Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and explain how it differs from a covalent or ionic bond
11. Explain why weak bonds are important to living organisms
12. Describe how the relative concentrations of reactants and products affect a chemical reaction

Properties of Water

1. Describe how water contributes to the fitness of the environment to support life
2. Describe the structure and geometry of a water molecule and explain properties that emerge as a result of this structure
3. Explain the relationship between the polar nature of water and its ability to form hydrogen bonds
4. List 5 characteristics of water that are emergent properties resulting from hydrogen bonding
5. Describe the biological significance of the cohesiveness of water
6. Distinguish between heat and temperature
7. Explain how water's high specific heat, high heat of vaporization, and expansion upon freezing affect both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
8. Explain the basis for the pH scale
9. Explain how acids and bases affect the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
10. Explain how buffers work, using the bicarbonate buffer system as an example