Unit 01 Lecture Objectives
Chapter 01 – The Study of Life
Define biology.
List and describe the characteristics shared by all living things.
Describe the hierarchy of living things including organization at the:
o Cellular Level
o Organismal Level
o Population Level
Define taxonomy and describe how living organisms are classified.
Be able to list the three domains and the four kingdoms of life. Describe the types
of organisms and shared characteristics found in each domain/kingdom.
Describe the steps in the scientific method.
Define the following terms:
o hypothesis
o experimental group
o control group
o independent variable
o dependent variable
o theory
Chapter 02 - The Chemical Foundation of Life
Be able to describe an element. List the six elements that make up about 98% of
most organisms.
Describe the structure of a typical atom, including how the subatomic particles are
arranged.
Discuss the structure and uses of isotopes.
Explain how electrons orbit the nucleus of the atom in energy levels (electron
shells).
Describe ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonds.
Differentiate between polar covalent bonds and nonpolar covalent bonds.
Discuss the importance of the shape of molecules in biology.
Understand chemical formulas and equations.
Describe the structure of a water molecule
Discuss the properties of water that make it ideal for living systems.
Differentiate between the terms hydrophilic and hydrophobic.
Define chemical equilibrium.
Differentiate between an acid and a base.
Describe the pH scale.
Be able to determine if a substance is acidic, basic, or neutral based on its pH.
Recognize how buffers help to maintain a relatively constant pH.
Differentiate between organic and inorganic molecules.
Describe the bonding capacity of a carbon atom.
Define functional group.
Define the following terms:
o matter
o element
o proton
o neutron
o electron
o molecule
o compound
o atomic number
o mass number
o isotope
o molecule
o compound
o reactant
o product
Chapter 03 – Biological Macromolecules
Define monomer and polymer.
Describe condensation and hydrolysis reactions.
Know the formula for carbohydrates.
Know the four classes of carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, etc.) and
examples of each.
Describe the four classes of lipids including their functions. Recognize examples
from each class.
Understand the functions of proteins.
Describe the characteristics of amino acids and recognize how they are bound
together by peptide bonds.
Know the four levels of protein structure.
Define denaturation.
Be able to describe the structure of nucleotides and examples of molecules made
from nucleotides.
Know the structure and function of ATP.
