AS Biology (AQA New Spec for 2016 Exams) FULL SPECIFICATION FLASHCARDS

Description

If you see any errors, let me know! Enjoy :)
Henry Kitchen
Flashcards by Henry Kitchen, updated more than 1 year ago
Henry Kitchen
Created by Henry Kitchen almost 8 years ago
159
16

Resource summary

Question Answer
Draw alpha and beta glucose
What elements do carbohydrates contain? C, H, O
By which process are monosaccharides joined together? Condensation
What happens in a condensation reaction between two monosaccharides? -A glycosidic bond forms -A water molecule is released
What is sucrose made up of? Glucose & fructose
What is lactose made up of? Galactose * glucose
How are polymers broken apart? Hydrolysis reactions
How do hydrolysis reactions break apart polymers? A water molecule breaks the bond between the two monomers
How are reducing sugars tested for? Benedict's test: -Add blue Benedict's reagent -Heat in boiling water bath -Coloured precipitate indicates positive result
Give examples of reducing sugars. -All monosaccharides -Maltose -Lactose
How do you compare the concentration of reducing sugars in two solutions? Use Benedict's test and either weigh the amount of precipitate or use the precipitate colour (blue = low, red = high)
How do you test for non-reducing sugars? Add dilute HCL to the test solution and heat it in a boiling waterbath. Then add sodium hydrogencarbonate and carry out the Benedict's test.
What is the main energy storage material in plants? Starch
What is starch? Starch is a mixture of two different polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin
Describe the structure of amylose and explain why it is suited to energy storage in plants. Amylose is a long, unbranched chain of alpha glucose. It has a tightly coiled shape which makes it compact and therefore excellent for storage as you can fit more glucose in a smaller space.
Describe the structure of amylopectin and explain why it is suited to energy storage in plants. Amylopectin is a long, branched chain of alpha glucose. Its side branches allow easy access to the glycosidic bonds by enzymes so the glucose can be released quickly.
What is the test for starch? Add iodine dissolved in potassium iodide solution to the sample. Browny-orange -> blue-black is a positive result
What is the primary energy storage material in animals? Glycogen
Describe glycogen's structure and explain why it is suited to energy storage in animals. A branched polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose. Very compact and allows easy access to the glycosidic bonds for quick energy release.
Describe the structure of cellulose. Cellulose is made up of long, unbranched chains of beta glucose. The long, straight chains are linked together by hydrogen bonds to form fibres called microfibrils.
What makes up a triglyceride? One molecule of glycerol with three fatty acid 'tails'
What is the basic structure of a fatty acid?
How are triglycerides formed? Draw a diagram and explain.
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids? Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between their carbon atoms, whereas unsaturated fatty acids have at least one double bond between their carbon atoms.
How do you test for lipids? The emulsion test: -Shake test sample with ethanol until it dissolves -Pour resulting solution into water -Lipids will show up as a milky emulsion
What type of lipid is found in cell membranes? Phospholipids
What is the difference between a phospholipid and a triglyceride? In a phospholipid, one fatty acid molecule is replaced by a phosphate group.
What important feature of a phospholipid makes it useful for cell membranes? The phosphate group is hydrophilic (attracted to water) whereas the fatty acid tails are hydrophobic (repel water).
Draw the basic structure of a phospholipid.
What is the primary function of triglycerides? Explain. Energy storage molecules. The fatty acids' hydrocarbon tails contain lots of chemical energy which is released when they are broken down. They are also insoluble, so they do not affect the cell's water potential.
What is the primary function of phospholipids? Explain. To make up the phospholipid bilayer. The heads of the phospholipid are hydrophilic and the tails are hydrophobic, causing them to form a double layer with the heads facing towards the water. The centre of the bilayer is hydrophobic and therefore does not allow water soluble substances to pass through it easily.
What is the general structure of an amino acid?
How are polypeptides formed? Amino acids are linked together by condensation reactions which form peptide bonds between the amino acids and release water molecules.
What type of reaction breaks down proteins? Hydrolysis
What are the four structural levels of a protein? Primary: sequence of amino acids in polypeptide chain Secondary: Hydrogen bonds can cause the polypeptide chain to coil into an alpha helix or fold into a beta pleated sheet Tertiary: Further folding of the chain by hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds and disulfide bridges Quaternary: In proteins with more than one polypeptide chain, this is how the chains are assembled together
What is the test for proteins? The Biuret test: -Add a few drops of NaOH solution -Add copper (II) sulfate solution -Positive = purple -Negative = blue
What is an enzyme? An enzyme is a biological catalyst.
What are the two types of enzyme action? Intracellular (within cells) and extracellular (outside cells)
How do enzymes catalyse reactions? Enzymes lower the reaction's activation energy.
Why does an enzyme substrate complex lower the activation energy? If two substrate molecules need to be joined, the complex holds them closer together, reducing repulsion. If the enzyme is catalysing a breakdown reaction, fitting in the active site puts a strain on the bonds in the substrate.
What is the lock and key enzyme model? The lock and key model is where the enzyme's active site and the substrate are exactly complementary and do not change shape.
What is the induced fit enzyme model? The enzyme's active site is not exactly complementary to the substrate. When the substrate binds to the active site, the active site changes shape slightly to allow the enzyme substrate complex to form.
Why are enzymes very specific? Because only one complementary substrate will fit the enzyme's active site.
Why does high temperature denature proteins? The high temperature causes the hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds and disulfide bridges between the amino acids to break down, changing the tertiary structure.
Why do enzymes not work as well at lower temperatures? Lower temperature means that the molecules have lower kinetic energy.
Why does a non-optimum pH level result in a lower rate of reaction? H+ and OH- ions can change the ionic and hydrogen bonds in the enzyme's tertiary structure, denaturing the enzyme.
Why does enzyme concentration affect the rate of reaction? Why does the rate have a peak value after which the rate does not change? Increased enzyme concentration means that the possible number of collisions between enzyme and substrate per second increases and therefore more enzyme substrate complexes form per second. There is a peak value because the substrate concentration becomes a limiting factor.
What are the two types of enzyme inhibition? Competitive and non-competitive inhibition.
How does competitive inhibition work? Molecules with a similar shape to the substrate molecules bind to the active sites of the enzymes but no reaction occurs. Instead, they block the active site so not substrate molecules can fit in.
How does non-competitive inhibition work? Molecules bind to the enzyme away from its active site, causing the enzyme's active site to change shape so the substrate molecules can no longer bind to it.
YO ELLIOT SLIME GLANDS
What are the pentose sugars in DNA and RNA? DNA: deoxyribose RNA: ribose
What base is not present in RNA that is present in DNA and vice versa? In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil.
What is a nucleotide made up of? A pentose sugar A nitrogen-containing organic base A phosphate group
How do polynucleotides form? Nucleotides join up via condensation reactions between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another. This forms phosphodiester bonds.
What is the chain of sugars and phosphates in a polynucleotide called? Sugar-phosphate backbone.
Describe the structure of a molecule of DNA. Two DNA polynucleotide strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the organic bases. The two strands run antiparallel to each other and are twisted to form a DNA double helix.
What base does adenine pair with in DNA? Thymine
What base does guanine pair with in DNA? Cytosine
By what process does DNA replicate? Semi-conservative replication
How does semi-conservative replication work? -DNA helicase enzyme breaks down the H bonds between the organic bases -Helix unwinds to form two single strands -Each original strand acts as a template for a new strand -Complementary base pairing means that free-floating DNA nucleotides are attracted to their complementary exposed bases on each original template strand -Condensation reactions join each strand's nucleotides together with H bonds, catalysed by DNA polymerase -Each new DNA molecule contains one new strand and one original strand.
Why is water a good buffer to temperature changes? It has a high latent heat of vaporisation and a high specific heat capacity
Why are water molecules cohesive? Water molecules are polar and therefore each molecule attracts other molecules, meaning that they stick together.
What does ATP stand for? Adenosine triphosphate
Draw the structure of ATP
How is energy released from ATP? High energy bonds between the phosphate groups are hydrolysed, releasing energy.
What is the cycle of ATP use and production? -ATP is hydrolysed by cells when energy is needed, forming ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and Pi (inorganic phosphate) -Condensation reactions between ADP and Pi for ATP during respiration/photosynthesis
What is a eukaryotic cell? An complex cell found in multicellular organisms (animals and plants).
What is a prokaryotic cell? A single-celled organism.
What are the features of a cell surface membrane? Regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell. Has receptor molecules to allow responses to hormones.
Describe the structure of a nucleus. A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope (double membrane), which contains many pores. The nucleus contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli
Describe the function of the nucleus. The nucleus controls the transcription of DNA and therefore the cell's activities. The nucleolus makes ribosomes.
Describe the structure of mitochondria. Organelle with a double membrane. Inner membrane is folded into structures called cristae. Inside is the matrix, which contains respiratory enzymes.
Describe the function of mitochondria. The site of aerobic respiration (where ATP is produced).
Describe the structure of chloroplasts. Double membrane. Contains grana, structures made up of stacked thylakoid membranes. These are linked by lamellae - thin, flat pieces of thylakoid membrane. Filled with a liquid called stroma.
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus. Fluid filled membrane-bound sacs.
Describe the function of the Golgi apparatus. Processes and packages lipids and proteins.
Describe the structure of Golgi vesicles. Small fluid-filled sacs.
Describe the function of Golgi vesicles. Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus for transport through the cell-surface membrane.
Describe the structure of a ribosome. A very small organelle which floats free in the cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Made up of RNA.
Describe the function of a ribosome. The site of protein production.
What characteristics of prokaryotic cells are not found in eukaryotic cells? -Prokaryotic cells may have a flagellum -No nucleus, a coiled up strand of DNA simply floats free in the cytoplasm -Plasmids (small loops of DNA) are sometimes present in the cytoplasm -Prokaryotic cells have a cell wall -Some bacterial cells have a slime capsule
Describe the structure of a virus A core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein capsid with attachment proteins around it.
By what process do prokaryotic cells divide? Binary fission
How many micrometres are in a metre? 1000
Define the resolution of a microscope. The smallest distance between two points which the microscope is able to discern as being two points.
What are the pros and cons of transmission and scanning electron microscopes? Transmission pros: -High resolution -Can see internal structures Transmission cons: -Can only be used on thin specimens Scanning pros: -Can provide 3D images of the specimen's surface -Can use thick specimens Scanning cons: -Low resolution compared to transmission
Describe the stages of cell fractionation. Homogenisation: -Grinding cells up in blender and keeping the solution ice-cold to stop enzymes from breaking down the resulting mixture. -Buffer solution must be added to provide a constant pH Filtration: -Gauze filter is used to remove large cell debris Ultracentrifugation: -Cell fragments poured into a test tube and spun in a centrifuge at low speed -Heavy organelles like nuclei go to the bottom of the tube, forming a sediment called the pellet -The rest of the solution is called the supernatant -The supernatant is drained off and spun at a higher speed -The mitochondria form a pellet -The supernataint is drained off and spun again at a higher speed -The process is repeated until all the organelles are separated out
What are the four stages of mitosis? Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase
Describe prophase. -Chromosomes condense -Centrioles move to opposite ends of cell -Spindle fibres form -Nuclear envelope breaks down
Describe metaphase. -The chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell and attach to the spindle by their centromeres
Describe anaphase. -The centromeres divide, separating the pairs of sister chromatids -Spindle fibres contract, pulling the chromatids to opposite poles of the cell
Describe telophase. -Chromatids uncoil and become chromosomes -Nuclear envelope forms around each group of chromosomes -Cytoplasm divides -Two daughter cells are formed -Interphase begins
How is the mitotic index calculated? Number of cells with visible chromosomes / total cells observed
What is the function of cholesterol in the cell surface membrane? -Binds to the phospholipid tails, pulling them together and restricting their movement -Enhances the rigidity of the cell membrane -Maintains the shape of the cell
How does facilitated diffusion work? Carrier proteins: -Large molecule attaches to carrier protein in the membrane -Protein changes shape -Large molecule is released inside the cell Channel proteins: -Channel proteins form pores in the membrane which allow charged particles to diffuse through
How does co-transport work? -Carrier proteins bind two molecules together -Concentration gradient of one molecule is used to move another against its concentration gradient
Describe the immune response -Phagocytes recognise foreign antigens on a pathogen -Pathogen engulfed by phagocyte -Lysosome fuses to phagocyte -Lysozymes break down the pathogen -Phagocyte presents pathogen's antigens -T cells bind to the antigens on the phagocyte -T helper cells activate more phagocytes and cytotoxic T cells which kill foreign cells as well as activating B cells -B cells divide to form plasma cells -Plasma cells secrete monoclonal antibodies
What is the cellular immune response? T cells and other immune cells e.g. phagocytes
What is the humoral immune response? B cells and monoclonal antibody production
How are fish gills adapted for efficient gas exchange? -Fills are made up of thin gill filaments -Gill filaments covered in tiny lamellae -Lamellae have lots of capillaries -Counter-current system maintains concentration gradient
How are insects adapted for gas exchange? -Pores on their abdomen called spiracles let air in and out -Tubes called tracheae lead from the spiracles into increasingly thin-walled tracheoles -Oxygen moves by diffusion -Abdominal pumping allows increased oxygen flow
How do humans perform gas exchange? -Air enters the trachea -Trachea splits into two bronchi -Bronchi split into bronchioles -Bronchioles lead to alveoli -Ribcage, intercostal muscles and diaphragm work together to force air in and out
What happens during inspiration? -External intercostal muscles and diaphragm contract -Diaphragm flattens and the ribcage moves outwards and upwards -Pressure in the thoratic cavity decreases -Air flows into lungs
How are lipids broken down? -Lipase breaks down lipids into monoglycerides and fatty acids -Bile emulsifies the fats into small droplets which are easier to break down
State the two ways proteins are broken down. By endopeptidases: work within the protein By exopeptidases: work from the ends of the protein
What enzyme is used to break down carbohydrates? Amylase
What type of partial pressure does haemoglobin need to unload oxygen? Low
Why does the left ventricle of the heart have more muscle tissue? It needs to contract powerfully to pump blood all the way around the body
What do xylem transport? Xylem move water and ions upwards
What do phloem transport? Phloem move organic substances (e.g. sugars) up and down
What is translocation? The movement of solutes from sources to sinks
How does DNA transcription work? -RNA polymerase breaks down the H bonds between the two DNA strands -DNA uncoils -One strand becomes a template -Free RNA nucleotides are attracted to their complementary bases on the strand -RNA polymerase joins the free RNA nucleotides together -mRNA has been formed -DNA strands recoil back into a double helix
Why is no splicing needed in prokaryotes? Prokaryotic DNA contains no introns
How does translation work? -mRNA attaches itself to a ribosome and tRNA carries amino acids to it -tRNA anticodon attaches itself to the mRNA's codon by complementary base pairing -Process repeats -Amino acids attached to the tRNA molecules are joined by peptide bonds -Process continues until a stop codon is reached -Polypeptide chain moves away from the ribosome and translation is complete
What is formed at fertilisation? A zygote
What type of cell has a diploid number of chromosomes? Normal body cells.
What number of chromosomes does a gamete have? Haploid
How does meiosis take place? -DNA unravels and replicates -DNA condenses -Meiosis I: the chromosomes arrange themselves into homologous pairs -Homologous pairs separated, halving the chromosome number -Meiosis II: pairs of sister chromatids that make up chromosomes separate -Four haploid gametes formed that are genetically different
What is crossing over and when does it occur? Crossing over is where the chromatids twist around each other and bits of the chromatids swap over, resulting in different alleles. This occurs in meiosis I.
What are the two types of DNA mutation? Substitution and deletion.
Describe the two types of natural selection. Directional: one extreme is more likely to survive Stabilising: individuals in the middle of a range are more likely to survive
What do N and n mean in the index of diversity? N is total organisms n is total of one species
Define biodiversity The variety of living organisms in an area
Define habitat The place where an organism lives
Define community All the populations of different species in a habitat
Describe and explain the structure of an artery -Thick, muscular walls -Large amount of elastic tissue to allow the vessel to stretch and recoil -Inner lining (endothelium) is folded to allow stretching
Describe and explain the structure of a vein -Wider lumen than artery -Little elastic and muscle tissue -Contains valves to prevent backflow
What is water potential? The likelihood of water molecules to diffuse in or out of a solution
What has a higher water potential: pure water or seawater? Pure water
What does isotonic mean? Two solutions which have the same water potential
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

Carbohydrates
Julia Romanów
AQA A2 Biology Unit 4: Populations
Charlotte Lloyd
Functionalist Theory of Crime
A M
Realist Theories
A M
Control, Punishment & Victims
A M
AQA Physics: A2 Unit 4
Michael Priest
Coloured Compounds (AQA A2 Chemistry)
Filip Lastovka
Ethnicity, Crime & Justice
A M
AQA AS Biology Unit 2 DNA and Meiosis
elliedee
AQA AS Biology Unit 2 The Cell cycle
elliedee
AQA AS Biology Unit 2 The Variety of Life
elliedee