Meyers High School Mr.
Moules
Keystone Exam Review Sheet Biology
Module 1 – Cells and Cell Processes
Unit 1a: Introduction to Life BIO.A.1
Biology is the study of living things, of life. Any living thing is known as an organism.
Two MAIN themes in biology:
A. MAIN IDEA (theme): Every structure on or in an organism has a function. (or had a function at
one time)
Function (what does it do) = Structure (why it is shaped/built the way it is)
B. MAIN IDEA (theme): All organisms share the same basic characteristics of life. The number of
characteristics may vary from scientist to scientist, sometimes the characteristics are grouped
together, at times they stand alone, but those discussed in the year of your biology class were:
1. Cellular Organization - All organisms are made up of one or more cells AND those cells are
organized in order to perform the necessary functions of life.
2. Metabolism – all organisms use energy to carry on life processes.
3. Responsiveness – all organisms respond to their environment.
4. Homeostasis – all organisms must maintain balance between their internal conditions and the
conditions outside in their environment.
5. Reproduction – all organism must reproduce to survive as a species.
6. Heredity – during reproduction, organisms pass on their traits to their offspring. The change
over time of these traits in response to their environment is called evolution.
7. Growth – all organisms grow, in volume or number of cells, from the time of their birth.
Change in an organism during growth is known as development.
Every topic covered in biology class is related to one of the characteristics of life (listed above)
BIO.A.1 Basic biological principles BIO.A.1.1.1 & BIO.A.1.2.2
1. Describe the characteristics of life shared by all prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
2. Compare cellular structures and their functions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes shared by both Eukaryotes
older cells cytoplasm younger cells
less complex DNA more complex
unicellular only ribosomes multicellular or unicellular
no nucleus cell membrane nucleus to protect DNA
no organelles membrane bound organelles
DNA in simple loop DNA in chromosomes
smaller cell – less inside larger cell – has organelles
3. Describe and interpret relationships between structures and functions at various levels of biological organization.
There are 5 levels of organization.
- Cells that do the same job form tissues, several tissues doing a similar job form an organ, several
organs working together form an organ system, several organ systems form an organism.
Cells ---------- Tissues ---------- Organs --------- Organ Systems ---------- Organism
- Smaller structures have more surface area to volume ratio needed for increased nutrient & gas exchange
- The size and shape of a structure is related to its function.
