BCHM111 MIDTERM TEST - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
(LECTURE BY LECTURE)
LECTURE 1
· properties of life include MRS GREN (movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction,
excretion, nutrition), as well as information (DNA), natural selection, metabolism, and cells (cell
theory, which states all living things are made of cells).
· levels of biological organisation (hierarchy) from small to large include molecules, organelles,
cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and
the biosphere.
· new properties emerge at higher levels (emergent properties).
· complex systems have properties not present in individual parts.
· structure determines function.
· cells are the basic unit of life.
· prokaryotic cells (bacteria, archaea) are simpler.
· eukaryotic cells (animals, plants, fungi) are more complex.
· biological systems regulate themselves (homeostasis).
· biology needs energy to create order.
· life requires the transfer and transformation of energy and matter.
· evolution is a process of biological change.
· most biological systems are made of the same macromolecules (lipids, carbohydrates,
proteins, and nucleic acids).
· biotechnology uses biological systems to develop products and technologies in medicine,
agriculture, energy, and environmental management.
LECTURE 2
· discovery (inductive) science describes nature and finds patterns, does not start with a specific
hypothesis, and generates large amounts of data.
· deductive reasoning starts with a specific question, proposes a hypothesis, makes predictions,
and tests them with experiments.
· patterns can show correlation, but need hypothesis-driven experiments to test causation.
· a hypothesis is a testable, falsifiable explanation.
· a prediction is what to expect if the hypothesis is correct.
· independent variable is what you change.
· dependent variable is what you measure.
· negative control is set up so no effect is expected when the independent variable is not
present.
· positive control is set up so a known effect is expected, confirming the experiment works.
· preprints get community feedback, peer review, must be able to repeat results (reproducibility),
and agreement builds over time with evidence.
· reliable science depends on careful experimentation (controls), repeatability, peer review, and
no conflicts of interest.
, · aspirin was developed with inductive reasoning; ancient cultures used willow bark to treat pain,
salicylic acid was extracted but led to stomach irritation, an acetyl group was added to reduce
side effects.
· ibuprofen was developed with deductive reasoning; developed for rheumatoid arthritis,
synthesised and tested hundreds of aspirin analogues, a propionic acid derivative showed
strong results, Dr Stewart Adams self-medicated to test.
· paracetamol was developed when studying pain relief, such as acetanilide, which caused
blood toxicity and was metabolised in the body into paracetamol, and this was what provided
pain relief.
· penicillin was discovered when Alexander Fleming was studying bacteria, a petri dish got
contaminated with mould, around the mould bacteria weren't growing, as it was producing
penicillin which killed bacteria.
· GLP-1 stimulates insulin release but is broken down in 1-2 minutes, similar hormone found in
saliva of gila monster which resisted breakdown, led to development of exenatide, better
versions (semaglutide) were developed and more stable.
LECTURE 3
· C, H, O, N are most common elements as they form stable covalent bonds.
· isotopes are the same element, different neutrons.
· valence electrons determine reactivity.
· the number of lone valence electrons determines how many bonds can form.
· covalent bonds are sharing of electrons (H2, O2, H2O, CH4).
· electronegative atoms (O, N) tend to accumulate more negative charge, leading to polarity.
· ionic bonds involve transfer of electrons leading to charged ions, form ionic compounds (salts).
· van der waals interactions evolve from uneven charge distribution.
· hydrogen bonds occur between hydrogen (attached to an electronegative atom) and an
adjacent electronegative atom, hydrogen is the donor, electronegative atom is the acceptor.
· oxygen is more electronegative, water is polar, leads to hydrogen bonding.
· cohesion is when water sticks to itself, for example water drops beading together or an insect
walking on water due to surface tension.
· adhesion is when water sticks to other surfaces, for example water forms a meniscus due to
water clinging to side of glass.
· hydrogen bonds form a lattice, so molecules are further apart in ice, and so ice is less dense
than liquid water (rare ability).
· water resists temperature change due to hydrogen bonds (high specific heat, melting and
boiling points).
· water is a good solvent and dissolves ionic compounds and polar molecules (due to being
polar/hydrophilic).
· large molecules, such as proteins, can dissolve if they have ionic or polar regions on the
outside.
· molecules want to be in equilibrium.
· acid increases hydrogen ion concentration, base decreases hydrogen ion concentration.
· on the pH scale, 0-3 is a strong acid, 4-6 is a weak acid, 7 is neutral, 8-10 is a weak base, and
11-14 is a strong base.
(LECTURE BY LECTURE)
LECTURE 1
· properties of life include MRS GREN (movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction,
excretion, nutrition), as well as information (DNA), natural selection, metabolism, and cells (cell
theory, which states all living things are made of cells).
· levels of biological organisation (hierarchy) from small to large include molecules, organelles,
cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and
the biosphere.
· new properties emerge at higher levels (emergent properties).
· complex systems have properties not present in individual parts.
· structure determines function.
· cells are the basic unit of life.
· prokaryotic cells (bacteria, archaea) are simpler.
· eukaryotic cells (animals, plants, fungi) are more complex.
· biological systems regulate themselves (homeostasis).
· biology needs energy to create order.
· life requires the transfer and transformation of energy and matter.
· evolution is a process of biological change.
· most biological systems are made of the same macromolecules (lipids, carbohydrates,
proteins, and nucleic acids).
· biotechnology uses biological systems to develop products and technologies in medicine,
agriculture, energy, and environmental management.
LECTURE 2
· discovery (inductive) science describes nature and finds patterns, does not start with a specific
hypothesis, and generates large amounts of data.
· deductive reasoning starts with a specific question, proposes a hypothesis, makes predictions,
and tests them with experiments.
· patterns can show correlation, but need hypothesis-driven experiments to test causation.
· a hypothesis is a testable, falsifiable explanation.
· a prediction is what to expect if the hypothesis is correct.
· independent variable is what you change.
· dependent variable is what you measure.
· negative control is set up so no effect is expected when the independent variable is not
present.
· positive control is set up so a known effect is expected, confirming the experiment works.
· preprints get community feedback, peer review, must be able to repeat results (reproducibility),
and agreement builds over time with evidence.
· reliable science depends on careful experimentation (controls), repeatability, peer review, and
no conflicts of interest.
, · aspirin was developed with inductive reasoning; ancient cultures used willow bark to treat pain,
salicylic acid was extracted but led to stomach irritation, an acetyl group was added to reduce
side effects.
· ibuprofen was developed with deductive reasoning; developed for rheumatoid arthritis,
synthesised and tested hundreds of aspirin analogues, a propionic acid derivative showed
strong results, Dr Stewart Adams self-medicated to test.
· paracetamol was developed when studying pain relief, such as acetanilide, which caused
blood toxicity and was metabolised in the body into paracetamol, and this was what provided
pain relief.
· penicillin was discovered when Alexander Fleming was studying bacteria, a petri dish got
contaminated with mould, around the mould bacteria weren't growing, as it was producing
penicillin which killed bacteria.
· GLP-1 stimulates insulin release but is broken down in 1-2 minutes, similar hormone found in
saliva of gila monster which resisted breakdown, led to development of exenatide, better
versions (semaglutide) were developed and more stable.
LECTURE 3
· C, H, O, N are most common elements as they form stable covalent bonds.
· isotopes are the same element, different neutrons.
· valence electrons determine reactivity.
· the number of lone valence electrons determines how many bonds can form.
· covalent bonds are sharing of electrons (H2, O2, H2O, CH4).
· electronegative atoms (O, N) tend to accumulate more negative charge, leading to polarity.
· ionic bonds involve transfer of electrons leading to charged ions, form ionic compounds (salts).
· van der waals interactions evolve from uneven charge distribution.
· hydrogen bonds occur between hydrogen (attached to an electronegative atom) and an
adjacent electronegative atom, hydrogen is the donor, electronegative atom is the acceptor.
· oxygen is more electronegative, water is polar, leads to hydrogen bonding.
· cohesion is when water sticks to itself, for example water drops beading together or an insect
walking on water due to surface tension.
· adhesion is when water sticks to other surfaces, for example water forms a meniscus due to
water clinging to side of glass.
· hydrogen bonds form a lattice, so molecules are further apart in ice, and so ice is less dense
than liquid water (rare ability).
· water resists temperature change due to hydrogen bonds (high specific heat, melting and
boiling points).
· water is a good solvent and dissolves ionic compounds and polar molecules (due to being
polar/hydrophilic).
· large molecules, such as proteins, can dissolve if they have ionic or polar regions on the
outside.
· molecules want to be in equilibrium.
· acid increases hydrogen ion concentration, base decreases hydrogen ion concentration.
· on the pH scale, 0-3 is a strong acid, 4-6 is a weak acid, 7 is neutral, 8-10 is a weak base, and
11-14 is a strong base.
