BIO 1090 Final Exam Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Version 2025-2026
What is DNA - AnswersDeoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material of genes
What is RNA - Answersribonucleic acid, provides information to build proteins
What is the central dogma of molecular biology? - AnswersDNA -> RNA -> Protein
What type of cell has no nucleus (and therefore no DNA) - AnswersRed blood cell
What is the effect of red blood cells not having DNA - AnswersCannot divide
Limited repair capabilities
Why do red blood cells not have DNA - AnswersSo they can have maximum hemoglobin carrying
capacity
What is enucleation? - AnswersMechanism by which maturing red blood cells eject their nucleus
How do cells become specialized - Answersdifferentiation
What is the primordial soup hypothesis - AnswersPutative conditions on primitive earth
favoured chemical rxns that synthesized more complex organic compounds from simpler
inorganic precursors
What is the chemical origin of life - AnswersAbiogenesis
What is the process of abiogenesis - AnswersN2, NH3, CH4, CO2, H2O, H2 + energy = simple
organic compound
What is the first group of intermediate products in the Miller-Urey Experiment -
AnswersFormaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide
What was the second group of intermediate products in the Miller-Urey Experiment -
AnswersUrea, formic acid, amino acids
What was the conclusion of the Miller-Urey experiment - AnswersAmino acids can be generated
in conditions that mimic those of the early earth
What was later discovered about the origin of life - AnswersOther chemical reactions can
generate simple sugars, the bases found in nucleotides, the lipids needed to form primitive
membranes
What define compartments in a cell - AnswersSingle or double lipid layer membrane
What are examples of cellular compartments - AnswersMitochondria, chloroplasts, cell nucleus,
vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum
,What are the roles of cellular compartments - AnswersPhysical boundaries that enable the cell
to carry out different metabolic activities
Generate micro-environment to spatially and temporally regulate biological processes
What are the 2 points of the cell theory developed by Schleiden and Schwann - AnswersAll living
organisms are composed of one or more cells
The cell is the most basic unit of life
What is the third point of the cell theory - AnswersOmnis cellula e cellula (all cells arise only
from a pre-existing cell)
What are the 9 basic properties of cells - Answers- highly complex and organized
- activity controlled by a genetic program
- can reproduce - make copies of themselves
- assimilate and utilize energy
- carry out many chemical rxns (enzymes)
- engage in mechanical activities
- respond to stimuli
- capable of self regulation
- they evolve
What are the 6 features of a prokaryotic cell - Answers- single-cell organism
- size: 1-10 micrometer
- no nucleus or organelles
- ribosomes are present but small
- reproduce asexually
- genetic material found in nucleoid and are circular (plasmid)
What are the organisms with eukaryotic cells - AnswersProtozoa (single-called eukaryotes)
Fungi
Plants
Animals
,What are the features of a eukaryotic cell (5) - Answers- unicellular and multicellular organisms
- 10-100 micrometers
- nucleus and organelles
- large ribosomes
- genetic material found in nuclear compartment as chromosomes
What organelles are only found in plant cells (4) - AnswersCell walls
Vacuoles
Chloroplasts
Plasmodesmata
What organelles are only found in animal cells (2) - AnswersLysosomes
Microvolli
What is the function of the plasma membrane - AnswersControl transfer of substances in and
out of the cell, functions in cell-cell signalling and cell adhesion
What is the function of the mitochondria - AnswersGenerate ATP by oxidation of glucose and
fatty acids
What is the function of lysosomes - AnswersAcidic lumen that degrades material internalized by
the cell and worn-out cellular membranes and organelles
What is the function of the nuclear envelope - AnswersDouble membrane that encloses the
contents of the nucleus; outer membrane continuous with the rough ER
What is the function of the nucleolus - AnswersWhere most of the cell's rRNA is synthesized
What is the function of the nucleus and chromatin - AnswersStoring chromatin composed of
DNA and proteins; mRNA and tRNA synthesis
What is the function of the smooth ER - Answers- synthesizes lipids
- detoxifies certain hydrophobic molecules
- production of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, androgens, estrogens)
- sequestration (storage) of Ca2+
What is the function of the rough ER (6) - Answers- sorting of secreted proteins
, - Synthesis of membrane phospholipids
- glycosylation of proteins (addition of carbohydrate chains to specific proteins)
- protein folding - quality control (involve the activity of molecular chaperones, a specific type of
protein that assist in the folding process)
- protein synthesis, modification
- transport proteins targeted to other endomembrane departments, proteins targeted to plasma
membrane
What is the function of the Golgi complex - AnswersProcesses and sorts secreted proteins,
lysosomal proteins, and membrane proteins synthesized on rough ER
What is the function of secretory vesicles - AnswersStore secreted proteins and fuse with
plasma membrane to release contents
What is the function of peroxisomes - AnswersContain enzymes that break down fatty acids
into smaller molecules used to help organize organelles and participate in cell movement
What is the function of the cytoskeleton - AnswersFibres form networks and bundles that
support cellular membranes, help organize organelles, and participate in cell movement
What is the function of microvilli - AnswersIncrease SA for absorption of nutrients
What is the function of cell walls - AnswersHelps maintain cell's shape and provides protection
against mechanical stress
What is the function of vacuoles (7) - Answers- Store water, ions, nutrients
- degrade macromolecules
- functions in cell elongation during growth
- contribute to turgor pressure
- Regulate cytoplasmic pH
- sequester toxic ions
- store amino acids, sugars, and CO2 in the form of malate
What is the function of chloroplasts - Answersphotosynthesis
What is the function of plasmodesmata - AnswersForm a channel through the cell wall of plant
cells that allows molecules and substances to move back and forth as needed.
What types of cells are prokaryotic - AnswersBacteria, archaea
What is DNA - AnswersDeoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material of genes
What is RNA - Answersribonucleic acid, provides information to build proteins
What is the central dogma of molecular biology? - AnswersDNA -> RNA -> Protein
What type of cell has no nucleus (and therefore no DNA) - AnswersRed blood cell
What is the effect of red blood cells not having DNA - AnswersCannot divide
Limited repair capabilities
Why do red blood cells not have DNA - AnswersSo they can have maximum hemoglobin carrying
capacity
What is enucleation? - AnswersMechanism by which maturing red blood cells eject their nucleus
How do cells become specialized - Answersdifferentiation
What is the primordial soup hypothesis - AnswersPutative conditions on primitive earth
favoured chemical rxns that synthesized more complex organic compounds from simpler
inorganic precursors
What is the chemical origin of life - AnswersAbiogenesis
What is the process of abiogenesis - AnswersN2, NH3, CH4, CO2, H2O, H2 + energy = simple
organic compound
What is the first group of intermediate products in the Miller-Urey Experiment -
AnswersFormaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide
What was the second group of intermediate products in the Miller-Urey Experiment -
AnswersUrea, formic acid, amino acids
What was the conclusion of the Miller-Urey experiment - AnswersAmino acids can be generated
in conditions that mimic those of the early earth
What was later discovered about the origin of life - AnswersOther chemical reactions can
generate simple sugars, the bases found in nucleotides, the lipids needed to form primitive
membranes
What define compartments in a cell - AnswersSingle or double lipid layer membrane
What are examples of cellular compartments - AnswersMitochondria, chloroplasts, cell nucleus,
vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum
,What are the roles of cellular compartments - AnswersPhysical boundaries that enable the cell
to carry out different metabolic activities
Generate micro-environment to spatially and temporally regulate biological processes
What are the 2 points of the cell theory developed by Schleiden and Schwann - AnswersAll living
organisms are composed of one or more cells
The cell is the most basic unit of life
What is the third point of the cell theory - AnswersOmnis cellula e cellula (all cells arise only
from a pre-existing cell)
What are the 9 basic properties of cells - Answers- highly complex and organized
- activity controlled by a genetic program
- can reproduce - make copies of themselves
- assimilate and utilize energy
- carry out many chemical rxns (enzymes)
- engage in mechanical activities
- respond to stimuli
- capable of self regulation
- they evolve
What are the 6 features of a prokaryotic cell - Answers- single-cell organism
- size: 1-10 micrometer
- no nucleus or organelles
- ribosomes are present but small
- reproduce asexually
- genetic material found in nucleoid and are circular (plasmid)
What are the organisms with eukaryotic cells - AnswersProtozoa (single-called eukaryotes)
Fungi
Plants
Animals
,What are the features of a eukaryotic cell (5) - Answers- unicellular and multicellular organisms
- 10-100 micrometers
- nucleus and organelles
- large ribosomes
- genetic material found in nuclear compartment as chromosomes
What organelles are only found in plant cells (4) - AnswersCell walls
Vacuoles
Chloroplasts
Plasmodesmata
What organelles are only found in animal cells (2) - AnswersLysosomes
Microvolli
What is the function of the plasma membrane - AnswersControl transfer of substances in and
out of the cell, functions in cell-cell signalling and cell adhesion
What is the function of the mitochondria - AnswersGenerate ATP by oxidation of glucose and
fatty acids
What is the function of lysosomes - AnswersAcidic lumen that degrades material internalized by
the cell and worn-out cellular membranes and organelles
What is the function of the nuclear envelope - AnswersDouble membrane that encloses the
contents of the nucleus; outer membrane continuous with the rough ER
What is the function of the nucleolus - AnswersWhere most of the cell's rRNA is synthesized
What is the function of the nucleus and chromatin - AnswersStoring chromatin composed of
DNA and proteins; mRNA and tRNA synthesis
What is the function of the smooth ER - Answers- synthesizes lipids
- detoxifies certain hydrophobic molecules
- production of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, androgens, estrogens)
- sequestration (storage) of Ca2+
What is the function of the rough ER (6) - Answers- sorting of secreted proteins
, - Synthesis of membrane phospholipids
- glycosylation of proteins (addition of carbohydrate chains to specific proteins)
- protein folding - quality control (involve the activity of molecular chaperones, a specific type of
protein that assist in the folding process)
- protein synthesis, modification
- transport proteins targeted to other endomembrane departments, proteins targeted to plasma
membrane
What is the function of the Golgi complex - AnswersProcesses and sorts secreted proteins,
lysosomal proteins, and membrane proteins synthesized on rough ER
What is the function of secretory vesicles - AnswersStore secreted proteins and fuse with
plasma membrane to release contents
What is the function of peroxisomes - AnswersContain enzymes that break down fatty acids
into smaller molecules used to help organize organelles and participate in cell movement
What is the function of the cytoskeleton - AnswersFibres form networks and bundles that
support cellular membranes, help organize organelles, and participate in cell movement
What is the function of microvilli - AnswersIncrease SA for absorption of nutrients
What is the function of cell walls - AnswersHelps maintain cell's shape and provides protection
against mechanical stress
What is the function of vacuoles (7) - Answers- Store water, ions, nutrients
- degrade macromolecules
- functions in cell elongation during growth
- contribute to turgor pressure
- Regulate cytoplasmic pH
- sequester toxic ions
- store amino acids, sugars, and CO2 in the form of malate
What is the function of chloroplasts - Answersphotosynthesis
What is the function of plasmodesmata - AnswersForm a channel through the cell wall of plant
cells that allows molecules and substances to move back and forth as needed.
What types of cells are prokaryotic - AnswersBacteria, archaea
