BIOLOGY A - UNIT 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) - (ANSWER)hereditary material that encodes genetic instructions; a type of
nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose; shape: double helix; nitrogenous bases: adenine,
cytosine, guanine, thymine
RNA (Ribonucleic acid) - (ANSWER)single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose;
nitrogenous bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil
Prokaryotic cell (Prokaryote) - (ANSWER)do not have a nucleus or membrane-covered organelles
Eukaryotic cell (Eukaryote) - (ANSWER)has a nucleus and membrane-covered organelles
organism - (ANSWER)one living thing (1 individual)-can independently carry out life processes; meets all
8 characteristics of life: GREGCHOR
population - (ANSWER)a group of individuals of the SAME species that live in the same area
community - (ANSWER)all of the populations of DIFFERENT species that live and interact in an area
(ONLY biotic factors)
ecosystem - (ANSWER)community/communities and their nonliving environment, including their
interactions
(biotic factors + abiotic factors + interactions)
Homeostasis - (ANSWER)process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment
(homeo-"similar to", stasis-"balance"
Biodiversity - (ANSWER)biological diversity; the sum total of the variety of organisms in the biosphere
(bio-"life", diversity-differences)
, BIOLOGY A - UNIT 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Virus - (ANSWER)A tiny particle made up of DNA or RNA (nucleic acid), protein, and in some cases lipids;
invades and then reproduces inside a living host cell.
host cell - (ANSWER)Living cell in which a virus replicates
Charles Darwin - (ANSWER)The "father" of evolution-English naturalist that traveled around much of the
world (including the Galapagos Islands), observing plants & animals carefully. Based on his observations,
he later wrote the theory of evolution by natural selection.
fossil - (ANSWER)solidified remains or imprints of an organism from the past
fossil record - (ANSWER)a historical sequence of life on Earth based on the sequence of fossils found in
layers of the Earth's crust
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck - (ANSWER)French naturalist proposed that by selective use or disuse of organs,
organisms could acquire certain traits during their lifetime which are then passed on to their children
and future generations, eventually changing the species; his "theory" was proven incorrect
evolution - (ANSWER)the process of how populations of organisms accumulate inherited changes over
time
natural selection - (ANSWER)the process by which organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce
at a higher rate than organisms with less favorable traits
genetic variation - (ANSWER)the variety of genes in a population
fitness - (ANSWER)Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment; more offspring,
higher fitness
capsid - (ANSWER)Outer protein coat of a virus, protects the genetic code
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) - (ANSWER)hereditary material that encodes genetic instructions; a type of
nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose; shape: double helix; nitrogenous bases: adenine,
cytosine, guanine, thymine
RNA (Ribonucleic acid) - (ANSWER)single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose;
nitrogenous bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil
Prokaryotic cell (Prokaryote) - (ANSWER)do not have a nucleus or membrane-covered organelles
Eukaryotic cell (Eukaryote) - (ANSWER)has a nucleus and membrane-covered organelles
organism - (ANSWER)one living thing (1 individual)-can independently carry out life processes; meets all
8 characteristics of life: GREGCHOR
population - (ANSWER)a group of individuals of the SAME species that live in the same area
community - (ANSWER)all of the populations of DIFFERENT species that live and interact in an area
(ONLY biotic factors)
ecosystem - (ANSWER)community/communities and their nonliving environment, including their
interactions
(biotic factors + abiotic factors + interactions)
Homeostasis - (ANSWER)process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment
(homeo-"similar to", stasis-"balance"
Biodiversity - (ANSWER)biological diversity; the sum total of the variety of organisms in the biosphere
(bio-"life", diversity-differences)
, BIOLOGY A - UNIT 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Virus - (ANSWER)A tiny particle made up of DNA or RNA (nucleic acid), protein, and in some cases lipids;
invades and then reproduces inside a living host cell.
host cell - (ANSWER)Living cell in which a virus replicates
Charles Darwin - (ANSWER)The "father" of evolution-English naturalist that traveled around much of the
world (including the Galapagos Islands), observing plants & animals carefully. Based on his observations,
he later wrote the theory of evolution by natural selection.
fossil - (ANSWER)solidified remains or imprints of an organism from the past
fossil record - (ANSWER)a historical sequence of life on Earth based on the sequence of fossils found in
layers of the Earth's crust
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck - (ANSWER)French naturalist proposed that by selective use or disuse of organs,
organisms could acquire certain traits during their lifetime which are then passed on to their children
and future generations, eventually changing the species; his "theory" was proven incorrect
evolution - (ANSWER)the process of how populations of organisms accumulate inherited changes over
time
natural selection - (ANSWER)the process by which organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce
at a higher rate than organisms with less favorable traits
genetic variation - (ANSWER)the variety of genes in a population
fitness - (ANSWER)Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment; more offspring,
higher fitness
capsid - (ANSWER)Outer protein coat of a virus, protects the genetic code
