Free Response: Midterm Reveiw
AP Bio
McLenon
Use the Directions on my PBworks site
A. Complete your assigned Free Response on mclenonapbio.pbworks.com
B. Read and add an appropriate comment on three (3) classmates Free responses
1. Yeast can carry on anaerobic and aerobic respiration. Briefly compare and contrast these two processes, and
then explain how each of the following will affect the rate of respiration of yeast.
level of O2
different temperatures – 0 C, 28 C, 100 C
o o o
different foods – glucose, sucrose, and starch
different pH – 5, 7, 9 (yeast are best adapted to neutral environments)
2. The physical structure of a protein often reflects and affects its function.
a. Describe THREE types of chemical bonds/interactions found in proteins. For each type, describe its
role in determining protein structure.
b. Many proteins change shape as part of their normal function. Discuss how natural changes in protein
shape enable proteins to perform two of the following
i. Regulation of enzyme activity
ii. Enzymes ability to catalyze a reaction
iii. Transcription of either a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell
c. Abnormal hemoglobin is the identifying characteristic of sickle cell anemia. Explain the genetic basis of
the abnormal hemoglobin. Explain why the sickle cell allele is selected for in certain areas of the world.
3. Membranes are important structural features of cells.
a. Describe how membrane structure is related to the transport of materials across a membrane.
b. Describe the role of membranes in the synthesis of ATP in either respiration or photosynthesis.
4. The rate of photosynthesis may vary with changes that occur in environmental changes. Using a
photosynthetic organism of your choice, choose one of the variables: temperature, wavelength of light or light
intensity, and
a. design an experiment to determine the effect of the variable on the rate of photosynthesis for the
organism
b. Explain how you would measure the rate of photosynthesis in your experiment,
c. Describe the results you would expect. Explain why you would expect those results
5. Meiosis reduces chromosome number and rearranges genetic information
a. Explain how the reduction and rearrangement are accomplished in meiosis
b. Several human disorders occur as a result of defects in the meiotic process. Identify one chromosomal
abnormality: what affect does it have on the phenotype of the people with the disorder? Describe how
this abnormality could result from a defect in meiosis
c. production of offspring by cloning by passes the typical meiotic process. Describe the cloning of a
mammal and compare the genomics of the offspring with those of the parents
6. A difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is seen in the organization of their genetic material.
a. Discuss the organization of the genetic material in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
b. Compare and contrast the following activities
i. Replication of DNA
ii. Transcription or translation
iii. Gene regulation
iv. Cell division
7. The flow of genetic information from DNA to protein in eukaryotic cells is called the central dogma of biology.
a. Explain the role of each of the following in protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells.
i. • RNA polymerase
ii. • Spliceosomes (snRNPs)
iii. • Codons
iv. • Ribosomes
v. • tRNA
b. Cells regulate both protein synthesis and protein activity. Discuss TWO specific mechanisms of protein
regulation in eukaryotic cells.
c. The central dogma does not apply to some viruses. Select a specific virus or type of virus and explain
how it deviates from the central dogma.Cystic fibrosis is caused by a gene mutation.
8. Evolution is one of the unifying concepts of modern biology.
a. Explain the mechanisms that lead to evolutionary change.
b. Describe how scientists use each of the following as evidence for evolution.
i. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
ii. Comparative biochemistry
iii. The fossil record
9. Describe Cystic fibrosis and explain its pattern of inheritance.
a. Explain how a person’s DNA (transcription and translation) controls the manufacture of enzymes that
regulate blood-clotting.
b. Then explain how a gene mutation that replaces a polar amino acid with a non-polar amino acid could
cause this disease.
10. Mrs. McLenon has bought a mouse farm that breeds mice for medical research. The mice she breeds inherit
several genetic diseases that are also found in humans (sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia).
a. Describe the characteristics of each of these disorders including the symptoms and how they are inherited.
b. Mrs. McLenon needs to fill an order for ten male and ten female mice with hemophilia . If she only has the
following mice to breed, which pairs should she mate to get the offspring she needs?
heterozygous females
normal males
homozygous normal females
hemophilia males
Construct a punnett square that shows the parents and the offspring from the cross you recommend. Explain
your choice. How many of the offspring should show the desired trait?
c. Eureka! One of the medical labs isolated the normal and abnormal gene for hemophilia. Explain how the
lab could splice the normal gene into bacterial cell to produce the missing blood clotting protein.
11. A new retro virus has just been identified. It is capable of mutating the gene for ATPase.
a. Explain how a retrovirus could transmit this disorder into a eukaryotic cell
b. What processes would be immediately affected by this virus? Explain the process/effect on a molecular
level.
c. What group of organisms would not be immediately affected? Why not?