Keystone Exam AHEAD!!!!!

Last minute Keystone Advice

**** Change your attitude about this.  Do NOT go into this test worried about what you DON’T know – Go into this CONFIDENT in what you DO KNOW!!!! (There is a BIG difference!!)*****

* Remember, the test is not going to ask you ANYTHING that you did not learn about during Biology 1 (or sections of 8^th grade Environmental science). The biggest hurdle to get through is to figure out what they are actually asking you – they are NOT asking you about Sheep, or the respiratory system, or blood flow, or the digestive system, etc… figure out what the question is really asking.  A good way to do this is to look at the answers and see what area they seem to be focusing on.

*Go with your gut!!  You can generally cross off one answer RIGHT away because it does not even answer the question.  When you are down to only three try to figure out which ones are trying to “fool” you.  They are very accurate statements but have nothing to do with the question or the statement itself is not even true.  Finally – If there are answers about things you KNOW you did not learn and one of the answers is at least something you remember learning, go with it!!

*For constructed response questions, just like the multiple choice questions, first decide what they are actually asking you then keep it simple.  If you are NOT sure what the answer is, then you may just want to go ahead and put down whatever you DO know about that topic and more than likely you will eventually hit at least one of the areas they were looking for.  Don’t spend TOO much time on these though, they are generally only worth 3 points

* Module A:  key points Carbon ROCKS!! Because it can form up to 4 covalent bonds with other atoms (including other carbon atoms) it is the PERFECT element to make macro-molecules.

ATP is THE LIFE OF THE PARTY!!!!!  If a question is about a cell using energy, most likely they are talking about ATP.  If the question is about energy, the answer is probably ATP

If it’s talking about different cells (alveoli, villi) and anything that mentions increase in surface are for efficient exchange of materials – Go with it.  Surface-area is a HUGE thing in biology!!

If you know about either photosynthesis or cellular respiration, then you know about the other.  They are in essence the reverse of each other.

Photosynthesis:  Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight à Glucose + Oxygen
Cellular respiration:  Glucose + Oxygen à Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP

The products of photosynthesis are used during cellular respiration and the carbon dioxide that is released during cellular respiration is used for photosynthesis.

  Both are processes that convert energy:
  Photosynthesis is conversion of Light to Chemical
  Cellular respiration is the conversion of chemical (glucose) to chemical (ATP)

Module B:  Key points Mitosis vs meiosis:  Mitosis is the division of cells to make a genetically identical copy.  Meiosis is the formation of gametes, it cuts the number of chromosomes in HALF and produces 4 genetically DIFFERENT cells.

DNA is A BOSS!!!!  It is the universal genetic code.  ALL living organisms have DNA and in ALL organisms that DNA codes for proteins (which are made up of amino acids).

Questions about natural selection will most likely be referring to any trait an organism has that increases its ability to get food, get away from predators or find mates.  Nature “selects” for two main things – Can I survive, and can I reproduce.

Evolution:  The fossil record, embryological evidence, comparative atatomy and comparative biochemistry all point towards all living organisms having a common ancestor.  Comparative anatomy – comparing structures, Comparative biochemisty = comparing DNA sequences or amino acid sequences comparative embryology = comparing the embryological stages of different organsism.