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VirginiaBiology

Reporting Category 2: Cell Biology and Cellular Processes

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do cells release the energy stored in glucose to power life?

Explain cellular respiration as the release and transformation of stored energy: glucose and oxygen are broken down in mitochondria to release energy (ATP), with carbon dioxide and water as products, and compare aerobic respiration with fermentation (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.e).
A SOL-level answer on cellular respiration for the Virginia Biology EOC: aerobic respiration in mitochondria, the reactants and products, ATP as the energy currency, and how fermentation releases energy without oxygen.
12 min answer →

How do enzymes speed up reactions, and what makes them stop working?

Explain that enzymes are protein catalysts with specific functions: they lower activation energy, act on specific substrates at an active site, and are affected by temperature, pH, and concentration (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.c, BIO.2.d).
A SOL-level answer on enzymes for the Virginia Biology EOC: enzymes as protein catalysts, activation energy, the active site and specificity, and how temperature, pH, and concentration affect enzyme activity, including denaturation.
12 min answer →

What are the four macromolecules of life, and how does each one's structure suit its job?

Describe the four classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), their monomers, and their roles in maintaining life processes (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.b).
A SOL-level answer on biological macromolecules for the Virginia Biology EOC: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, their monomers and functions, and how dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis build and break them.
12 min answer →

How do plants capture light energy and store it as chemical energy in glucose?

Explain photosynthesis as the capture, transformation, and storage of energy: light energy and the reactants carbon dioxide and water are converted in chloroplasts into glucose and oxygen (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.e).
A SOL-level answer on photosynthesis for the Virginia Biology EOC: the reactants and products, the role of chlorophyll and chloroplasts, the energy transformation from light to chemical energy, and the factors that limit the rate.
12 min answer →

Why is water's polarity the key to its life-supporting properties?

Explain how the chemistry of water influences life processes: its polarity and hydrogen bonding give it cohesion, adhesion, a high specific heat, and its role as the universal solvent and a reactant (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.a).
A SOL-level answer on water chemistry for the Virginia Biology EOC: polarity and hydrogen bonding, cohesion and adhesion, high specific heat, the universal solvent, and why these properties matter for living things.
12 min answer →