New York State Regents Examinations Living Environment (Biology Regents Examination) Syllabus

Living Environment (Biology Regents Examination) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Living Environment (Biology Regents Examination) in New York State Regents Examinations, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Scientific Inquiry and Laboratory Skills

   3 topics

   • Experimental Design
     • Hypotheses, variables, and controls
     • Sample size and repeated trials
   • Data Analysis and Graphing
     • Constructing and interpreting graphs
     • Drawing conclusions from data
   • Required State Laboratory Investigations
     • Diffusion Through a Membrane
     • Making Connections (muscle fatigue)
     • The Beaks of Finches
     • Relationships and Biodiversity
2. 2

   Cells, Homeostasis, and Body Systems

   4 topics

   • Cell Structure and Transport
     • Organelles and their functions
     • Active and passive transport; the cell membrane
   • Homeostasis and Feedback
     • Maintaining dynamic equilibrium
     • Immune system and disease defense
   • Human Body Systems
     • Digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems
     • Nervous and endocrine coordination
   • Biochemistry of Life
     • Enzymes and their role in reactions
     • Photosynthesis and cellular respiration
3. 3

   Genetics and Reproduction

   3 topics

   • DNA, Genes, and Protein Synthesis
     • Structure of DNA and the genetic code
     • Transcription and translation
   • Cell Division and Reproduction
     • Mitosis and asexual reproduction
     • Meiosis and sexual reproduction
   • Inheritance and Variation
     • Mutations and genetic variation
     • Selective breeding and genetic engineering
4. 4

   Evolution and Biodiversity

   3 topics

   • Theory of Evolution
     • Natural selection and adaptation
     • Evidence for evolution
   • Speciation and Diversity
     • Geographic isolation and new species
     • Importance of biodiversity
   • Genetics in Evolutionary Change
     • Variation, mutation, and gene frequency over time
5. 5

   Ecology and Human Impact

   4 topics

   • Energy Flow and Cycling
     • Food webs, trophic levels, and energy pyramids
     • Carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles
   • Population Dynamics and Interactions
     • Carrying capacity and limiting factors
     • Symbiosis, competition, and predation
   • Ecosystem Stability and Succession
     • Ecological succession
   • Human Impact on the Environment
     • Pollution, deforestation, and climate change
     • Conservation and sustainability

Living Environment (Biology Regents Examination) flashcards for New York State Regents Examinations

19 of 70 cards from the Living Environment (Biology Regents Examination) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In a controlled experiment, what is the difference between the independent variable and the dependent variable?

   The independent variable is the factor deliberately changed/manipulated by the experimenter; the dependent variable is the factor measured as the response to that change.

2. What is the purpose of a control group in a biology experiment?

   It provides a baseline for comparison by being treated identically to the experimental group except for the independent variable, so any difference in results can be attributed to that variable.

3. Why must all variables except the independent variable be kept constant in an experiment?

   So that any observed change in the dependent variable can be confidently attributed to the independent variable rather than to other (confounding) factors.

4. Why are large sample sizes and repeated trials important in experimental design?

   They reduce the effect of random error and chance, increasing the reliability and validity of the results.

5. What is a hypothesis in scientific investigation?

   A testable, proposed explanation or prediction, often stated as an 'if...then...' relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

6. On a line graph of experimental data, which axis shows the independent variable and which shows the dependent variable?

   The independent (manipulated) variable goes on the x-axis (horizontal); the dependent (responding/measured) variable goes on the y-axis (vertical).

7. When constructing a graph, what is the rule for choosing an appropriate scale for each axis?

   Choose a uniform, evenly-spaced scale that spreads the data across most of the grid, with each axis labeled and including units.

8. What does a direct (positive) relationship between two variables look like on a graph?

   As one variable increases, the other also increases; the line or trend slopes upward.

9. In the Diffusion Through a Membrane lab, what two indicators are used and what do they detect?

   Starch indicator (iodine/Lugol's solution) turns blue-black in the presence of starch, and Benedict's solution detects reducing sugar (glucose); they show which molecules cross the membrane.

10. In the Making Connections lab, what physiological response is measured before and after exercise?

    The effect of exercise (squeezing a clothespin) on muscle fatigue and pulse rate, demonstrating how the body responds to activity.

11. In the Beaks of Finches lab, what evolutionary concept is modeled?

    Natural selection and adaptation — different 'beak' tools have varying success picking up food, simulating how beak variation affects survival and competition.

12. In the Relationships and Biodiversity lab, what types of evidence are used to determine evolutionary relationships among species?

    Structural (anatomical) similarities, molecular evidence (amino acid sequences of proteins and DNA/gene similarities).

13. List the main structures found in a typical animal cell.

    Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, and other organelles (no cell wall or chloroplasts).

14. What additional structures do plant cells have that animal cells lack?

    A cell wall (cellulose), chloroplasts (for photosynthesis), and a large central vacuole.

15. What is the function of the cell (plasma) membrane?

    It is a selectively permeable boundary that controls what enters and leaves the cell, helping maintain homeostasis.

16. What is the function of mitochondria?

    They carry out cellular respiration, releasing energy from nutrients (e.g., glucose) and storing it as ATP.

17. What is the function of ribosomes?

    They are the sites of protein synthesis (translation of mRNA into proteins).

18. What is diffusion?

    The passive movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, requiring no energy from the cell.

19. What is osmosis?

    The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration.

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