1. Select a molecule. List the atoms that that molecule is composed of and describe the type of bond that holds those atoms together. Be sure to explain how this bond works.

2. Often, prokaryotic cells exist as simple unicellular organisms, but in some species, prokaryotic cells can grow together in colonies or filaments. In addition, some species, such as Cynaobacteria or Myxobacteria, demonstrate intercellular communication, or might even produce specialized cells and structures. However, only eukaryotic cells form the bodies of multicellular organisms with complex internal specialization. Develop one or two hypotheses explaining why only eukaryotic cells are found in multicellular organisms.

3. Today, scientific advances are being made at an astounding rate, and nowhere is this more evident than in our understanding of the biology of heredity. Using DNA as a starting point, do you believe there are limits to the knowledge people should acquire? Defend your answer.

Because genetics is important to so many aspects of human behavior, defense attorneys might consider using a defendant’s genetic constitution as a strategy to excuse criminal behavior. Take one of the two sides listed below:
Present an argument about why a defendant’s genes should be considered as a factor in the criminal behavior.
Present an argument about why a defendant’s genes do not excuse criminal behavior.

4. Argue for or against the statement, “Viruses are alive.” The internal structure of many protists is much more complex than that of cells of multicelluar organisms. Does this mean that the protist is engaged in more complex activities than the multicellular organism? If not, why should the protistan cell be much more complicated?

5.You are a geneticist working for a firm that specializes in plant biotechnology. Explain what specific parts (fruit, seeds, stems, roots, etc.) of the following plants you would try to alter by genetic engineering, what changes you would try to make, and why, on a) corn, b) tomatoes, c) wheat, and d) avocados.

Only a few hundred of the hundreds of thousands of species in the plant kingdom have been domesticated for human use. One example is the almond. The domestic almond is nutritious and harmless, but its wild precursor can cause cyanide poisoning. The oak makes potentially nutritious seeds (acorns) that contain very bitter-tasting tannins. If we could breed the tannin out of acorns, they might become a delicacy. Why do you suppose we have failed to domesticate oaks?