Biology Test Content ETS Major Field Test – 150 Questions

Analytic Skills Overlapping

9 Analytic Skills Hypothesis Testing Limitations of Science Inductive Reasoning 1 Biochemistry and Cell Energetics Biochemical Compounds and Macromolecules; 1,2 laws of thermodynamics; enzyme activity and regulation, ATP and energy-producing pathways; post-translational modification, transmembrane insertion and sorting of proteins; cell-cell communication 2 Cellular Structure, Organization, and Function Organelles; cytoskeleton, cell motility; cell surfaces, membrane function; extracellular space; cell theory and germ theory; distinctions among archaebacteria, eubacteria, euakaryotic cells; cell growth, cell cycle, mitosis, cytokinesis 3 Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics Molecular Genetics: DNA replication, mutation; gene structure, introns, exons; regulation of gene expression; RNA transcription and modification; translation of mRNA; bacteriophages and viruses; control of normal development; cancer; molecular aspects of immunology; genetic engineering Heredity: Meiosis, chromosomal alterations; models of inheritance; probability and pedigree analysis; segregation, recombination, chromosome mapping; polyploidy, aneuploidy; sex determination; non- Mendelian inheritance; prokaryote genetics 4 Diversity Organisms Phylogenetic relationships, classification, morphology, life histories and general biology of bacteria and acheaea, protists, fungi, plants and animals; origin of life and endosymbiont theory; fossil record and human evolution; systematic and molecular phylogeny; adaptations of organisms to habitats 5 Organismal/Animals Organ Systems (vertebrates/invertebrates)- comparative structure, function, organization: digestion, nutrition, excretion, osmoregulation, gas exchange, ventilation, circulatory systems, support and movement, nervous and endocrine systems, integument, immune system, metabolic rates and energy Animal Reproduction, Growth, and Development: reproductive structures and gametogenesis; fertilization, cleavage and gastrulation; comparative embryology; reproduction in nonchordate animals 6 Organismal/Plants Plant Organ Systems (seed plants and nonseed plants) comparative structures, function, and organization; roots, stems, leaves; plant energetics; water relations; mineral nutrition; translocation and storage; hormones, photoperiods and tropisms; nonphotosynthetic strategies Plant Reproduction, Development, Growth reproductive structures, gametogenesis, sporogenesis; fertilization, alternation of generations; embryogeny, germination; meristems and growth 7 Population Genetics and Evolution Population Genetics and Natural Selection: Genetic Variability and polyploidy; Distributions of genetic variability; Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium and genetic drift; heritability, fitness, adaptation Patterns of Evolution: Modes of speciation; isolating mechanisms, convergence; divergence and adaptive radiation; extinction, evidence for higher taxa punctuated equilibrium; neutral mutations, coevolution; molecular evolution; rates Environmental Factors Biogeographic and temporal patterns, biomes, and climates 8 Ecology Population Ecology – Habitat Selection, tolerances, limiting factors, resource acquisition; demography and population dynamics Community Ecology – Competition, predation, parasitism symbiosis; community structure, niche, richness & species diversity, introduced species Ecosystems – Energy flow, biochemical cycling and decomposition; food webs; productivity Human Impacts – Human demography; resource depletion, pollution, diseases; economic botany; habitat modification