Biology: Cells, Human Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology
Cell biology and transport
Prokaryotes (bacteria) have no membrane-bound nucleus; eukaryotes have a nucleus plus organelles. Know the jobs: mitochondria produce ATP, chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis (plants only), ribosomes build proteins (present in both cell types), rough ER and Golgi process and package proteins, lysosomes digest. Membrane transport: diffusion moves solute from high to low concentration; osmosis moves water across a semipermeable membrane toward the side with more solute; active transport burns ATP (for example the sodium-potassium pump).
Human anatomy and physiology
Trace blood: the right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery; the left side pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta. Arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins carry it back. Alveoli are the gas-exchange surface, villi in the small intestine absorb nutrients, and nephrons filter blood. In the neuron, dendrites receive, the axon conducts, and neurotransmitter crosses the synapse.
Genetics and microbiology
DNA is transcribed to mRNA, then translated into protein. Mitosis gives two identical diploid cells; meiosis gives four haploid gametes. Bacteria are living prokaryotes and respond to antibiotics; viruses are not cells and antibiotics do nothing to them.
Traps to expect
Arteries are not always oxygenated (the pulmonary artery is not), dominance does not mean an allele is more common, and the question may ask for genotype ratios (1:2:1) when you habitually recall phenotype ratios (3:1).
Worked example
Cross Aa x Aa. Each parent gives A or a with probability 1/2, so offspring are 1 AA : 2 Aa : 1 aa. Phenotypes are 3 dominant : 1 recessive, so the chance of a recessive child is 1/4 (25 percent).