2.1 Biology: The Study Of Living Things

Question 1

Biological Hierarchy

Answer 1

Atom
Molecule
Cell organelles
Cell
Tissue
Organ
System of organs
Organism
Population
Biocenoses
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere

Question 2

Emergent properties

Answer 2

Properties that are observed at a level of hierarchy that are not present in the preceding level of hierarchy.

Question 3

Systems biology

Answer 3

The study of organisms and how they interact with their environment and other organisms as well as how a change in one part affects another.

Question 4

Three domains of life

Answer 4

Bacteria

Archaea

Eukarya

Question 5

Phylogenic tree of life

Answer 5

Visual representation of the three domains

Question 6

Source of diversity

Answer 6

Evolution

Question 7

Key to species’ survival

Answer 7

Adaptation

Question 8

Steps of the scientific method

Answer 8

1. Make Observations
2. Ask Questions
3. Formulate a Hypothesis
4. Develop a Prediction (if/then)
5. Design the Experiment
6. Conduct the Experiment
7. Analyze Data, Draw Conclusions, Report Results

Question 9

Observation

Answer 9

Describes a phenomenon

Question 10

Inference

Answer 10

A conclusion reached from previous experience or understanding

Question 11

Control group

Answer 11

• not exposed to the manipulated or independent variable
• exposed to the same controlled variables as as the experimental group

Question 12

Experimental group

Answer 12

• exposed to manipulated or independent variable

Question 13

Controlled variable

Answer 13

Factors or conditions in an experiment that don’t change

Question 14

Independent variable

Answer 14

AKA manipulated variable

Variable that differs between control and experimental group

There should only be one independent variable at one time

Question 15

Hypothesis

Answer 15

Proposed explanation for a phenomenon or problem being studied.

Identifies the independent variable and a possible outcome (dependent variable)

Question 16

Responding variable

Answer 16

AKA dependent variable

Result of the change in the experimental group due to the manipulated variable

Question 17

Null hypothesis

Answer 17

First to be tested

Question 18

Alternative hypotheses

Answer 18

Offer options if the null hypothesis is rejected

Question 19

Prediction

Answer 19

Written as if/then statement. If hypothesis is supported then the prediction will be true.

Bridge between hypothesis and the experiment.

Question 20

Deductive reasoning

Answer 20

Predicts a very specific answer from a very general observation

Question 21

Inductive reasoning

Answer 21

Draws broader conclusions from a very specific observation

Question 22

Procedure (scientific method)

Answer 22

Step-by-step directions for an experiment and what materials will be used.

Question 23

Scientific paper

Answer 23

Peer-reviewed primary literature in a given field.

Question 24

Secondary literature

Answer 24

Interpreted and simplified conclusions based on primary literature.

Accessible to the general public through scientific magazines such as “Scientific American” “National Geographic” “Discover” “Popular Science”

Primary literature source typically provided

Question 25

Tertiary literature

Answer 25

Distillation of info from secondary lit with some primary lit thrown in

Summaries or summaries of summaries based on others’ scientific work such as textbooks, internet, videos, blogs, podcasts

Good for general info but may contain opinions and inaccurate interpretations

Question 26

Primary literature

Answer 26

Publishing of conclusions directly from the use of the scientific method

Published in scientific journals and peer-reviewed

Question 27

Scientific theory

Answer 27

Widely accepted and thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for a set of observations or phenomena that hasn’t been disproved

Developed from a well-tested hypothesis

The foundation of scientific knowledge

Question 28

Scientific law

Answer 28

Describe how elements of nature will behave under certain specific conditions.

Proven to always be true

Often expressed as mathematical formulas

Don’t offer explanations