2.1 Biology: The Study Of Living Things Flashcards
Biological Hierarchy
Atom
Molecule
Cell organelles
Cell
Tissue
Organ
System of organs
Organism
Population
Biocenoses
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Emergent properties
Properties that are observed at a level of hierarchy that are not present in the preceding level of hierarchy.
Systems biology
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.
Three domains of life
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukarya
Phylogenic tree of life
Visual representation of the three domains
Source of diversity
Evolution
Key to species’ survival
Adaptation
Steps of the scientific method
- Make Observations
- Ask Questions
- Formulate a Hypothesis
- Develop a Prediction (if/then)
- Design the Experiment
- Conduct the Experiment
- Analyze Data, Draw Conclusions, Report Results
Observation
Describes a phenomenon
Inference
A conclusion reached from previous experience or understanding
Control group
- not exposed to the manipulated or independent variable
- exposed to the same controlled variables as as the experimental group
Experimental group
- exposed to manipulated or independent variable
Controlled variable
Factors or conditions in an experiment that don’t change
Independent variable
AKA manipulated variable
Variable that differs between control and experimental group
There should only be one independent variable at one time
Hypothesis
Proposed explanation for a phenomenon or problem being studied.
Identifies the independent variable and a possible outcome (dependent variable)
Responding variable
AKA dependent variable
Result of the change in the experimental group due to the manipulated variable
Null hypothesis
First to be tested
Alternative hypotheses
Offer options if the null hypothesis is rejected
Prediction
Written as if/then statement. If hypothesis is supported then the prediction will be true.
Bridge between hypothesis and the experiment.
Deductive reasoning
Predicts a very specific answer from a very general observation
Inductive reasoning
Draws broader conclusions from a very specific observation
Procedure (scientific method)
Step-by-step directions for an experiment and what materials will be used.
Scientific paper
Peer-reviewed primary literature in a given field.
Secondary literature
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
Tertiary literature
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
Primary literature
Publishing of conclusions directly from the use of the scientific method
Published in scientific journals and peer-reviewed
Scientific theory
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
Scientific law
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
