Biology Chapter 1 Flashcards
1st Law of Thermodynamics
states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed: it can only be transformed from one form into another. Total energy is constant, but the form of that energy can change
Entropy
Physicists quantify the amount of disorder in a system
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
states that the degree of disorder in the universe tends to increase.
Cell
simplest entity that can exist as an independent unit of life
Nucleic Acids
store and transmit information needed for growth, function, and reproduction. {1st essential feature}
Proteins
structural and functional molecules that do the work of the cell
RNA
a copy that proteins make of DNA’s info, it is a closely related molecule (ribonucleic acid)
Transcription
synthesis of RNA from a DNA template
Translation
converts information stored in the language of nucleic acids to information in the language of proteins
central dogma
the basic flow of information in a cell, it constitutes a fundamental principle in Biology
Gene
specific stretches or segments of DNA according to the proteins that they encode
Plasma Membrane
2nd essential feature, separates the living material within the cell from the non living environment around it. (controls movement into and out of the cell)
Nucleus
houses the cells DNA
cytoplasm
everything but the nucleus,
Prokaryotes
cells without a nucleus
Eukaryotes
cells with a nucleus
Bacteria
Prokaryote, lack a nucleus
Archaea
Prokaryote, lack a nucleus (single celled flourish in hostile conditions)
Eukarya
Eukaryote
ATP
chemical form energy is stored in. (adenosine triphosphate)
Metabolism
chemical rx that cells use to convert energy from one form to another and to build and break down molecules
Mutation
errors in DNA can, and do, occur during the process of replication, and environmental insults can damage DNA.
3 Essential features of cells
- the capacity to store and transmit information
- a membrane that selectively controls movement in and out
- ability to harness energy from the environment
Evolution
change over time
Natural selection
variation with a population of organisms, and when that variation can be inherited, the variants best suited for growth and reproduction in a given environment will contribute disproportionately to the next generation
Environmental Variation
variation among individuals is sometimes due to differences in the environment
genetic variation
the other main cause of variation among individuals is differences in the genes that are transmitted from parents to their offspring
All cells require an archive of information.
A membrane to maintain the inside of the cell different from the outside.
The ability to harness energy from the environment
123
Which one of the following statements about hypotheses is incorrect?
Hypotheses that provide reasonable explanations do not need to be tested.
In Pasteur’s experiment showing that living organisms arise from other living organisms, which one of the following statements most accurately describes Pasteur’s hypothesis?
If microbes arise from non-living matter, they should appear spontaneously in sterile broth.
Given the high degree of “order” living organisms demonstrate, the second law of thermodynamics can never be applied to life.
false
Which one of the following statements about the laws of thermodynamics is incorrect?
- Highly organized living organisms like animal cells are exceptions to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
- The addition of energy increases the disorder of a system.
- In order to comply with the First Law of Thermodynamics, the conversion of energy from one form to another in biological reactions is 100% efficient.
Imagine that a researcher claimed to have created a genetically modified plant that produces twice as much energy as it harnesses from its environment. How is this possible?
This is not possible because such a plant would violate the second law of thermodynamics.
As you will learn in later chapters (Chapter 25), a trophic pyramid depicts the transfer of energy between different organisms (i.e., plants, herbivores, and carnivores). Based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, which of the following is likely true of a trophic pyramid?
Plants harness more energy from the sun compared to an herbivore eating plants, and an herbivore gains more energy from eating plants compared to a carnivore eating meat.
The language of nucleic acids is converted to the language of amino acids during the process known as _______________.
translation
You have discovered a new species of prokaryote in a deepsea thermal vent. Without any further characterization, which one of the following statements could you make about this species with a high degree of certainty?
- These organisms store their genetic information in a compartment called a nucleus.
- Information in DNA is translated into RNA and then transcribed into protein.
- The organisms are from the domain Archaea.
- Information in RNA is transcribed into DNA and then translated into protein.
In the scientific method, hypotheses lead most directly to
predictions
Theories typically rely on a single hypothesis tested several times; theories do not take into consideration multiple hypotheses.
false
One of your friends is arguing that—of course—viruses are “alive.” What information would you provide to convince him that viruses can’t be considered a “unit of life”?
Viruses cannot carry out metabolic reactions.
Given that archaeons and bacteria are both prokaryotes, how can archaeons and eukaryotes be more closely related than bacteria and archaeons?
Archaeons and eukaryotes likely have more similar genetic sequences compared to bacteria and archaeons.
The sum of all chemical reactions in a cell that are required to sustain life is referred to as_______________.
metabolism
Organisms from all classifications of life are composed of cells.
true
A boy observes a robin outside of his window. He notices the robin repeatedly cocks its head to one side before pecking the ground. The boy suspects that when the robin cocks its head it is actually listening for worms or insects underground. If the boy notes that a single robin routinely catches a worm after cocking its head, would this observation prove his hypothesis to be correct?
No, this observation would only support the boy’s hypothesis, but not prove it.
A doctor suspects one of his patients has melanoma. He takes a very small biopsy—about 2mm—from a suspicious mole. This biopsy would only contain about 10 cells, and would make subsequent analyses very difficult.
false
Which one of the following represents the flow of information as described by the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
Information in DNA is transcribed into RNA and then translated into protein.
Though Archaea resemble members of the domain Bacteria structurally, they are actually more closely related to members of the domain ________.
Eukarya
The strongest evidence that a meteor impact is responsible for dinosaurs becoming extinct is provided by:
the presence of significant levels of iridium in the rock layers corresponding to the time of dinosaur extinction
Which one of the following entities does not possess the ability to synthesize its own proteins?
a viral particle
A boy observes a robin outside of his window. He notices the robin repeatedly cocks its head to one side before pecking the ground. The boy suspects that when the robin cocks its head it is actually listening for worms or insects underground. How could the boy test his hypothesis about robins and worms?
He could count how many times a single robin catches a worm after it cocks its head and pecks the ground.
He could catch a robin and place it in an enclosure without worms or insects, and observe whether the robin still cocks its head.
He could observe several robins, and see if they all exhibit the same head-cocking and worm-catching behavior.
You have learned that mutations can occur in DNA sequences. Are all mutations deadly?
No, some mutations can be beneficial.
