Ch. 1: Intro To Biology

Question 1

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Answer 1

The Law of Conservation of Energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system

Question 2

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

Answer 2

Entropy Law: the entropy of any isolated system always increases

Question 3

What are the 7 characteristics (more like suggestions) of life?

Answer 3

1. Living things are organized
2. Living things metabolize (use energy to do work)
3. Living things have cells
4. Living things pursue homeostasis (maintain a stable condition)
5. Living things sense and respond to external environment
6. Living things use the four molecules of life: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids (RNA, DNA)
7. Living things can reproduce, grow, develop, and evolve

Question 4

What are the three domains of life?

Answer 4

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota

Question 5

What domain are viruses in?

Answer 5

They aren’t; there is still a debate whether or not they are alive; they are classified on their own.

Question 6

What is a eukaryote?

Answer 6

Eukaryotes have organelles (including the nucleus); they are often multi-cellular organisms

Question 7

What is a prokaryote?

Answer 7

Single-celled organisms with no organelles or real nucleus

Question 8

What are the differences between Archae and Bacteria?

Answer 8

Unlike bacteria, archae (1) have introns (spots of DNA that don’t get translated); (2) have RNA polymerase (makes RNA), like eukaryotes do; and (3) have histones (“balls” around which DNA gets wrapped) to organize DNA

Question 9

How did photosynthesis change the world?

Answer 9

• Created the ozone layer, which made the land habitable
• Destroyed the organisms that could not handle the oxygen buildup
• Opened up the avenues of aerobic respiration

Question 10

What Phyla are associated with Kingdom Protista (unicellular eukaryotes)? What organisms are in them?

Answer 10

Algae – precursors to plants
Slime molds – precursors to fungi
Protezoa – precursors to animals

Question 11

Conventions for names of species

Answer 11

Binomial
Genus part is capitalized
Must be underlined (broken between words) or italicized.
Example: Homo sapiens

Question 12

For animals what are the taxonomic categories?

Answer 12

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 13

For plants what are the taxonomic categories?

Answer 13

Domain
Kingdom
Division
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 14

My taxonomic mnemonic:

Answer 14

Dom, King Phylum Classically Orders Families from Genus to Species

Question 15

What are the 5-6 steps of the scientific method? (SIMPLIFIED)

Answer 15

1. Observe
2. Speculate
3. Hypothesize
4. Predict
5. Experiment
6. Evaluate

Question 16

What are the 5-6 steps of the scientific method? (LEGIT)

Answer 16

1. Make observations
2. Speculate, ask a question
3. Form a hypothesis to answer the question
4. Make a prediction: what else would be true if your hypothesis is correct?
5. Design and conduct an experiment that uses quantifiable data to test your prediction
6. Use statistical tests to evaluate the significance of your results; decide what’s next

Question 17

What is inductive logic?

Answer 17

Reasoning that takes specific information and makes a broader generallization that is considered probable, allowing for the fact that the conclusion may not be accurate

Question 18

What is deductive logic?

Answer 18

Used to predict what facts would also have to be true to be compatible with the hypothesis/premise

Question 19

Is the following statement inductive or deductive reasoning?
The sun has risen every morning throughout history; therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Answer 19

Inductive; “The … history” is a true statement, which is broadened to assume “therefore…tomorrow”.

Question 20

Is the following statement inductive or deductive?
All mammals have lungs; dolphins are mammals; therefore, dolphins have lungs.

Answer 20

Deductive; it takes two premises (statements that are assumed to be valid and true) and draws a conclusion that could not be false while the premises are true. (If all mammals have lungs, and dolphins are mammals, dolphins have to have lungs.)

Question 21

What is the independent variable?

Answer 21

The variable being manipulated/controlled

Question 22

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 22

the response/variable that is being measured

Question 23

What is a negative control?

Answer 23

An unmanipulated group

Question 24

What is a positive control?

Answer 24

A group that is manipulated with something whose effects are already known (so you know what to expect)

Question 25

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 25

A reverse hypothesis; a statement the experimenter hopes to disprove

Question 26

What is a model system?

Answer 26

Using one type of organism to understand others