Chap 1: Evolution, Themes of Biology, & Scientific Theory (1)

Question 1

What are the 5 unifying themes of life?

Answer 1

■ Organization
■ Information
■ Energy and Matter
■ Interactions
■ Evolution

(OlI and edward in england)

Question 1

Define Evolution

Answer 1

Evolution is the process of change over time that has resulted in the astounding array of organisms found on Earth.

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

Zooming in through the levels of the biological hierarchy at ever-finer resolution illustrates an approach called reductionism.

This method is so named because it reduces complex systems to simpler components that are more manageable to study

Question 3

What are some of the properties of life?

Answer 3

• Order
• Energy processing
• Growth and development
• Evolutionary adaptation
• Response to the environment
• Regulation
• Reproduction

OGEEandthe 3 Rs

Question 4

Why is reductionism a powerful strategy? Give an example of when reductionism proved to be a powerful strategy in biology.

Answer 4

The study of individual components is more manageable.

For example, by studying the molecular structure of DNA extracted from cells, James Watson and Francis Crick inferred the chemical basis of biological inheritance.

Question 5

What are emergent properties?

Answer 5

Novel properties that were absent in the preceding levels of a system.

Question 6

What causes emergent properties, give an example.

Answer 6

Emergent properties are due to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.

For example, although photosynthesis occurs in an
intact chloroplast, it will not take place in a disorganized test tube mixture. The coordinated processes of photosynthesis require a specific organization of these molecules in the chloroplast

Question 7

Define system biology.

Answer 7

Systems biology is the exploration
of a biological system by analyzing the interactions among its parts.

Question 8

Structure and function are correlated in biology. True or false?

Answer 8

True.

Question 9

Give an example of structure and function correlating in biology.

Answer 9

For example, the hummingbird’s anatomy allows the wings to rotate at the shoulder, so hummingbirds have the ability,
unique among birds, to fly backward or hover in place.

While hovering, the birds can extend their long, slender beaks into flowers and feed on nectar.

Question 10

What are the levels of biological organization?

Answer 10

1. Biosphere
2. Ecosystems
3. Community
4. Populations
5. Organisms
6. Organs
7. Tissue
8. Cells
9. Organelles
10. Molecules

(BEC pOOT cOM)

Question 11

What is the cell theory?

Answer 11

The theory states that all living
organisms are made of cells, which are the basic unit of life.

Question 12

What is a limitation of reductionism?

Answer 12

Understanding biology requires a balance of reductionism with the study of emergent properties

Question 13

What do all cells have in common?

Answer 13

1. Every cell is enclosed by a membrane that regulates the passage of materials between the cell and its surroundings.
2. Use DNA as their genetic information

Question 14

What are the 2 forms of cells and what organisms come under them?

Answer 14

The two main forms of cells are prokaryotic and eukaryotic.

Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic. All other forms of life, including plants and animals are composed of eukaryotic cells.

Question 15

Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.

Answer 15

Eukaryotic cell:
- Contains membrane-enclosed organelles. The largest is usually the nucleus.
- Larger and more complex

Prokaryotic cell:
- Lacks nucleus and membrane-closed organelles.
- Smaller and more simple

Question 16

What structures are responsible for photosynthesis?

Answer 16

Chloroplasts.

Question 17

What happens before a cell divides?

Answer 17

Before a cell divides, the DNA is replicated, or copied, and each of the two cellular offspring inherits a complete set of chromosomes, identical to that of the parent cell.

Question 18

______ are the units of inheritance.

Answer 18

Genes.

Question 19

What is the importance of a gene?

Answer 19

They encode the information necessary to build all of the molecules synthesized within a cell, which in turn establish that cell’s identity and function.