Chapter 1

Question 1

What are the 7 characteristics in defining life?

Answer 1

1) Order
2) Ability to process energy /metabolize
3) Growth / development
4) Reproduction
5) Responsive to stimuli
6) Maintain homeostasis
7) Adaptation

Question 2

Homeostasis

Answer 2

The ability to maintain a constant internal environment.

Question 3

Homeothermic

Answer 3

Capable of regulating body temperature within a small safe temperature range.

(Seen in all mammals)

Question 4

Adaptation

Answer 4

A long term, inter-generational change due to natural selection. (Meaning there was actual alteration in genes overtime)

Ex. A species grows more fur overtime to combat the cold

Question 5

Acclimation

Answer 5

A short term response to the environment. (No changes made to the genes)

Ex. Putting on a jacket to combat the cold

Question 6

Hierarchical organization of life

Answer 6

Chemical:
Molecule-> organelle -> cell-> tissue-> organ-> organ system->

Ecological:
organism-> population-> community-> ecosystem-> biosphere

Question 7

Molecules

Answer 7

Made by atoms that combine chemically.

Four most important molecules:
1) carbohydrates
2) lipids
3) proteins
4) nucleic acids

Question 8

Organelles

Answer 8

Highly specialized structures within a cell, each containing its own specific function.

Ex. Mitochondria, lysosomes

Question 9

Cell

Answer 9

The simplest part of living matter that can carry on all the activities necessary for life.

Made up of 2 subdivisions:
1) cytoplasm
3) organelles

Question 10

Tissues

Answer 10

A group of cells that have a similar function that bond together to carry out that purpose.

Ex. Muscle tissue

Question 11

Organs

Answer 11

Many tissues that are arranged into functional structures.

Ex. Heart, stomach

Question 12

Organ systems

Answer 12

A group of organs working together to perform complex functions.

Ex. The digestive system

Question 13

Organism

Answer 13

All the organ systems functioning together to sustain life.

Question 14

Populations

Answer 14

Members of one species that live in the same area.

Question 15

Community

Answer 15

The population of organisms that inhabit a particular area and interact with one another.

(Could be compromised of hundreds of different types of lifeforms)

Question 16

Ecosystem

Answer 16

A community along with its nonliving environment.

(Could be as small as a pond, or as fast as the Great Plains)

Question 17

Biosphere

Answer 17

The planet earth which contains all of the ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Question 18

Ecology

Answer 18

The study of how organisms of a community relate to one another, and with their nonliving environment.

Question 19

Describe the flow of energy and nutrients within an ecosystem

Answer 19

Energy enters through sunlight, which then gets converted into chemical energy by plants. The chemical energy resides in producers, and can be eaten by consumers in order to carry out their functions. The energy is then converted into heat through metabolic processes, and everything decomposes and the cycle continues

Question 20

DNA

Answer 20

Stores genetic information and controls the structure and function of all cells. It also provides instructions or how to make proteins.

(Differences in DNA sequences creates diversity of life)

Question 21

Evolution

Answer 21

The gradual change in living things from one generation to the next.
(Changes in genes with the changing environment)

Question 22

Natural selection

Answer 22

1) population with varied inherited traits.
2) elimination of individuals with undesirable traits, and reproduction of individuals with traits suited for survival.
3) increase of frequency in traits that enhance survival and reproductive success

Question 23

Hypothesis

Answer 23

A testable explanation for a set of observations based on available data.

Question 24

The key steps in the process of science

Answer 24

1) Observations
2) Questions
3) Hypothesis
4) Predictions
5) Testing

Question 25

The scientific method

Answer 25

Wondering why something is the way that it is, and coming up with a hypothesis that attempts to answer the question by using tests to come to a conclusion either in support of the hypothesis or not.

Question 26

Deductive reasoning

Answer 26

The process of making predictions based on the hypothesis and then testing them.

Ex. Flashlight won’t turn on:
Hyp 1 - batteries are dead
Prediction - replacing batteries will fix it.
Hyp 2 - bulb is burnt out
Prediction - replacing bulb will fix it.

Question 27

Theory

Answer 27

A widely excepted explanation that is broader than a hypothesis. It will also generate new hypotheses, and is supported by large amount of evidence.

Question 28

Scientific principle / law

Answer 28

A theory that over a long period of time has yielded true predictions, and is universally accepted.

Question 29

The first law of thermodynamics

Answer 29

The law of energy conservation:

Energy and mass can be transformed, but there’s always the same total amount available.

i.e. Energy/matter cannot be created or destroyed.

Question 30

The second law of thermodynamics

Answer 30

The entropy law:

In all natural processes, the entropy of the world always increases.

i.e. all things tend towards maximum entropy (meaning maximum randomness.)

Question 31

What are the 2 key evolutionary observations made by Darwin?

Answer 31

1) Individuals vary and traits and traits are passed from parents to offspring.

2) A population can produce more offspring than the environment can support.

(This calls for natural selection: only those traits best suited for survival remain)

Question 32

Additive effect

Answer 32

Taking one thing that worked + another different successful result, and adding them together expecting double the success.

Question 33

Antagonistic effect

Answer 33

Taking two different successful results, but when added together, they cancel each other out .

Question 34

Synergistic effect

Answer 34

Taking two successful results, adding them together, and rather than the success doubling, it times by 10 or 20…etc. This could create something deadly since they amplified each other.