Chapter 1 Flashcards
Biology is…
…the scientific study of life
Unifying themes of life:
-Organization (cells)
-Information: hereditary (genetic) info response to environmental info & homeostasis
-Energy (metabolism) and matter
like photosynthesis & cellular respiration
-Interactions (btwn components that make up living organisms that are crucial to smooth operation) & (btwn organisms) & (btwn organisms & physical environment)
-Evolution: Change in characteristics of a species over time
Hierarchy of life
Biosphere > ecosystems > communities > population > organisms > organs > tissues > cells > organelles > molecules
Biosphere?
Global ecosystem/sum of all planet’s ecosystems
Ecosystem?
The community of organisms in an area
Community?
Group of populations of DIFFERENT species in an area
Population?
A group of individuals of the SAME species in an area
Reductionism is…
…an approach that reduces complex systems to simple components that are manageable to study
Cell
The smallest unit of organization that can perform all activities required for life
They’re enclosed by a membrane that regulates passage of materials btwn cell & environment
Domains of organisms (3)
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
What kingdoms does Eukarya include?
Plantae, fungi, animalia, protists (eukaryotic organisms that aren’t animals/fungi)
The two domains that share a common ancestor are…
…Archaea & Eukarya
The scientific explanation for both the unity and diversity of organisms is…
…evolution (the concept that living organisms are modified descendants of common ancestors)
___ is the universal genetic language common to all organisms
DNA
Unity is evident in the ________ of different animals
…similar skeletons…
