Chapter 1 Flashcards
organized way of gathering and analysing evidence about the natural world.
science
science is
provides natural explanations for events in the natural
world
uses explanations to understand patterns in nature
makes useful predictions about natural events.
process of noticing and describing events in a careful, orderly way
observation
a logical observation based on prior knowledge and experience
inference
possible explanation for a set of observation or possible answer to a scientific question.
hypothesis
an experiment in which one variable is changed
controlled experiment
factor in an experiment that is deliberately changed, also called the manipulated variable.
indep. varible
variable that is observed and changes in response to the independent variable, also called the responding variable.
dep. variable
group in the experiment that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable.
control group
evidence, information gathered from observations.
data
well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses, and enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations.
theory
a particular preference or point that is personal, rather than scientific
bias
scientific study of life
biology
genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
signal to which an organism responds.
Stimulus (stimuli)
reproduction in which two parent cells unite and form the first cell of a new organism.
sexual reproduction
process of reproduction which involves a single parent that results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.
asexual reproduction
relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain.
Homeostasis
the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials.
metabolism
part of earth in which life exists, including land, water, and air/atmosphere
biosphere
science is not
a collection of never-changing facts- science changes as facts
change
unchanging beliefs about the world- science based on evidence
not beliefs
science as a way of knowing def.
an organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence
about the natural world.
science as a way of knowing ex.
researchers use science to answer questions about how the
effects that global climate change has on the habitats of organisms in
an envionment
Some scientific “_____” will change soon—if they haven’t changed already
facts
Scientific ideas are open to
testing, discussion, and revision`
Science deals only with the _______ world.
natural
Scientists ______ and ______ information in an orderly way, looking for ______ and connections among events.
collect and organize, patterns
propose explanations that are based on ______ and
test those explanations with more ______.
evidence
science aims for the best understanding of the _____ _____ that
current methods can reveal
natural world
science builds enough __________ to make useful predictions about
the natural world.
understanding
Scientific method
Inferences & Hypothesis:
Experiment:
Analyze the Results:
Draw Conclusions:
Observations:
the act of noticing and describing events or processes
in a careful, orderly way
observation
-observations lead to
questions
Observation ex.
Researchers observed marsh grass grows taller in some
places than others.
Question ex.
Why do marsh grasses
grow to different heights in different places?
logical interpretation based on observations already
known.
inference
inference leads to
hypothesis
Testing a scientific hypothesis involves designing an experiment that
keeps track of various variables:
factors that can change
variables
*Whenever possible a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which
only 1 variable is changed
all other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled.
*Whenever possible a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which :
only 1 variable is changed
all other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled.
this type of experiment is called
controlled experiment
why should we control variables
if several variables are changed, researchers can’t easily tell which
variable is responsible for any results they observe.
(is manipulated by the scientist) on x-axis
independent variable
(responds to the independent variable) on y axis
dependent variable
exposed to the independent variable.
experimental group
is not exposed to the independent variable
control group
scientists (when relating to data)
record experimental observations
gather quantitative data and qualitative information/data
numbers obtained by
counting or measuring
quantitative data
quantitative data ex.
In the marsh grass experiment, it could include the number of plants per plot, plant sizes, and growth rates.
descriptive and
involve characteristics that cannot
usually be counted
qualitative data
qualitative data characteristics
color, scent, flavor, prickly/smooth, foreign objects in the plots, or whether the grass was growing upright or sideways.
tools for scientists
metersticks, microscopes, graduated cylinders, probes, models,
computers, etc
help scientists organize their data.
charts and graphs
sources of error examples
Researchers must be careful to avoid errors in data collection and
analysis.
Tools used can have limited accuracy.
The larger the sample size the more reliably researchers can analyze
variation and evaluate differences between experimental and control
groups.
Scientists use experimental data as:
evidence to support, refute or revise the hypothesis and draw a valid
conclusion.
may caused original hypothesis to be revised and experiments redone several times before a final hypothesis is supported and conclusions can be drawn because it is a process.
new data
Science is intensely _____
social
Researchers share and publish
data
Driven by
cooperation and competition
times when experiments are not possible
Ethics prevents certain types of experiments—especially on
human subjects.
What can scientists do when experiments are not possible
In some of these cases, researchers devise hypotheses that
can be tested by observations in different ways.
Ex. when experiments are not possible
Animal behavior difficult to study so how animal groups
interact in the wild can be studied by making field observations
that disturb the animals as little as possible.
what do biologists study
study life from the molecular level to the
biosphere level.
community of living things plus the
nonliving features of the environment that support them
ecosystems
living things
organisms
basic unit of living matter; separated from its
environment by a plasma membrane
Tissues, Organs, Organ systems
Cells:
unit of inherited information in DNA
genes
molecule responsible for inheritance; nucleic acid that
contains the sugar deoxyribose
DNA
populations that live together in a defined area
community
group of organisms that live in the same area
population
smallest functional unit of life
cells
groups of atoms, smallest unit of most chemical compounds
molecules
taxa - broadest to most specific
Domain
Kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species
3 domains of life
bacteria, eukaryota, archaea
Mostly unicellular
prokaryotic
Domains Archaea and Domain Bacteria
mostly multicellular
eukaryotic
includes protists, fungi, plants, and animals
Domain Eukarya
the heart of science.
Scientific methodology
operate in the context of the
scientific community and society at large.
Science and scientists
Scientific methodology is
closely linked to
exploration and discovery
Scientific methodology starts
with _________ and
questions and may be
inspired in several ways.
observations
Which scientific attitudes help generate new ideas?
Curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, creativity
Often, results from previous studies also spark curiosity
and lead to new questions.
Curiosity
Questioning existing ideas and hypotheses, and refusing to
accept explanations without evidence. So design new
experiments to be tested.
skepticism
means that they are willing to
accept different ideas that may not agree with
their hypothesis
open-mindedness
Researchers need to think creatively to
design experiments that yield accurate
data.
creativity
ideas for scientific investigations arise from _______
_________ which inspires scientific questions, hypotheses, and
experiments.
practical
practical problems example
people living on a strip of land along a coast may face flooding and
other problems. How can flooding be prevented in coastal homes?
__________,__________,and ________ are closely linked.
Technology, science, and society are closely linked.
Discoveries in fields of science may lead to
Discoveries in fields of science may lead to new technologies enabling
new questions or gathering data in new ways in other fields of science.
Technological advances can also affect .
daily life
tech advances ex.
In genetics and biotechnology, substances can now be
mass-produced—such as vitamins, antibiotics, and hormones.
Why is peer review important?
Publishing peer-reviewed articles in scientific
journals allows researchers to share ideas and to
test and evaluate each other’s work.
Scientists communicate their findings
by
publishing articles that have
undergone peer review by anonymous,
independent experts to ensure high
quality.
reviewers
read them looking for:
oversights,
unfair influences,
fraud,
mistakes in techniques or reasoning.
Logical and important questions lead to
new hypotheses that should
be tested by controlled experiments.
example to tested hypothesis
Ex. Limitation of growth of salt marsh grasses by available nitrogen
suggests that nitrogen might be a limiting nutrient for mangroves and
other plants in similar habitats.
well-tested explanation that unifies a
broad range of observations and hypotheses and
enables scientists to make accurate predictions about
new situations.
scientific theroy
theory facts
no theory is considered absolute truth
as new evidence is uncovered, a theory may be revised or
replaced
theories become the dominant view among most scientists
What is the relationship between science and society?
Using science involves understanding its context in society and its
limitations.
Many questions that affect our lives require _______ _______ to
answer, and may inspire important research but the questions cannot
be answered by science alone.
scientific information
involve the society in which we live, our economy,
and our laws and moral principles.
scientific questions
sf question
researchers test shellfish for toxins that can poison humans.
Should shellfish be routinely screened for toxins?
does not include
ethical or moral viewpoints therefore
involves only explaining natural
phenomena.
pure science
can tell us how technology
and scientific knowledge can be
applied, but not whether it should be
applied in certain ways.
science
Science aims to be ______, but sometimes scientific data can be
misinterpreted or misapplied by scientists who want to prove a particular
point.
objective
Don’t just memorize scientific facts and ideas.
Try to ________ how scientists developed those ideas and the
thinking behind the experiments therefore we should try to pose the
kinds of questions scientists ask.
understand
Scientists make about big public policy decisions, but voting citizens influence public policy by casting ballots.
recommendations
What 8 characteristics do all living
things share?
are made of basic units called cells
are based on a universal genetic code
(DNA)
obtain and use materials and energy
grow and develop
reproduce
respond to their environment
maintain a stable internal environment
change over time
No single __________ is enough to describe a
living thing
characteristic
Some non-living things also share ______ ___ _______
traits with organisms.
one or more
are the the smallest units considered fully
alive.
cells
cells are complex and and can be arranged into
levels of
organization
cell order
cells- tissues- organs—organ systems- organism
(the _______ ________ copied and passed from parent to offspring and is
almost identical in every organism on Earth)
(the genetic codeis copied and passed from parent to offspring and is
almost identical in every organism on Earth)
chemical reactions that occur when
building and breaking down molecules
metabolism
the initial source of energy for all life
the sun
a metabolic reaction in which the sun’s energy is
harnessed to make food for all other life
photosynthesis
another metabolic reaction in which ingested
food is broken down to produce energy in the form of ATP
cellular respiration
During development, a single fertilized ____ divides.
egg
As these cells divide, they ________, which means they begin to
become different from one another in structure and function.
differentiate
As cells increase in number the organism grows ______
larger.
organisms produce ________.
offspring
Most plants and animals engage in ______ _________, in which cells from two parents unite to
form the first cell of a new organism.
flexual
reproduction
Some organisms reproduce _______
in which an organism produces an offspring by itself
asexually
Organisims React to changes , aka ______ , in their surroundings
stimuli
a signal to which an organism responds
such as light, sound, etc
stimuli
stimuli ex.
some plants produce unsavory chemicals to
ward off caterpillars that feed on their leaves.
All living organisms expend
energy to keep conditions inside their cells within
certain limits even though external conditions
change dramatically.
homeostasis
homeostasis ex.
temperature changes as we get hot vs cold
Over generations, groups of organisms (species)
______, or change slowly over time.
evolve
Evolutionary change links all forms of life to a
common origin more than ___ billion years ago.
3.5
Evidence of this shared history is found in all aspects
of organisms as evidenced by
fossils, physical
features, structures of proteins, sequences of
information in DNA.
central theme of bio
The interlocking big ideas that the study of biology revolves around,
some of which overlap with the characteristics of life
Living things like bacteria, protists, and fungi that are made of one
cell are called
unicellular
Living things are made of
cells
Plants and animals with many cells are called
multicellular
Cells
in multicellular organisms differentiate as evidenced by many their
different _____,_______,and _________.
sizes, shapes, and functions
Cell theory: 3 parts
The basic unit of structure and function in all living things.
All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
Cells come from existing cells.
Living things are based on a
universal genetic code (DNA).
The DNA inside your cells can influence your future—including your
genetic diseases and conditions (cancer, cholesterol, etc) and the traits
of your children.
Life requires
Life requires matter that serves as nutrients to build body structures,
and energy that fuels life’s processes.
Some organisms, such as plants, obtain energy from sunlight and take
up nutrients from ___,_____,and ______l.
air, water, and soil.
Other organisms, including most animals, ____ plants or other animals
to obtain both nutrients and energy.
eat
The need for matter and energy link all living things on Earth in a web
of interdependent relationships.
(food web and energy pyramid)
All living things ________. Newly produced individuals grow and
develop as they mature.
reproduce
During growth and development, generalized cells typically
differentiate and become specialized for particular functions.
specialized cells
tissues, such as brains, muscles, and
digestive organs, that serve various functions.
Living things maintain a relatively stable
internal environment
For most organisms, any breakdown of homeostasis may have
serious or even fatal consequences.
diabetes, osteoporosis, etc
the central organizing principle of all
biological and biomedical sciences.
evolutionary theory
use structures that have evolved into different forms as
species have adapted to life in different environments.
organisims
Each major group of organisms has evolved its own collection of
________ that have evolved in ways that make particular functions
possible.
structures
Yet, all living things are
fundamentally similar at the _______ level.
molecular
All organisms are
composed of a common set of carbon-based
molecules, store information in a common genetic code, and use
proteins to build their structures and carry out their functions.
All forms of life on Earth are connected into a _______, or “living
planet.”
biosphere
Within the biosphere, organisms are linked to one another and to the
land, water, and air
Relationships between organisms and their environments depend on
the cycling of matter and the flow of energy.
The job of science is to
use observations, questions, and experiments to explain the natural world in terms of natural forces and events.
Successful scientific research
reveals
rules and patterns that can
explain and predict at least some
events in nature.
How do different fields of biology differ in their approach to
studying life?
Biology includes many overlapping fields that use different tools
to study life from the level of molecules to the entire planet.
Life on Earth is shaped by
weather patterns and processes in the
atmosphere that we are just beginning to understand.
Activities of living organisms—including humans—profoundly affect
atmosphere and climate
enabling us to learn about our global
impact, which affects all life on Earth.
global ecological studies
ex. of global eco study
Ex. an ecologist may monitor lichens in a forest in efforts to study
the effects of air pollution on forest health.
based on our ability to “edit” and rewrite the genetic
code.
biotechnology
We may soon learn to correct or replace damaged _____ that cause
inherited diseases or genetically engineer bacteria to clean up toxic
wastes.
genes
biotechnology
raises enormous ethical, legal, and social questions.
About __ million different kinds of living organisms have been
researched and catalogued.
1.8
Somewhere between _ and ____ million more forms of life are yet to
be discovered.
2-100 mil
biologists combine the latest genetic information with computer
technology to organize all living things into a
tree of life
The relationships between hosts and pathogens are
dynamic and constantly changing
Organisms that cause human disease have their own ______,
which involves our bodies, medicines we take, and our interactions
with each other and the environment. Understanding these
interactions is crucial to safeguarding our future.
ecology
ex. of disease
Ex a wildlife biologist studies a group of wild gelada baboons.
Pathogens in wild animal populations may evolve to infect
humans.
Both of these fields focus on studies of DNA and other molecules
inside cells.
Genomics and Molecular Biology
enable researchers to compare vast
databases of genetic information in search of keys to the mysteries
of growth, development, aging, cancer, and the history of life on
Earth.
Computer analyses
How is the metric system important in science?
Most scientists use the metric system when collecting data and
performing experiments.
