Chapter 1 - A View of Life Flashcards
Biology
The scientific study of life
Evolution
is the unifying theme of biology and explains the history and diversity of life on this planet
Nature of Science
the study of science involves the processes of making observations, forming hypotheses, and conducting experiments in an attempt to understand the principles of life
Biological Systems
From communities of organisms to individual cells, all life is connected, from the smallest atom to the largest ecosystem
Paramecium
an example of a microscopic protist; larger in size and more complex than bacteria
The cell
is the basic unit of structure
Biosphere
the zone of air, land, and water where organisms exist
ecosystem
is a community plus its physical environment
community
is a collection of interacting populations within the same environment
Population
is all the members of a species within an area
organism
is formed when organ systems are joined together
organ system
organs work together to form
organs
tissues make up
tissues
similar cells combine together to form tissues
cell
molecules join to form larger molecules within
molecules
atoms combine to form
atom
the organization of life begins
energy
is required to maintain organization and conduct life-sustaining processes such as chemical reactions
metabolism
is all the chemical reactions that occur in a cell
photosynthesis
is a process that converts solar energy into the chemical energy of carbohydrates
homeostasis
is the maintenance of internal conditions within certain boundaries
genes
when organisms reproduce, they pass on copies of their genetic information to the next generation
adaption
is any modification that makes an organism better able to function in a particular environment
The theory of evolution
suggests how all living things descended from a common ancestor (Charles Darwin)
Taxonomy
is the discipline of biology that identifies, names, and classifies organisms according to certain rules
Systematics
is the study of evolutionary relationships between organisms
Domain Archaea
contains unicellular prokaryotes that live in extreme environments probably similar to the primitive - lack a membrane-bound nucleus
Domain Bacteria
contains unicellular prokaryotes that live in all environments including on our skin and in our mouths and intestines
Domain Eukarya
contains unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes - contains a membrane-bound nucleus
scientific method
is a standard series of steps used ni gaining new knowledge through research
observation
scientists use their senses to gather information about phenomena or natural event
hypothesis
is a tentative explanation for what was observed
experiment
is a series of procedures designed to test a hypothesis
experimental design
the manner in which a scientist conducts an experiment
experimental (independent) variable
a good experimental design ensures that the scientist is examining the contribution of a specific factor
test group
is exposed to the experimental variable
control group
does through all aspects of the experiment but is not exposed to the experimental variable
data
results of an experiment
Scientific Theory
concepts that join together two or more well-supported and related hypotheses
Scientific Principle/Law
widely accepted set of theories
biodiversity
is the total number and relative abundance of species, the variability of their genes, and the ecosystems in which they live
extinction
is the death of the last member of a species or larger classification category
