Chapter 1 - An Introduction to the Science of Life Flashcards
Define biology.
The scientific study of life.
List the Properties of Life and Describe Each.
1) Reproduction - All organism reproduce their own kind.
2) Growth and Development - Information carried by genes controls the pattern of growth.
3) Energy Use - Every organism takes in and expends energy.
4) Order - A complex and well-organized structure
5) Cells - Must consist of cells.
6) Response to the Environment - Must respond to changes in environment.
7) Evolution - Individuals With Traits that help them survive and reproduce pass them on to offspring.
Is a Virus Alive?
No. It neither can reproduce or is made up of cells.
What are the levels of biological organization from smallest to largest and define each?
1) Atom - The fundamental and smallest unit of matter.
2) Molecule - A group of atoms bonded together.
3) Organelle - Component of the cell that performs a specific function.
4) Cell - The fundamental unit of life.
5) Tissue - Integrated group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.
6) Organ - Multiple Tissues that cooperate to perform a specific task.
7) Organ System - A Group of Organs That Work together to perform a vital body function.
8) Organism - An individual living being.
9) Population - A group of interacting individuals of one species.
10) Community - All the interacting populations in an ecosystem.
11) Ecosystem - All the living organisms in one particular area as well as non-living components that affect life.
12) Biosphere - All Life on Earth and All the Environments that support life.
What method do scientists use to uncover explanations for phenomena?
The Scientific Method.
List and describe the steps in the Scientific Method.
1) Observation
2) Question - Comes from the Observation.
3) Hypothesis - A proposed explanation that can be investigated. Must be testable, repeatable, and falsifiable to be a strong hypothesis.
4) Experiment - Will provide measurable data that will either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
5) Results - The data gathered from the experiments.
6) Conclusion - Based on the data obtained that may lead to a revision of the hypothesis or further questions.
Define the two types of hypotheses.
1) Null Hypothesis - No connection exists.
2) Alternative Hypothesis - There is a connection that does exist.
What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?
A theory that is much more comprehensive than a hypothesis. Has not been shown to be false. And it already explains a great many observations.
What is a controlled experiment?
A test is run multiple times with one variable changing and all others held constant.
Define the independent and dependent variables in an experiment.
1) Independent Variable - The variable being manipulated as the potential cause.
2) Dependent Variable - The output being measured.
What axis do both variable go on?
Independent - X-Axis
Dependent - Y-Axis
What is a control group?
The group in the experiment that is used to establish a baseline.
Define a positive and negative control.
Positive Control - A group for which a change is expected and if no change happens it indicates a flaw in the experimental design.
Negative Control - A group for which no change is expected.
Define a single-blind and double-blind experiment.
Single-Blind - The subject doesn’t know which is which but the experimenter does.
Double-Blind - The subject and experiment does not know which is which until the end.
What is a Placebo?
A medically ineffective treatment that serves as a control group for the real drug.
