Chapter 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

Question 1

Biology

Answer 1

The scientific study of life.

Question 2

Bioinformatics

Answer 2

The use of computers, software, and mathematical models to process and integrate biological information from large data sets.

Question 3

Prokaryotic cell

Answer 3

A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea) are called prokaryotes.

Question 4

Prediction

Answer 4

In deductive reasoning, a forecast that follows logically from a hypothesis. By testing predictions, experiments may allow certain hypotheses to be rejected.

Question 5

Climate change

Answer 5

A directional change in temperature, precipitation, or other aspect of the global climate that lasts for three decades or more.

Question 6

DNA

Answer 6

A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double-stranded helix, in which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of a cell’s proteins.

Question 7

Emergent properties

Answer 7

New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.

Question 8

Data

Answer 8

Recorded observations.

Question 9

Organisms

Answer 9

An individual living thing, consisting of one or more cells.

Question 10

Control group

Answer 10

In a controlled experiment, a set of subjects that lacks (or does not receive) the specific factor being tested. Ideally, the control group is identical to the experimental group in other respects.

Question 11

Genomics

Answer 11

The systematic study of whole sets of genes (or other DNA) and their interactions within a species, as well as genome comparisons between species.

Question 12

Controlled experiment

Answer 12

An experiment designed to compare an experimental group with a control group; ideally, the two groups differ only in the factor being tested.

Question 13

Eukarya

Answer 13

The domain that includes all eukaryotic organisms.

Question 14

Inductive reasoning

Answer 14

A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations.

Question 15

Evolution

Answer 15

Descent with modification; the process by which species accumulate differences from their ancestors as they adapt to different environments over time; also defined as a change in the genetic composition of a population from generation to generation.

Question 16

Eukaryotic cell

Answer 16

A type of cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with eukaryotic cells (protists, plants, fungi, and animals) are called eukaryotes.

Question 17

Genes

Answer 17

A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses).

Question 18

Deductive reasoning

Answer 18

A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise.

Question 19

Experiment

Answer 19

A scientific test. Often carried out under controlled conditions that involve manipulating one factor in a system in order to see the effects of changing that factor.

Question 20

Proteome

Answer 20

The entire set of proteins expressed by a given cell, tissue, or organism.

Question 21

Producers

Answer 21

An organism that produces organic compounds from carbon dioxide by harnessing light energy (in photosynthesis) or by oxidizing inorganic chemicals (in chemosynthetic reactions carried out by some prokaryotes).

Question 22

Experimental group

Answer 22

A set of subjects that has (or receives) the specific factor being tested in a controlled experiment. Ideally, the experimental group is identical to the control group for all other factors.

Question 23

Proteomics

Answer 23

The systematic study of sets of proteins and their properties, including their abundance, chemical modifications, and interactions.

Question 24

Independent variable

Answer 24

A factor whose value is manipulated or changed during an experiment to reveal possible effects on another factor (the dependent variable).

Question 25

Feedback regulation

Answer 25

The regulation of a process by its output or end product.

Question 26

Natural selection

Answer 26

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Question 27

Gene expression

Answer 27

The process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins or, in some cases, RNAs that are not translated into proteins and instead function as RNAs.

Question 28

Theory

Answer 28

An explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.

Question 29

Technology

Answer 29

The application of scientific knowledge for a specific purpose, often involving industry or commerce but also including uses in basic research.

Question 30

Systems biology

Answer 30

An approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems based on a study of the interactions among the system’s parts.

Question 31

Hypothesis

Answer 31

A testable explanation for a set of observations based on the available data and guided by inductive reasoning. A hypothesis is narrower in scope than a theory.

Question 32

Variables

Answer 32

A factor that varies in an experiment.

Question 33

Model organism

Answer 33

A particular species chosen for research into broad biological principles because it is representative of a larger group and usually easy to grow in a lab.

Question 34

Bacteria

Answer 34

One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Archaea.

Question 35

Archaea

Answer 35

One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Bacteria.

Question 36

Science

Answer 36

An approach to understanding the natural world.

Question 37

Genome

Answer 37

The genetic material of an organism or virus; the complete complement of an organism’s or virus’s genes along with its noncoding nucleic acid sequences.

Question 38

Consumer

Answer 38

An organism that feeds on producers, other consumers, or nonliving organic material.

Question 39

Inquiry

Answer 39

The search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions.

Question 40

Dependent variable

Answer 40

A factor whose value is measured during an experiment or other test to see whether it is influenced by changes in another factor (the independent variable).