Chapter 1 - Evolution & Themes

Question 1

What are the levels of biological organization?

Answer 1

1. A MOLECULE consists of two or more atoms bound together
2. Each ORGANELLE has an orderly arrangement of molecules
3. CELLS are composed of the functional components organelles (example chloroplasts)
4. A TISSUE consists of an organized group of cells
5. ORGANS & ORGAN SYSTEMS (such as…) are constructed from several tissues
6. An ORGANISM is composed of several types of organs
7. A POPULATION is a set of organisms of the same species
8. A COMMUNITY consists of populations of the various species inhabiting a specific area
9. An ECOSYSTEM consists of a community of living and non living species & factors
10. The BIOSPHERE is made up of all of the Earth’s ecosystems

Question 2

What are the 5 unifying themes?

Answer 2

1. Organization
2. Information
3. Energy and Matter
4. Interactions
5. Evolution

Question 3

Give an example of organization.

Answer 3

Emergent properties - The human heart must be intact in order to function. It’s tissues and cells must work together in a structured an organized manner and are not capable of working individually to perform its function.

Question 4

Give an example of organization and structure function.

Answer 4

The structure of a hummingbird’s wings allow it to hover and move backwards so that its long beak can eat sugars from the plant. It’s physical structure enhances it’s function.

Question 5

Give an example of information.

Answer 5

A particular combination of genes passes down information from parent to child to determine physical traits such as eye color, hair color, etc.

Question 6

Give an example of energy and matter.

Answer 6

Photosynthesis. Plants receive energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy or sugars. Animals are then able to eat the plants and gain energy from their sugars to carry out their activities.

Question 7

Give an example of interactions in ecosystems.

Answer 7

An animal eats food and then deposits some of the materials as waste back into the soil. The chemicals are then recycled back into the environment. A zebra is prey for the lion.

Question 8

Give an example of interactions in molecules.

Answer 8

When you eat, chemicals signal to the pancreas to release insulin which processes and stores sugar. Chemicals also signal to the brain when the stomach is full to decrease your appetite.

Question 9

Evolution?

Answer 9

Organisms living on earth are modified descendants of common ancestors.

Question 10

What are emergent properties?

Answer 10

The arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases. Specific organization of parts to perform a function.

Question 11

What is a eukaryotic cell?

Answer 11

A membrane enclosed cell containing a DNA filled nucleus. Aside from bacteria, this includes all forms of life including plants and animals.

Question 12

What is a prokaryotic cell?

Answer 12

The cells of two groups of single-celled microorganisms - bacteria and archaea. Lacks nucleus and other membrane enclosed organelles.

Question 13

What is DNA?

Answer 13

Deoxyribonucleic acid. Within cells chromosomes contain genetic material in the form of DNA, which is made up of building blocks called nucleotides.

Question 14

What are nucleotides?

Answer 14

The blueprints for making proteins. ATCG.

Question 15

What is RNA?

Answer 15

Ribonucleic acid. The sequence of nucleotides is translated into mRNA, the protein building blocks called amino acids.

Question 16

What is gene expression? What is the process? Give an example.

Answer 16

The transfer of information from a gene into a functional protein. The process in which DNA directs synthesis of proteins or RNA. 1) The cell transcribes the information in the sequence of DNA and makes specific RNA molecules called mRNA. 2) The cell translates the information in the mRNA nucleotides to make a specific protein, a series of linked amino acids. 3) The chain of amino acids then performs it’s specialized function. Example - crystalline protein to focus light allowing the eye to see

Question 17

What is a genome?

Answer 17

The genetic material of an organism.

Question 18

What is genomics?

Answer 18

The study of a particular set or group of genes.

Question 19

What is a proteome?

Answer 19

The entire set of proteins expressed.

Question 20

What is proteomics?

Answer 20

The study of sets of proteins and their properties.

Question 21

Discuss the theme Energy and Matter.

Answer 21

Energy flows through an ecosystem entering as light and exiting as heat. Chemicals are cycled between organisms within an ecosystem.

Question 22

What is the difference between consumers and producers? Give an example of each.

Answer 22

Producers convert light energy into chemical energy (plants). Consumers feed on producers and other consumers (animals, humans, etc.)

Question 23

Discuss the theme Interactions. What is its importance?

Answer 23

Interactions among organisms help regulate an ecosystem. Interactions among chemicals and cells in the body help organize and regulate different organ systems (also trees and plant life).

Question 24

What is feedback regulation?

Answer 24

The output or product of a process regulates that very process.

Question 25

What is negative feedback? Give an example.

Answer 25

Most common type of feedback. A loop in which the response reduces the initial stimulus. Insulin signaling - the uptake of glucose by cells (the response) decreases blood glucose levels, eliminating the stimulus for insulin secretion, therefore shutting off the pathway.

Question 26

What is positive feedback? Give an example.

Answer 26

An end product speeds up production. Blood clotting - platelets in the blood accumulate and release chemicals that attract more platelets to seal the wound and create a clot.

Question 27

How is a mailing system analogous to biology’s hierarchical taxonomic system?

Answer 27

An address pinpoints a location by tracking from broader to narrower categories. This is the same as the groups - subordinate to - groups structure of taxonomy.

Question 28

Explain why editing is an appropriate metaphor for how natural selection acts on a populations heritable variation.

Answer 28

The naturally occurring heritable variation in a population is “edited” by natural selection because individuals with heritable traits better suited to the environment survive and reproduce more successfully than others. Over time “better-suited” individuals persist and their percentage in the population increases. Population editing.

Question 29

Draw a simple branch pattern that symbolizes the relationship of the 3 eukaryotic kingdoms.

Answer 29

Eukaryotic kingdom –> kingdom plantae, kingdom animalia, and kingdom fungi.

Question 30

What are the 3 domains of life?

Answer 30

Eukaryotic, bacteria, and archaea.

Question 31

What is the main difference between the plantae, animalia, and fungi kingdoms?

Answer 31

Plantae produce their own energy from light to sugar. Animalia live off of other organisms. Fungi absorb their nutrients from their surroundings.

Question 32

Sum up Darwin’s “descent with modification.”

Answer 32

1) individuals within a population vary in heritable traits
2) competition is likely to occur when there are more individuals than the environment can support
3) species adapt according to their environments

Question 33

Explain natural selection.

Answer 33

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. They adapt to environmental factors over time. Example - polar bears in the Arctic.

Question 34

What is adaptive radiation?

Answer 34

A period of evolutionary change in which groups of organisms form many new species whose adaptations allow them to fill different ecological roles. Example - finches and beak size according to food source.

Question 35

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 35

A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations. Example - The sun always rises in the east.

Question 36

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 36

A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise. General to specific. Example - If … Then …

Question 37

What is an independent variable?

Answer 37

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researchers.

Question 38

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 38

In an experiment, the factor that is measured.

Question 39

Why is natural selection called a theory? What makes a theory?

Answer 39

Compared to a hypothesis, a scientific theory is usually more general and substantiated by a vast amount of evidence. Natural selection is an idea that applies to all kinds of organisms and is supported by vast amounts of evidence.

Question 40

What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data?

Answer 40

Qualitative data is recorded and expressed in numerical evidence, usually demonstrated on tables and graphs. Quantitative data is expressed in recorded descriptions.

Question 41

How does science differ from technology?

Answer 41

Science is the pursuit of information and knowledge. Technology is the application of that knowledge toward a specific purpose.

Question 42

Discuss an example of an evolutionary process.

Answer 42

Sickle cell disease in sub-Sahara Africa provides protection from malaria which is rampant in that area. Finch beak size according to type of food source. Mice fur color in different regions.