Chapter 1 - Introduction

Question 0

How do biologists investigate life?

Answer 0

The Scientific method: observation, hypothesis, predictions, experiments, theory.
Scientific hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable.

Question 1

What is biology?

Answer 1

The science of life and how it works.

Question 2

Testable

Answer 2

Using repeatable experiments.

Question 3

Falsifiable

Answer 3

With potential of being rejected.

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a living organism?

Answer 4

1. Homeostasis
2. Organization
3. Metabolism
4. Growth
5. Adaptation
6. Response to stimuli
7. Reproduction

Question 5

What are the essential features of a cell?

Answer 5

1. Cells can store and transmit information
2. Cells have a plasma membrane
3. Cells can harness energy from the environment

Question 6

How is heritable information passed from one generation to the next?

Answer 6

Genes, composed of DNA, transmit information from parents to offspring through DNA sequencing.

Question 7

What is taxonomy? What is the taxonomic hierarchy for classification?

Answer 7

Taxonomy is the classification of life. Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

Question 8

What is metabolism?

Answer 8

The chemical reactions that convert molecules into other molecules and transfer energy in living organisms.

Question 9

What is the theory of evolution through natural selection?

Answer 9

Living organisms adapt to environmental change.

Question 10

How does the theory of evolution through natural selection explain the diversity of life?

Answer 10

All organisms are capable of reproduction involving duplication of genetic material with potential for errors to occur. This leads to differences among organisms that enable them to:

• live in different kinds of environments
• adapt to changing environmental conditions

Question 11

How does the theory of evolution through natural selection explain the unity of life?

Answer 11

As diverse as life is, there is evidence of remarkable unity among all organisms:

• cellular
• based on aqueous solutions
• consist of 6 elements (C, H, O, N, P, S)
• similar macromolecules
• have RNA and DNA
• have ribosomes for protein synthesis
• undergo rapid metabolic reactions catalyzed by proteins
• osmotically active membranes
• use of formation/hydrolysis of ATP for energy flow

Question 12

What is phylogeny?

Answer 12

The modern classification of life.

Common ancestors –> 3 domains –> 6 kingdoms

Question 13

What makes up the scientific name of an organism?

Answer 13

1. Genus name

2. Species name

Question 14

Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Answer 14

A eukaryotic cell has a nucleus, while a prokaryotic cell does not.

Question 15

Distinguish among the three domains of life.

Answer 15

Archaea: single-celled organisms with no nuclei (prokaryote)
Bacteria: single-celled organisms with no nuclei (prokaryote)
Eukarya: cells with nuclei containing chromosomes (eukaryote)

Question 16

List and distinguish among the three kingdoms of multicellular, eukaryotic life.

Answer 16

1. Plantae: green plants (producers through photosynthesis)
2. Fungi
3. Animalia (consumers)

Question 17

What is cell theory?

Answer 17

1. Cells are the basic units of life
2. All organisms are composed of cells
3. All cells come from pre-existing cells

Question 18

What are emergent properties of Life?

Answer 18

Unique characteristics associated with one level of organization that are not seen at lower levels.

Question 19

What is a producer?

Answer 19

A producer is an organism that creates its own food. An example is photosynthesis.

Question 20

What is a consumer?

Answer 20

A consumer is an organism that does not make its own food and must consume a producer or its product.

Question 21

What is diversity?

Answer 21

Diversity is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur.

Question 22

What is homeostasis?

Answer 22

Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes.