Chapter 1: Introduction to Biological Concepts and Research Flashcards
Define Cell
Smallest unit with the capacity to live and reproduce
Define Emergent properties
Characteristic that depends on the level of organization of matter, but does not exist at lower levels of organization
Define Biosphere
All regions of Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere that sustain life
Define Biological evolution
The process by which some individuals in a population experience changes in their DNA and pass those modified instructions to their offspring
Define Community
Populations of all species that occupy the same area
Define Cellular respiration
The process by which energy rich molecules are broken down to produce energy in the form of ATP during which oxygen is utilized and carbon dioxide is produced
Define Ecosystem
Group of biological communities interacting with their shared physical environment
Define Decomposers
A small organism, such as a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on the remains of dead organisms, breaking down complex biological molecules or structures into simpler raw materials.
Define Deooxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
The large, double-stranded, helical molecule that is the genetic material of all living organisms
Define Gene expression
The process by which information encoded in genes guides the production of RNA molecules and proteins
Define Unicellular organisms
Individual consisting of a single cell
Define Multicellular organisms
Individual consisting of interdependent cells
Define Population
A group of organisms of the same kind that live together in the same place
Define Nucleotides
The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a five carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate
Define Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A polymer assembled from repeating nucleotide monomers in which the five carbon sugar is ribose. Cellular RNAs include mRNA (which is translated to produce a polypeptide), tRNA (which brings an amino acid to the ribosome for assembly into a polypeptide during translation), and rRNA (which is is a structural component of ribosomes). The genetic material of some viruses is RNA.
