Chapter 1- Invitation to Biology Flashcards
Levels of Organization
atoms>molecules>macromolecules>organelles>cells>tissues>organs>organ systems>organisms>population>community>ecosystem>biosphere
Characteristics of “living things”
- Consist of one or more cells
- Reproduce
- Grow
- Require energy
- Respond to stimuli in their environment
- Maintains homeo-stasis, maintaining a stable internal environment
Reproduce
Increase in number
Grow
Increase in size
Metabolism
Acquiring energy and using energy for maintenance, growth and reproduction
Where does energy come from?
Producers- make their own food using light or chemical energy (e.x. plants/autotrophs)
Consumers
Cannot make their own food: eat producers or each other (heterotrophs)
Respond
React to the environment; sense changes
Stimuli
Chemicals, light, touch, heat, pressure, etc.
Homeostasis
Maintains the internal environment within ranges suitable for cell activities
Steps of Scientific Inquiry (Biological Inquiry)
- Observations
- Hypothesis
- Prediction
- Test-experiment
- Collect Data
- Analyze Data
- Formulate Conclusions
- Retest
Scientific Theory
A hypothesis that has been tested over and over in many ways and has not been proven incorrect
- Has a high probability of being true
- Open to rejection
- Not a fact
Variable
A specific condition or event that can be changed from one group to the other
Control Group
- A standard for comparison
* Does not have the variable being tested
Experimental Group
Is exposed to one variable with all other conditions being the same from one group to the other.
Independent Variable
The variable being tested
Steps of the Scientific Method
1) Ask a question
2) Do background research
3) Construct a hypothesis
4) Analyze your data and draw a conclusion
5) Communicate your results
