Chapter 1 - Scientific Study of Life Flashcards
Define biology
the study of life or living things
What is an organism?
Single living individual
List the 5 characteristics of life
Organization Metabolism Irritability Reproduction Evolution
What is the difference between catabolism and anabolism?
Anabolism – synthesis; composition (combine small substances together to form a large one)
Reactant yields Product
A + B yields AB
Catabolism – decompose; degrade (break down a large substance into smaller substances)
Reactant yields Product
AB yields A + B
What is a chemical change?
Atoms rearrange in a molecule to form a new molecule
Define energy
ability to do work
What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?
Potential – stored energy
Kinetic – energy of movement
List the 5 forms of energy
Light, heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical
What is the difference between Autotrophs and Heterotrophs?
Autotrophs – make their own food
Heterotrophs – cannot make their own food
List the components of the Hierarchy of Structural Organization of Living Matter in order
Non-living Atom Molecule Living Cell Tissue Organs Individual
Define irritability
Response or Reaction to a stimulus (cause the reaction)
What is the difference between a stimulus and a response?
Stimulus – something that causes a response; cold outside
Response – reaction to a stimulus; body shivers from cold
Define reproduction
to make new life
What are the differences between asexual and sexual reproduction?
Asexual – single parent gives rise to an offspring; a clone of the parent.
Sexual – single cell produced by two different parents (male and female) combine to form a zygote (fertilized egg). Zygote develops into an offspring.
Define evolution
A change in the population over time
Define adaptation
Inherited traits that enable individuals to survive in an environment
What is the basic unit of evolution?
Population – members of the same species living in a defined region
Define observation
use the 5 senses to perceive a problem or phenomena
Define scientific method
series of steps used to solve a problem
What is the difference between the control group and the experimental group in a controlled experiment?
Control group – standard; reference
Experimental group – introduce a single variable (change)
What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
Independent variable – manipulated variable (stimulus)
Dependent variable – responding variable
What is a theory?
Probable explanation for a set of data
State the Cell Theory
all living things are made of cells
State the Theory of Organic Evolution
Theory claiming that new species arise and are perpetuated by natural selection
Natural Selection – the environment selects some favorable traits to survive and reproduce while the unfavorable traits die out
