Chapter 1- Study Of Life Flashcards
What are some examples of areas related to biology?
Finding cures to diseases
Studying communicable diseases
Solve environmental issues
Climate change
All are related to biology in one way or another
What is science?
‘Knowledge that covers general truths or the operation of general laws, especially when acquired and tested by the scientific method’
Biology is a discipline of science.
What are natural sciences?
Science related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes
Example: Biology, astronomy, geology, physics, and chemistry fall under natural sciences.
What is included in life sciences?
Biology (study of living things)
Example: Studying animals, plants, and microorganisms is part of life sciences.
What is included in physical sciences?
Astronomy, geology, physics, and chemistry
Example: Astronomy deals with celestial objects, while geology focuses on the Earth’s structure and processes.
What is Basic science
Pure science – knowled’ge for knowledge’s sake
Example: Studying the structure of DNA
What is Applied science
Applied science or “technology,” aims to use science to solve real-world problems
Example: Using DNA fingerprinting for forensics and paternity disputes
Using DNA technology to make insulin
Using DNA technology to improve crop yield
What is the Scientific method?
A structured and systematic approach to study and understand natural phenomena.
Method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation.
What is the first step in the Scientific method?
Observation
Step involving careful watching and noting of natural phenomena.
What is the second step in the Scientific method?
Hypothesis development
Step where a possible explanation for observed phenomena is proposed.
What is the third step in the Scientific method?
Experimentation and collecting data
Step involving testing the hypothesis through experiments and data collection.
What is the fourth step in the Scientific method?
Analyzing results
Step where the collected data is examined and interpreted.
What is the final step in the Scientific method?
Drawing conclusions
Step where the results are used to make inferences and conclusions.
Why is observation important?
Observation is important because it helps ask questions that can be tested by experimentation
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is an educated guess based on background research and observations.
Example: Scientists hypothesized that increased exposure to sunlight would lead to higher rates of vitamin D production.
What are scientific experiments done for?
To prove or disprove a hypothesis
Scientific experiments are done to prove or disprove a hypothesis
What happens if the data collected does not support the initial hypothesis?
The hypothesis is modified or a new hypothesis is needed
If the data collected by experiments does not support the first hypothesis then the hypothesis is modified or a new hypothesis is needed.
What is the fifth step in the scientific method?
Drawing conclusions and communicating the results
Scientists look at the data in many ways and plot graphs. This helps them get all the information they need from the experiments and draw conclusions related to the hypothesis.
How is a scientific theory formed?
When different scientists in the same field, doing same experiments reach the same conclusion. The hypothesis is considered to be true.
What happens when a lot of conclusions are combined?
A theory is formulated.
What does the control group contain?
Every feature of the experimental group except it is not given the manipulation that the researcher hypothesizes.
Example: In a study testing a new drug, the control group would receive a placebo instead of the actual medication.
What are positive and negative controls?
They are types of controls used in experiments to ensure the validity of the results.
Positive controls involve applying a known treatment to see the expected response, while negative controls involve applying no treatment to observe for any unintended effects.
Why experiments have a negative control?
negative control is a sample in the experiment where no change should happen because it has not been exposed to the testing procedure.
What is a variable?
Any part of the experiment that can vary or change during the experiment.
A variable is a factor that can be manipulated or measured in a scientific study.
What is the first property of life?
Order
Order refers to the highly organized structure that living organisms possess.
What is the second property of life?
Sensitivity or response to the environment
Living organisms can detect and respond to changes in their environment.
What is the third property of life?
Reproduction
Reproduction allows living organisms to produce offspring.
What is the fourth property of life?
Adaptation
Adaptation refers to the ability of living organisms to evolve and adjust to their environment.
What is the fifth property of life?
Growth and development
Living organisms exhibit growth and undergo developmental changes.
What is the sixth property of life?
Regulation/homeostasis
Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to maintain a stable internal environment.
What is the seventh property of life?
Energy processing
Living organisms require energy to carry out life processes.
What is the eighth property of life?
Evolution
Evolution is the process by which living organisms change over time through natural selection.
What are Prokaryotes?
Single-celled or colonial organisms that do not have membrane-bound nuclei.
Example sentence: Bacteria are examples of prokaryotes.
What are Eukaryotes?
Organisms that do have membrane-bound organelles and a membrane-bound nucleus.
Why are viruses considered non-living?
Because they are not made of cells and cannot reproduce independently
What do organisms respond to?
Diverse stimuli
DNA containing genes are passed along to an organism’s offspring.
The resulting organism will have similar characteristics as the parent
In order to function properly
cells require appropriate conditions such as proper temperature
How do organisms maintain internal stability despite environmental changes?
Organisms maintain internal conditions through homeostasis a process that keeps their internal environment stable despite external changes.
For example, organisms regulate body temperature through thermoregulation.
What processes do organisms use to shed excess heat in hot climates?
In hot climates, organisms have developed methods such as perspiration in humans or panting in dogs to help shed excess body heat and maintain a stable internal temperature.
How do different organisms acquire and process energy for metabolic activities?
All organisms require a source of energy for metabolic activities.
- Plants capture energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates through photosynthesis.
- Animals obtain energy by eating plants, converting the stored chemical energy into heat and kinetic energy for their bodily functions.
What causes the diversity of life on Earth and how does it affect organisms?
The diversity of life is caused by mutations, which are random changes in hereditary material. These mutations help organisms adapt, leading to better survival and greater reproductive success in changing environments.
What is evolution and how does it relate to the diversity of life on Earth?
Evolution is the process of gradual change in a population or species over time, leading to the tremendous diversity of life on Earth.
Branches of Biology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Neurobiology
Forensics
Paleontology
