Chapter 1- The science of biology Flashcards
Biology _______ much of natural science
Unifies
_______ _______ are the most complex chemical systems on earth
Living systems
Living things are constrained by the properties of _______ and _______
Chemistry and physics
Science is becoming more _______
Interdisciplinary
7 characteristics of all living things:
Cellular organization Ordered complexity Sensitivity to environment Growth, development, and reproduction Energy utilization Homeostasis Evolutionary adaptation
Living systems show _______ organization
Hierarchical
_______ is the basic unit of life
Cell
3 things in the cellular level:
Atoms, molecules, organelles
3 things in organismal level
Tissues, organs, organ systems
2 things in population level:
Population, community
Living systems hierarchical order:
Cellular level Organismal level Population level Ecosystem level Biosphere
Each hierarchical level has _______ properties, caused by many interactions occurring at lower levels
Emergent
Example of emergent properties
Hurricane bc it’s from many interacting meteorological variables
Science aims to understand the natural world through _______ and _______
Observation and reasoning
Much of science purely ______
Descriptive
_______ uses general principles to make specific predictions
Tests validity of general ideas
A=B and B=C so A=C
Deductive
_______ reasoning uses specific observations to develop general conclusions
A mix of 10,000 black and white marbles in a bag
Inductive
Scientists use a _______ approach to gain understanding of the natural world
Systematic
The systematic approach that scientists use to understand the world
Observation Hypothesis formation Prediction Experimentation Conclusion
A _______ is a possible explanation for an observation
Hypothesis
A hypothesis must be _______to determine its validity
Testable
Hypotheses allow for _______ to be made
Predictions
The test of a hypothesis
Experiment
You must test _______ variable at a time
1
Keep the variable of Interest _______ in a control group
Constant
You alter the variable of interest in the _______ treatment
Experimental
Hypotheses should make _______ that provide a way to test the validity of the hypothesis
Predictions
_______ provide a way to test the validity of a hypothesis
Predictions
_______ takes a complex process and reduces it down to its supplier function
Reductionism
_______ biology examines complex traits that can’t be understood by looking at simpler function individually
Systems
_______ provide a way to organize how he think about a problem
Models
Models allow you to apply a _______ approach
Reductionist
_______ can help suggest experiments to test how components work together
Models
A proposed explanation for some natural phenomenon OR the body of interconnected concepts supported by scientific reasoning and experimental evidence
A theory
Scientific theory is a body of _______ concepts
Interconnected
Scientific theory is supported by _______ evidence and _______ reasoning
Experimental; scientific
The general meaning of _______ implies a lack of knowledge or an educated guess
Theory
_______ research extends our knowledge of individual processes
Basic
_______ research involves the interaction of different processes that all for maintenance of homeostasis and production food and others
Applied
Applied research has foundations  provided by _______ research
Basic
_______ theory of evolution is an example of how a scientist develops a hypothesis and a theory gains acceptance
Darwin’s
Darwins theory of _______ explains and describes how organisms on earth have changed over time and acquired a diversity of new forms
Evolution
Charles Darwin’s famous book
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Darwins contribution was a concept he called _______ _______
Natural selection
In what area did Darwin study?
South America
In the Galapagos islands, Darwin said the finches experienced _______ _______ _______
“Descent with modification”/ evolution
Darwin propose to natural selection as a _______ for evolution
Mechanism
Thomas Malthus said that populations of plants and animals tend to increase _______, while humans are able to increase their food supply only _______ 
Geometrically; arithmetically
Populations of species remain _______ because death limits population numbers
Constant
Darwin called the process of animal breeders selecting certain varieties of pigeons and other animals such as dogs to produce certain characteristics _______ _______
Artificial selection
Artificial selection often produces a great _______ of traits
Variation
Five evidences of natural selection:
Fossil record Earths age Mechanism of heredity Comparative anatomy Molecular evidence
_______ forms have been found at predicted positions of time in the fossil record
Transitional
The earth is _______ billion years old
4.5
What law is the mechanisms for heredity?
Mendels laws of inheritance
In comparative anatomy, _______ forelimbs all share the same basic array of bones
Vertebrate
Structures that have the same evolutionary origin but now different structure and function
Homologous
When structures of different origin are used for the same purpose:
Analogous
Example of analogous structures:
Wings of birds and butterflies, which have similar function but different evolutionary origins
Molecular evidence compares _______ or proteins of different organisms
Genomes
The sequences of all genes
Genomes
Graphic representation based on tracing origin of particular nucleotide or amino acid changes to reconstruct an evolutionary history
Phylogenetic trees
Five unifying themes/core concepts in biology
Life is subject to chemical and physical laws
Structure determines function
Living systems transform energy and matter
Living systems depend on information transactions
Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life
Biological systems follow known chemical properties, such as _______ bonding
Molecular
Properties of physics, such as _______, or also key determining factors of biological systems
Thermodynamics
Energy enters environments in 1form, typically as _______ energy, and is transformed by organisms
Solar
All life constantly requires _______
Energy
Discrete unit of info in DNA
Gene
Entire set of DNA (genetic) information
Genome
Life depends on faithful copying of DNA into _______ cells
Daughter
Variable _______ expression leads to different cells and tissue types
Gene
Each DNA molecule is formed by two long chains of building blocks called _______
Nucleotides
_______ different nucleotides are found in DNA
4
The sequence in which the _______ in DNA occur encodes information to make and maintain a cell
Nucleotides
The information stored in DNA is used to direct the _______ of cellular components
Synthesis
Cells process environmental _______
Information
Cells in _______ organisms must coordinate with each other (homeostasis)
Multicellular
All organisms today descended from a
Genetic ancestor
Underlying unity of biochemistry and genetics argues for the conserved unity of _______
Life
