Chapter 1: The Science of Biology Flashcards
What is biology the study of?
The study of living things, the science of life
What are the six kingdoms?
Archaea, Bacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
What should you think of when considering something “living” versus “non-living”
Complexity, Movement, and Response to Stimulation
A life-defining property must be what to living things?
Exclusive
All living cells are comprised of how many cells?
At least one cell
What does Metabolism mean?
All living things process energy, which is used to power other processes
What does Homeostasis mean?
All living things maintain relatively stable internal environments to optimize conditions for metabolism and other processes
What does Growth and Reproduction mean?
All organisms have the capacity for growth and reproduction
What does Heredity mean?
All organisms pass genetic information to future generations from to offspring
What are the hierarchies of levels in the organization of life?
Cellular, Organismal, Populational
What happens in the higher levels of the living hierarchy?
New properties become more apparent that were absent at the lower levels
What are atoms?
Atoms are the smallest unit of a molecule (protons, neutrons, eletrons)
What are molecules?
Molecules are the union of two or more atoms of the same or different element
What are macromolecules?
Macromolecules are polymers of molecular building blocks having a similar composition
What are organelles?
Organelles are substructures in the cell having a dedicated function and are large enough to be seen in a light microscope
What is a cell?
A cell is the smallest unit of life
Hydrophobic means?
Water fearing, doesn’t mix with water
Hydrophilicity means?
Mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water
What is a tissue?
A tissue is a group of similar cells that perform a particular function
What do several tissues join together to form?
Several tissues join together to form an organ
What do organs work together to form?
Organs work together to form an organ system
What are some examples of atoms?
Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen
What is an example of a molecule?
Adenine
What is a example of a macromolecule?
DNA
What is an example of an organelle?
Nucleus
What is an example of a cell?
Nerve cell
What is an example of a tissue?
Nerve tissue
What is an example of an organ?
The brain
What is an example of an organ system?
Nervous system
What is the Cellular Level procedure?
Atoms, Molecule, Macromolecule, Organelle, Cell
What is the Organismal Level procedure?
Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Organism
What is the Populational Level procedure?
Population, Species, Community, Ecosystem
What are the 5 biological themes that emerge repeatedly at any hierarchical level?
Homeostasis, Energy Flow, Structure-Function, Cooperation, and Evolution (changes in gene frequency)
What is homeostasis?
When organisms act to control their internal environments so that the complex processes of metabolism function efficiently
“Steady-State”
What is Energy Flow?
It’s the transfer of energy through living things within an ecosystem, moving from one organism to the next
What is Structure-Function?
Body structures in organisms are carefully designed to carry out their functions
Within cells, the shapes of the proteins called enzymes that cells use to carry out chemical reactions are precisely suited to match the chemicals the enzymes must manipulate
What is Cooperation?
When two living organisms work together to survive since energy and other resources are limiting
What does “Symbiosis” mean?
Symbiosis describes when two species live in direct contact
What is Evolution?
Biological evolution is change in the heritable characteristics, change in the gene pool of a population over succeeding generations
What is the mechanism for evolution?
Natural selection
What is Natural Selection?
The differential reproduction of genotypes caused by factors in the environment that lead to evolutionary change
What is Deductive reasoning?
The use of general principles to explain specific observations
Is the reasoning of mathematics, philosophy, politics, and ethics - the way a computer works
For example, when traveling at the speed limit, you approach each intersection anticipating that the red light will turn green as you reach the intersection
What is Inductive reasoning?
The use of careful examination of specific cases to discover general principles
A possible explanation, or hypothesis
For example, when you drive down the street at the speed limit, you observe that the red traffic light turns green just at you approach the intersection. You conclude that the traffic lights along this street are “timed” to change in the time it takes your care, traveling at the speed limit, to traverse the distance between them
What are the 6 stages of the Scientific Process?
Observation, Hypothesis, Predictions, Experiment/Testing, Controls, and Conclusion
What occurs in the Observation step?
Careful observations take place and are recorded to form a hypothesis
What occurs in the Hypothesis step?
An educated guess is made that might be true
It’s a tentative explanation for the natural event
What occurs in the Predictions step?
If the hypothesis is correct, then specific consequences can be expected, such as experiments and data to back it up
What occurs in the Experiment/Testing step?
Scientists set out to test the hypothesis by attempting to verify some of its predictions
The test of a hypothesis is an experiment
What occurs in the Controls step?
Scientists use a control to assess the influence of potential factors, called variables
What occurs in the Conclusion step?
We reach a statement based on experimental measurements and observations on whether or not the hypothesis was supported
What do you call it when multiple ideas are formulated about a phenomenon?
Alternative hypothesis
What are Variables?
Variables are parts of the system where different conditions, e.g. temperature, concentration, time, etc can be altered
In evaluating alternative hypothesis about one variable, all other variable are held constant so that the investigator is not misled or confused by other influences
Scientists can use one conclusion from one experiment to form a hypothesis for another.
True
If the results do not support the hypothesis, then it may be sued to formulate an alternate hypothesis.
True
What is it called when a hypothesis has been tested and not rejected?
Tentatively accepted
What does the term “Theory” mean to scientists?
A theory represents certainty and is unifying explanation for a broad range of observations from a variety of different approaches/experiments
What are the 4 Biology Theories?
Cell Theory, Gene Theory, Theory of Heredity, Theory of Evolution/Natural Selection
What is science limited to?
Science is limited to organisms and processes that can be observed and measured
It cannot be relied upon to solve all problems
What is the Cell Theory?
All organisms are composed of at least one cell
The cell is the most basic unit of life
All cells from from existing cells
What is the Gene Theory?
Genetic information is encoded in molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Genes encode specific proteins of RNA, or a gene might act to regulate other genes
The proteins and RNA encoded by an organism’s genes determines what it will be like in terms of form and functions
What is the Theory of Heredity?
Genes are passed down generations as discrete units
What is the Theory of Evolution/Natural Selection?
A change in the frequency of traits that affect the reproductive success in a population or species across generations
Organisms best able to respond to the challenges of living will leave more offspring thus their traits become more common in the population
What are the 3 domains?
The 6 kingdoms assigned to 3 domains called Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
What kingdom is assigned to the Bacteria domain?
Bacteria
What kingdom is assigned to the Archaea domain?
Archaea
What kingdom(s) is assigned to the Eukarya domain?
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Biologists catergorize all living things based on related characteristics into large groups called
a) Kingdoms
b) Species
c) Populations
d) Ecosystems
a) Kingdoms
Living things can be distinguished from nonliving things because they
a) Have complexity
b) Exhibit movement
c) Have cellular organization
d) Respond to a stimulus
c) Have cellular organization
Living things are organized. Choose the answer that illustrates this organization and that is arranged from smallest to largest.
a) Cell, atom, molecule, tissue, organelle, organ, organ system, organism, population, species, community, ecosystem
b) Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, community, population, species, ecosystem
c) Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, community, population, species, ecosystem
d) Atom, molecule, cell wall, cell, organ, organelle, organism, species, population, community, ecosystem
b) Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, community, population, species, ecosystem
At each level in the hierarchy of living things, properties occur that were not present at the simpler levels. These properties are referred to as:
a) Novelistic properties
b) Complex properties
c) Incremental properties
d) Emergent properties
d) Emergent properties
Which of the following is not an emergent property?
a) Metabolism
b) Movement
c) Cellular organization
d) Consciousness
c) Cellular organization
The 5 general biological themes include:
a) Evolution, energy flow, competition, structure determines function, and homeostasis
b) Evolution, energy flow, cooperation structure determines function, and homeostasis
c) Evolution, growth, competition, structure determines functions, and homeostasis
d) Evolution, growth, cooperation, structure determines functions, and homeostasis
b) Evolution, energy flow, cooperation, structure determines function, and homeostasis
You notice that on cloudy days people often carry umbrellas, folded or in a case. You also note that when umbrellas are open, there are many car accidents. You conclude that open umbrellas cause car accidents. Explain the type of reasoning used to reach this conclusion and why it can sometimes be a problem.
This is an example of INDUCTIVE REASONING. The problem is that people sometimes assume that because two items both occur at the same time, one of the events causes the other. In this case, both events are caused by a third event that was not mentioned - the fact that it is raining. There is nothing wrong with the process of inductive reasoning, but do not assume that correlation (occurring together) implies causation
When you are trying to understand something new, you begin by observation and then put the observations together in a logical fashion to form a general principle. This method is called:
a) Inductive reasoning
b) Rule enhancement
c) Theory production
d) Deductive reasoning
a) Inductive reasoning
CFCs:
a) Produce chlorine gas
b) Cause global warming
c) Are carcinogens
d) Bing to chromosomes
a) Produce chlorine gas
When trying to figure out explanations for observations, scientists construct a series of possible hypothesis. Then they make predictions and
a) Test each hypothesis, using appropriate controls, to determine which hypothesis is true
b) Test each hypothesis, using appropriate controls, to rule out as many hypotheses as possible
c) Use logic to determine which hypothesis is true
d) Reject those that seem unlikely
b) Test each hypothesis, using appropriate controls, to determine which hypothesis is true
Which of the following statements is correct regarding a hypothesis?
a) After sufficient testing, you can conclude that it is true
b) If it explains the observations, it doesn’t need to be tested
c) After sufficient testing, you can accept it as probable, being aware that it may be revised or rejected in the future
d) You never have any degree of certainty that it is true; there are too many variables
c) After sufficient testing, you can accept it as probable, being aware that it may be revised or rejected in the future
The Scientific Method is
a) Rationalizing a large body of observations
b) Testing predictions repeatedly
c) Following in the same manner in all investigations
d) Testing a series of “either/or” predictions
d) Testing a series of “either/or” predictions
Cell Theory states that
a) All organisms have cell walls
b) All cellular organisms undergo sexual reproduction
c) All living organisms use cells for energy, either their own or they ingest cells of other organisms
d) All living organisms consist of cells that come from other cells
d) All living organisms consist of cells that come from other cells
The Gene Theory states that all the information that specifies what a cell is and what it does
a) Is different for each cell type in the organism
b) Is passed down, unchanged, from parents to offspring
c) Is contained in a long molecule called DNA
d) All of the above
c) Is contained in a long molecule called DNA
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance states that
a) Chromosomes contain DNA
b) Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes
c) All cells have genes
d) Genes are on chromosomes
d) Genes on are chromosomes
The Theory or Evolution by Natural Selection was advanced in 1859 by
a) Gregor Mendel
b) Charles Darwin
c) James Watson and Francis Crick
d) Robert Hooke
b) Charles Darwin
