Chapter 1: The Study of Life

Question 1

What are the goals of science?

Answer 1

to investigate and understand nature, explain events in nature, and use those explanations to make useful predictions

Question 2

quantitative observation

Answer 2

an observation involving measurements

Question 3

qualitative observation

Answer 3

an observation involving descriptions

Question 4

inference

Answer 4

an interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience

Question 5

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Answer 5

1. observations
2. hypothesis
3. predictions and experiments
4. presenting and analyzing data

Question 6

controlled experiment

Answer 6

an experiment in which only one variable is changed

Question 7

spontaneous generation

Answer 7

living things developing from non-living things (abiogenesis)

Question 8

Francesco Redi

Answer 8

a scientist who studied the appearance of maggots on meat

Question 9

John Needham

Answer 9

a scientist who heated bottles of gravy which formed living things

Question 10

Lazzaro Spallanzani

Answer 10

a scientist who claimed Needham didn’t heat the gravy enough–sealed some bottles which created no growth and left some bottles open which grew microbes

Question 11

Louis Pasteur

Answer 11

a scientist who curved the necks of flasks so that they could all be left open which formed no microbes

Question 12

What are the characteristics of living things?

Answer 12

1. made up of cells
2. reproduce
3. based on a universal genetic code (DNA)
4. grow and develop (life cycles)
5. use materials and energy (metabolism)
6. respond to stimuli
7. maintain homeostasis
8. evolve

Question 13

What are the levels of organization?

Answer 13

1. atom
2. molecule
3. cell
4. tissue
5. organ
6. organ system
7. organism
8. population
9. community
10. ecosystem
11. biosphere

Question 14

What are the levels of classification?

Answer 14

1. domain
2. kingdom
3. phylum
4. class
5. order
6. family
7. genus
8. species