Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

Energy

Answer 1

The capacity to do work

Question 2

Photosynthesis

Answer 2

A process that transforms solar energy into chemical energy of organic nutrient molecules.

Question 3

Homeostasis

Answer 3

• The state of biological balance that is necessary for organisms to live.
• Factors like temperature, moisture level, acidity, etc. must remain within the organism’s tolerance range.
• If one of these factors becomes unbalanced, the organism’s nervous system can respond (unconsciously) in order to maintain balance until the organism becomes aware of it and responds appropriately in order to regain normalcy.

Question 4

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Answer 4

• The genetic code that is shared by all living things.
• Make up genes, which contain specific information for the organism’s metabolism and order.
• Resembles a spiral staircase with millions of steps.
• Passed on when reproduction occurs, and sometimes mutate.

Question 5

Adaption

Answer 5

Modifications made by organisms so hat they are better able to survive in specific environments.

Question 6

Evolution

Answer 6

• A series of many adaptions made overtime by a population of organisms.
• Constantly reshapes a species so that it is able to persist despite a changing environment.

Question 7

Taxa & Taxonomy

Answer 7

• Categories used to classify organisms based on species, genus, family, order,class, phylum, kingdom, and domain.
• Taxonomy is the the discipline of identifying organisms according to certain rules

Question 8

Species

Answer 8

A group of interbreeding individuals.

Question 9

Species placed within one genus share…

Answer 9

Share many specific characteristics and are the most closely related.

Question 10

Species placed within the same kingdom share…

Answer 10

Share only general characteristics.

Ex.
Species in the plant kingdom can be very different, evident when we compare grasses and trees.

Question 11

Protists

Answer 11

• algae, protozoans, slime molds, and water molds
• complex single cell
• absorb, photosynthesize, or ingest food.

Question 12

Fungi

Answer 12

• molds, mushrooms, yeasts, and ringworms
• mostly multicellular filaments with specialized, complex cells
• absorb food

Question 13

Plants

Answer 13

• certain algae, mosses, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants
• multicellular, usually with specialized tissues that contain complex cells
• photosynthesize foods

Question 14

Animals

Answer 14

• sponges, worms, insects, fishes, frogs, turtles, birds, and mammals
• multicellular with specialized tissues containing complex cells
• ingest food

Question 15

Scientific name

Answer 15

• A two part name, the first part consisting of the genus, the second part consisting of the specific epithet of the organism within the genus.
• based off of Latin, a dead language.

Question 16

List the levels of taxonomic classification from least inclusive to most inclusive.

Answer 16

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 17

Biosphere

Answer 17

The zone of air, land, and water at the surface of the earth where organisms exist

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

All of the members of a species within a particular area.