Characteristics of Life

Question 1

The _______ is the smallest functional and structural unit of all living things.

Answer 1

CELL

Question 2

All cells are surround by a(n) _______.

Answer 2

CELL MEMBRANE

Question 3

A living thing is called a ________.

Answer 3

ORGANISM

Question 4

Discuss two ways that all cells are alike:

Answer 4

all cells have DNA, a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and organelles; all cells come from existing cells.

Question 5

What are the main ideas of the cell theory?

Answer 5

All organisms are made up of one or more cells, the cell is the basic unit of all living things, and all cells come from existing cells.

Question 6

How do prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes? How are they similar?

Answer 6

The cells of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes contain DNA, a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and organelles. Eukaryotes’ DNA is found in the nucleus, while prokaryotes’ DNA is in the cytoplasm.

Question 7

People once believed organisms could grow from food or dirt. How might the scientific study of cells have affected this view?

Answer 7

Studies that showed cells arose only from living cells would have identified that organisms could also only arise and grow from living cells

Question 8

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of this cube? (pg 601)

Answer 8

surface area = 6 × (5 cm × 5 cm) = 150 cm2 ; volume = 5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm = 125 cm3 ; surface area-to-volume ratio = 150 cm2 : 125 cm3 = 6 cm2 : 5 cm3

Question 9

Cells can not get as large as this cube. Explain why in terms of a cell’s surface area-to-volume ratio (pg 601):

Answer 9

If a cell were this large, it would have a small surface area-to-volume ratio. Cells need a proportionately larger surface area to efficiently move materials in and out of the cell.

Question 10

How is the structure of a unicellular organism different than the structure of a multicellular organism? How does this affect function?

Answer 10

A unicellular organism is made up of one cell. This cell must perform all of the life functions for the organism. A multicellular organism is made up of many cells, allowing these organisms to have specialized functions.

Question 11

A _________ contains paired statements that can be used to identify organisms.

Answer 11

DICHOTOMOUS KEY

Question 12

The kingdoms of eukaryotes are _________, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Answer 12

PROTISTA

Question 13

Domains ___________ and ___________ are made up of prokaryotes.

Answer 13

Archaebacteria and Eubacteria

Question 14

Name the eight levels of classification from most general to most specific.

Answer 14

Domains, Kingdoms, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 15

Describe how scientists choose the kingdom in which a eukaryote belongs:

Answer 15

Scientists ask questions, such as: Is the organism unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic? How does the organism reproduce?

Question 16

What two types of evidence are used to classify organisms?

Answer 16

physical characteristics and chemical characteristics

Question 17

Dichotomous keys and branching diagrams organize different types of information about classification. How are these tools used differently?

Answer 17

Dichotomous keys are used to identify unknown organisms. Branching diagrams are used to describe the characteristics that different organisms share.

Question 18

Which traits do baboons have? (pg 617)

Answer 18

forward vision, opposable thumbs, and full-color vision

Question 19

Which animal shares the most traits with humans? (pg 617)

Answer 19

Chimpanzees

Question 20

Do both lemurs and humans have the trait listed at point D? Explain (pg 617):

Answer 20

No, they do not both have the trait. Only humans have the trait. Lemurs are listed on a
branch to the left of the trait, so they do not have it

Question 21

A scientist finds an organism that cannot move. It has many cells, produces spores, and gets food from its environment. In which kingdom does it belong? Explain (pg 617):

Answer 21

The organism belongs in Kingdom Fungi. Fungi can be multicellular. Most cannot move, and they get food by releasing digestive juices into their environment.