Exam #1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different stages of a growth curve model? (population dynamics)

A

lag phase, exponential phase, stationary phase, death phase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

As of January 2024, what is the human population?

A

8 billion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an exponential growth chart?

A

“J” curve; displays rapid, nonlinear growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is a sigmoidal growth chart?

A

“S” curve; displays growth that eventually levels off, stabilizing due to availability of resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are 4 key factors of population growth (explain them)?

A

birth, death, immigration, emigration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does N mean in a growth curve?

A

size of the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Carrying capacity

A

max population a particular environment can support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Likely carrying capacity for Earth

A

ultimately unknown, China and India surpassed 1 billion, not expected that other countries will reach that

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How has the annual global growth rate changed over time?

A

projections show a decline from 1980 - 2100, indicating reduced fertility rates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Replacement Level Fertility (RLF)

A

the level of fertility at which a couple has enough children to replace themselves; ~2 children per couple (accounting for infant death) - 2.1 to 2.5 children

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How has the total fertility rate (TFR) changed?

A

it is declining, showing that people are having fewer children

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Current projections of population

A

population expected to peak around 10 - 11 billion around 2090, 2084, and then level off and eventually decline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Correlation between poverty, contraception, and education and fertility rates?

A

high poverty, poor contraception, and minimal education, especially for girls correlates to higher fertility rates; vice vera

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Biology

A

the study of life; study of the living condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the natural sciences?

A

Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; they all build off of each other/intertwine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How does a population pyramid work?

A

males on one side, females on the other; shows percentage of ages in a country

wider on the bottom indicates high fertility and rapid growth, smaller on the bottom indicates decline in population growth, about the same shape throughout indicates stable growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What strategies can control population growth?

A

universal access to contraception, birth control, and abortion
eradication of gender bias
guaranteed secondary education for everyone (especially girls)
proper sex education for everyone
ending financial rewards for having children (tax reductions)
increasing economic status of general population
shifting age ranges of fertility so that people are having kids when they are older

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does biology try to understand?

A

How inanimate molecules built a highly ordered and complex interactive system that exhibits emergent properties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Emergent Properties

A

characterize life within a cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Aim of modern biology

A

interpret the properties of living things within the structure of their molecules → large focus on molecular and chemical structure and how that impacts cell functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Core tenets established by Biology

A

all life is carbon-based, shares carbon-based chemistry

life NEEDS water to survive

life is capable of self-replication (“spontaneous generation” is false, as life cannot be created from nothing; all cells comes from preexisting cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Independent variable

A

what is being manipulated/changed and applied as a treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Framework of Scientific Method

A
  1. ask a question/make an observation
  2. conduct background research on prior literature
  3. develop a hypothesis
  4. conduct an experiment under controlled conditions
  5. record results
  6. analyze results and data
  7. conclusion determines if hypothesis was supported or falsified (disproven)
  8. communicate results to the public (publish) or perish
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Dependent variable

A

what is being measured → want to see how the manipulation of the independent variable impacts the dependent variable; modified by treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Control variable

A

stays the same; does not change, serves as a baseline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Experimental controls

A

set of experimental conditions where everything is identical except for one variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Hypothesis

A

an educated guess; a formal, tentative, testable explanation based on observations and assumptions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

specific to general; taking a specific example and applying it to a general idea or theory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

hypothetico-deductive model

A

involves forming a hypothesis that is conceivably falsifiable by a test of observable data, experiments can help one deduce a general answer to hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

general to the specific (if… then logic); taking a broad theory or idea and applying it to a specific case or scenario

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are some ways to present data?

A

figures, pictures, tables, graphs (bar charts, line graphs), etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Ironic Science

A

non-testable hypothesis that appears scientifically based

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

examples of ironic science

A

nuclear winter and a meteor that caused dinosaur extinction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

When did Earth form?

A

around 4.6 billion years ago

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

nuclear winter

A

proposed by carl sagan, posited that explosions of nuclear weapons would lead to build-up of soot, smoke, and debris in the atmosphere that would block sunlight, reduce the temperature significantly, and destroy life on Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Meteor extinction of dinosaurs

A

Chicxulub crater; impact crater near Yucatan Peninsula believed to be responsible for mass extinction of ~75% of life on Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

When does the first evidence of life date back to?

A

around 3.5 - 3.7 billion years ago

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How old is the universe?

A

13.7 billion years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Common elements for life

A

carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Supernova

A

a collapse of a dying star, releases energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Light year

A

distance it takes for light to travel in a year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

3 domains

A

bacteria, archaea, eukarya

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

hierarchical classification

A

kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

37
Q

Ribosomes

A

macromolecular complexes that synthesize biological proteins and have 2 major components: small and large ribosomal subunits, each composed of ribosomal RNA and a number of proteins; found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells → universal organelle

37
Q

4 kingdoms of eukarya

A

protista, fungi, animalia, plantae

38
Q

NASA definition of Life

A

a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution

39
Q

Can we define life?

A

No, we can only characterize it and identify common traits, because no one definition can apply to all forms of life

39
Q

Common traits of cells

A

All cells derived from single, primordial cell
Cells obey laws of thermodynamics; transform energy to perform metabolic processes (cellular respiration produces ATP, photosynthesis produces glucose)
Highly structured and exhibit emergent properties
Cells metabolize: produce metabolic pathways, process nutrients, self-adjust to environment through metabolic regulation
Self-replication: mitosis (cell divides into two identical daughter cells → skin cell producing two identical skin cells) and meiosis (cell division for sexual reproduction, sex cells, produces 4 daughter cells that are not genetically identical but contain 50% DNA from each parent)
Maintain homeostasis
Communicate through molecular and electrical signals
Show animation; are in constant motion → cyclosis deals with assembly/disassembly
Divide, grow, and differentiate to perform different functions
Die

40
Q

Common characteristics of life

A

Living things:
contain nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids
are composed of cells
Reproduce
Use energy and raw materials
Respond to stimuli
Maintain homeostasis (biological equilibrium)
Evolve and have adaptive traits

41
Q

Main elements within the body (and necessary for life)

A

oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N)

42
Q

Other important elements

A

calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl)

43
Q

3 potential hypotheses for life

A

divine creation (supreme being, not scientifically testable)
astrobiological (Big Bang)
chemical evolution (organic molecules came together to form complex compounds)

44
Q

Cosmology

A

study of the origin of the universe

45
Q

Big Bang Theory

A

universe was created through a massive expansion; began as a small, dense, very hot ball of energy, eventually expanded to create everything

46
Q

Two major eras of universe

A

Radiation (dominance of radiation, first element He formed) and Matter (dominance of matter, H formed as universe cooled down)

47
Q

Nucleosynthesis

A

elements formed by nuclear fusion

48
Q

How did stars produce the elements?

A

Advanced nuclear burning occurs in multiple shells of a star; temp and pressure increase towards center of the star, creating ripe conditions for nuclear fusion (different elements fusing together) depending on distance from core

49
Q

How do planets form?

A

accretion and differentiation

50
Q

Differentiation

A

geologic process of separating out different constituents of a planetary body, form compositionally distinct layers

50
Q

Accretion

A

the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies; rocks and debris get pulled in, amassing to eventually form a planet

51
Q

What are two other Earth-like planets?

A

Gliese 12-b and Jupiter-size exoplanet containing hydrogen sulfide and metal-enriched atmosphere

51
Q

Why is Earth likely the only planet in the Milky Way that can support life?

A

“Goldilocks Zone” - not too hot, not too cold, right distance from the sun, contains liquid water

Haven’t found other suitable planets

52
Q

What do interstellar clouds contain?

A

carbonaceous compounds formed by solar and cosmic radiation; amino acid tryptophan found (vital for growth and development, helps produce proteins, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and muscles)

53
Q

PAH

A

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; organic compounds containing only one carbon and hydrogen ring structure; abundant in universe

54
Q

Asteroid

A

mass of rock and astronomic debris that crashes into Earth

55
Q

Comet

A

frozen mass of ice and rock

55
Q

Meteorite

A

part of an asteroid that breaks off

56
Q

What has been found in asteroids?

A

organic molecules for life; amino acids, amines (derivatives of ammonia), carboxyls (functional group)

57
Q

Which of Saturn’s moons contains organic compounds?

A

Enceladus; found on hydrothermal vents on the surface

58
Q

Murchison Meteorite

A

discovered 1969; contained around 100 amino acids, iron, water, and organic material

59
Q

Which monomers are essential for life?

A

amino acids (form proteins), nucleotides (form DNA and RNA), fatty acids, lipids (fats), sugars (provide energy, participate in reactions)

60
Q

What is believed to be the primordial origin of metabolism?

A

simple small peptide reaction systems

61
Q

Oxidoreductases

A

enzymes that catalyze oxidation reduction reactions

62
Q

Oxidation reduction reactions

A

electrons are transferred between atoms; lose electrons, oxidized vs gain electrons, reduced

63
Q

Why are minerals important for molecules forming larger compounds?

A

provide scaffolding support; can provide a flat base for concentrating molecules together, allowing for easy assembly; also can provide protection

64
Q

Feldspar

A

group of rock-forming aluminum tectosilicate minerals (contain Na, Ca, P, or Ba); compose 60% of Earth’s minerals

microscopic pits may favor concentration by providing protection and cover from external sources (UV radiation and destruction), would concentrate components and create greater reactivity

65
Q

Magnetite

A

one of the main iron ore minerals, small grains found in almost all igneous and metamorphic rocks, catalyst for industrial synthesis of ammonia (NH3) by triggering reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen

66
Q

Clay

A

layered clay can trap organics between clay sheets, concentrating them; montmorillonite clays can catalyze formation of membranous fluid-filled sacs

67
Q

Calcite

A

carbonate mineral, displays selective absorption of D- and L-amino acids

68
Q

Chirality

A

2 different configurations that cannot be superimposed (ex: left and right hand); mirror images

69
Q

Enantiomers

A

molecules of identical composition, but not superimposable because they are mirror images, exhibit opposite spatial configuration and are known to have different optical activity

70
Q

Enantiomer Isomer activity

A

One isomer will rotate plane of polarized light to the right a set number of degrees
Other isomer will rotate plane of polarized light to the left the same set number of degrees

71
Q

Which form of amino acid is used to make proteins?

A

L-amino acids; indicates life is homochiral (same amino acid used, not a mixture of D and L)

72
Q

What are the two optical isomers of amino acids?

A

D and L - proteins only contain L

73
Q

Which optical isomer of glucose do cells use?

A

D-glucose

74
Q

2 Earth-origin hypotheses of life

A

hydrothermal vents and land volcanic pools/volcanic landscapes

75
Q

Hydrothermal vents

A

provide chemicals and energy for metabolism, supported by dark oxygen (oxygen produced without photosynthesis); found in deep sea

76
Q

Volcanic landscape

A

lipid-encapsulated polymers can be synthesized by cycles of hydration and dehydration to form protocells (encapsulated molecules)

77
Q

Polymerization

A

formation of polypeptide chains that may have eventually been able to fold and create proteins

78
Q

Combinatorial Chemistry

A

complex biological life may be result of similarly long period of random iterations of molecules interacting

79
Q

Catalytic activity

A

one RNA molecule recognizes another and catalytically halves it

80
Q

Ribozyme

A

RNA molecule w/ enzymatic-like activity; enzymes catalyze chemical reactions

81
Q

Potential ribozyme activities

A

Hydrolytic cleavage: adds water, breaks bond
Ligase activity: removes water, forms bond; links RNA nucleotides together
Artificial RNA ligases (synthetically produced) can join two strands of nucleic acid together to form RNA polymers

82
Q

Assembly and duplication of random RNA

A

First strand of RNA forms slowly, but once it forms, it can be used as a template to create other complementary strands → much faster process than original strand

83
Q

Knockout genes technique

A

Artificially made miRNAs (microRNAs) can be used to silence gene expression → repress protein synthesis by degrading mRNA and thus silencing the gene

84
Q

Impact of knockout genes

A

Can create a synthetic genome in which cells are controlled by a chemically synthesized chromosome

85
Q

Condensation reaction

A

dehydration synthesis, monomers linked together by removing water molecule

86
Q

Hydrolytic reaction

A

hydration synthesis (hydrolysis), bonds between monomers broken by adding a water molecule; releases energy

87
Q

Cosmic microwave background

A

immense amount of radiation released from the plasma state expanding, cooling, and converting into neutral gas to form the first atoms; responsible for over 99.999% of radiation in universe

88
Q

2 theoretical pillars of Big Bang

A

general relativity and cosmological principle

89
Q

General relativity

A

observed gravitational effect between masses results from their warping of spacetime; gravity is a distortion of space and time itself

90
Q

Cosmological principle

A

on a large scale, the universe is both homogenous and isotropic; relatively uniform

91
Q

LUCA

A

last universal common ancestor; estimated to have lived ~4.2 bya; likely anaerobic acetogen, may have had cellular immunity

92
Q

evidence for common ancestor

A

universal genetic code, shared chirality of 20 amino acids, use of ATP as common energy source, common machinery for protein synthesis

93
Q

5 steps of volcanic landscape theory

A
  1. synthesis of biomolecules
  2. organic compounds in volcanic hydrothermal pools concentrate biomolecules
  3. polymerization of amino acids
  4. lipids form protocell-like entities
  5. metabolic reactions occur