Intro to Life Flashcards
Cell Theory
- The smallest unit of life is a single cell
- All living organisms are made up of 1 or more cells
- All cells come from pre-existing cells
Hierarchical Organization of Life
Decreasing complexity of life:
Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem: A specified physical space and the communities it contains
Community
Population
Organism
Organ system
Organ
Tissue
Cell
Organelle
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic particles: The elementary particles that make up atoms
Characteristics of Life (6)
- Order and organization
- Growth and development
- Reproduction
- Energy metabolism
- Maintain homeostasis
- Response to the environment
Feedback system (3 parts)
- Sensor: monitors or measures for a stimulus
- Control center: uses information to decide how to respond to the detected stimulus
- effector: Carries out action (decision) that either reverses or amplifies stimulus
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Orders from most inclusive to most exclusive:
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
What is a stimulus in a feedback system?
A change in a controlled condition caused by some disruption.
Scientific name
Genus, species (italicized)
Domains
Eubacteria
Archaebacteria
Eukarya: Contains plant, animal, fungi, and protist kingdoms
Kingdoms
Animal, Plant, Fungi, Protist, Bacteria
Linnaeus, Whittaker, and Woese-Whittaker
Linnaeus: Created modern classification beginning with 2 kingdoms, plants and animals; 18th century.
Whittaker: Expanded on Linnaeus’s system; added 3 kingdoms, Monera (bacteria), Protista (protists), and Fungi; mid-1900s.
Wose-Whittaker: Created domains; Eubacteria (bacteria), Archaebacteria (Archaea), and Eukarya.
Autotrophic
An organism that can make its own food for energy
Heterotrophic
An organism that has to eat something/someone else for energy
Bacteria/Archaea
- Prokaryotic
- Cells are rod, spiral, or round shaped
- Some are autotrophic and some are heterotrophic
- Move via flagella or gliding
- Some have mechanoreceptors and some have photoreceptors
Protista (protists)
- Eukaryotic
- Evolved About 850 mya from prokaryotes (bacteria)
- Most are unicellular
- Engulfing (only used by protists)
- Some are autotrophic and some are heterotrophic
- Move via manipulation of the cell membrane, cilia, or flagella
Animalia (Animal)
- Eukaryotic
- Evolved about 600 mya (sponges) from protists
- Multicellular
- All are heterotrophic
Fungi
- Eukaryotic
- Evolved about 460 mya from a protist
- Multicellular
- Filamentous body (strands)
- Heterotrophic
- Sessile (stationary)
Plantae
- Eukaryotic
- Evolved about 450 mya from a protist
- Multicellular
- Autotrophic (Some are both Autotrophic and heterotrophic/carnivorous)
Sessile (stationary)
Viruses
Non-living infectious nucleic acid with a protein coat
Prokaryotic v. Eukaryotic cells (5)
Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex (10µm-100µm) and have a nuclear membrane that contains their multiple chromosomes are linear and come in pairs. They can be unicellular or multicellular, and cells can be specialized (differentiated) in multicellular organisms.
Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler (0.1µm-10µm) and are always unicellular. They do not have a nuclear membrane that contains their single, circular chromosome.
Emergent property
A characteristic that becomes present through the interactions of multiple components, but not seen in the individual parts.
Umwelten
The part of an organism’s surroundings it can sense and experience or its perceptual world (senses).
Examples of senses
- Smell (Chemicals in air)
- Taste (Chemicals in water)
- Light (Electromagnetic radiation)
- Radiant heat
- Temperature
- Touch/ Pressure
- Sound
- Electric Fields
- Magnetic Fields
- Pain (Brain required)
- Nociception (Damage different from pain)
- Etc.
Phylogenetic Tree/ Cladogram
A visual depiction of the evolutionary relationships between organisms
Homologous Traits
Traits inherited from a common ancestor
Analogous Traits
Similar traits that evolved independently; not inherited from a common ancestor.
