Intro to Life

Question 1

Cell Theory

Answer 1

1. The smallest unit of life is a single cell
2. All living organisms are made up of 1 or more cells
3. All cells come from pre-existing cells

Question 2

Hierarchical Organization of Life

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Characteristics of Life (6)

Answer 3

1. Order and organization
2. Growth and development
3. Reproduction
4. Energy metabolism
5. Maintain homeostasis
6. Response to the environment

Question 4

Feedback system (3 parts)

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Answer 5

Orders from most inclusive to most exclusive:
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species

Question 6

What is a stimulus in a feedback system?

Answer 6

A change in a controlled condition caused by some disruption.

Question 7

Scientific name

Answer 7

Genus, species (italicized)

Question 8

Domains

Answer 8

Eubacteria
Archaebacteria
Eukarya: Contains plant, animal, fungi, and protist kingdoms

Question 9

Kingdoms

Answer 9

Animal, Plant, Fungi, Protist, Bacteria

Question 10

Linnaeus, Whittaker, and Woese-Whittaker

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Autotrophic

Answer 11

An organism that can make its own food for energy

Question 12

Heterotrophic

Answer 12

An organism that has to eat something/someone else for energy

Question 13

Bacteria/Archaea

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Protista (protists)

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Animalia (Animal)

Answer 15

• Eukaryotic
• Evolved about 600 mya (sponges) from protists
• Multicellular
• All are heterotrophic

Question 16

Fungi

Answer 16

• Eukaryotic
• Evolved about 460 mya from a protist
• Multicellular
• Filamentous body (strands)
• Heterotrophic
• Sessile (stationary)

Question 17

Plantae

Answer 17

• Eukaryotic
• Evolved about 450 mya from a protist
• Multicellular
• Autotrophic (Some are both Autotrophic and heterotrophic/carnivorous)
  Sessile (stationary)

Question 18

Viruses

Answer 18

Non-living infectious nucleic acid with a protein coat

Question 19

Prokaryotic v. Eukaryotic cells (5)

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Emergent property

Answer 20

A characteristic that becomes present through the interactions of multiple components, but not seen in the individual parts.

Question 21

Umwelten

Answer 21

The part of an organism’s surroundings it can sense and experience or its perceptual world (senses).

Question 22

Examples of senses

Answer 22

• 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.

Question 23

Phylogenetic Tree/ Cladogram

Answer 23

A visual depiction of the evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 24

Homologous Traits

Answer 24

Traits inherited from a common ancestor

Question 25

Analogous Traits

Answer 25

Similar traits that evolved independently; not inherited from a common ancestor.