Introduction to Biology Flashcards
What is science in terms of a ‘way of knowing”
Science is a way of gathering and analyzing information about the natural world.
What is the first step of the scientific method?
The scientific method begins with observation.
What is an hypothesis?
An hypothesis is a possible explanation of observations.
Why is an hypothesis important to the scientific method?
Without an hypothesis and experiment cannot be done. The experiment tests the hypothesis.
How does the attitude of skepticism help scientists?
Skepticism keeps scientist asking questions and looking for evidence to support ideas.
What attitude to scientist need to accept different ideas.
Open-Mindedness
What is a theory?
A theory is a well tested explanation that unifies observations and hypotheses. A theory allows scientists to make predictions in new situations.
How does a hypothesis relate to a theory?
An hypothesis tests only one explanation. A theory included many tests of different hypothesis and brings them together.
What is bias?
A particular preference of viewpoint?
How can bias affect the scientific method?
If a scientist as a specific point of view, accurate observations will not be made.
What is biology?
Biology is the study of life.
What is the molecule that stores the universal genetic code?
DNA
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the stable internal environment of living things.
What is the smallest unit of life with which all living things are made?
All living things are composed of cells?
While most characteristics apply to all living things, which characteristics applies to groups of individual.
Living things evolve. Each individual cannot evolve because they have a set genetic code, but groups can change from generation to generation.
What is the difference between growing and developing?
Growing means to increase in size by producing more cells. Developing means cell specialize and take in different functions. When developing , different parts grow at different rates.
What is the smallest unit of matter?
The atom.
What are the three subatomic particles and their charge?
Protons are positive.
Neutrons are neutral.
Electrons are negative.
What must be true for an atom to be neural?
A neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons.
How does an element differ from a compound?
An element is made of only one kind of atom, while an electron is made of different kinds of atoms bonded together.
What are isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different atom masses due to different numbers of neutrons.
If one atom of calcium has an atomic mass of 40 and another has an atomic mass of 41, how do their numbers of protons and neutron compare?
One atom has 20 protons and 20 neutrons, the other has 20 protons and 21 neutrons.
What is an ionic bond?
An ionic bond occurs when one or more electrons is transferred from one atom to another.
How does an ionic bond compare to a covalent bond?
An ionic bond involved the transfer of electrons between atoms while a covalent bond involves atoms sharing electrons.
What does it mean for a molecule to be polar?
A molecule is polar if one end is more positive and one end is more negative.
What are the two components of a solution?
A solution is composed of a solute dissolved In a solvent.
What does pH measure?
The pH of a solution is a measure of the concentration of H+ ions, or the acidity of the solution.
As a solution becomes more acidic, what will happen to its pH?
As a solution becomes more acidic the pH becomes lower.
What is a base?
A base is a solution which produces OH- ions and has a pH higher than 7.
