LEC1 Flashcards
What is Biology?
The scientific study of life.
What does the scientific method do for us?
It help us confirm, reject, or modify our hypothesis.
What is science? Or rather what is it’s purpose?
Science - is trying to move pass the biases of the unexplainable, and to find out the objective facts, or what objective reality is.
What is the purpose of the Scientific Method?
To tell future scientists exactly how we did something so they can repeat it, and confirm if it is an objective fact.
What is an objective fact?
It is a non-bias statement, supported by evidence.
Do we have a clear definition for life?
No, we don’t.
There are complex molecules that some people would call it living, and some people would call it non-living.
For example, viruses.
Scientific evidence tells that life didn’t appear in a single specific instant.
What are some properties of life?
1) Order, 2) Regulation, 3) Growth and Developement, 4) Energy utilization, 5) Respone to the Environment, 6) Reproduction, and 7) Evolution.
Describe the properties of life: Order.
Living things bring order from a mess of atoms. They put atoms together, making them more and more complex.
Ex: The spiral of a sunflower.
Describe the properties of life: Regulation.
All living things regulate their internal environment, keeping it different from the external environment.
Ex: Jack rabbit’s ears.
Describe the properties of life: Growth and Developement.
All living things does this, and are affected by their environment.
Ex: Baby alligator’s sex is determined by temperature, unlike humans.
Describe the properties of life: Energy Utilization.
All living things use energy.
Ex: Saphire Humming Bird.
Describe the properties of life: Response to the Environment.
All living things does this.
Ex: Venus Flytrap respond to flies by trapping & digesting it.
Describe the properties of life: Reproduction.
Living things reproduce and share genes with another animal.
Ex: Panda bears.
Describe the properties of life: Evolution.
Living things evolve to match their environment to take advantage of resources.
Ex: Seahourse’s blend in with corals to hide their presence.
Do organisms and their environments affect each other?
Yes! Each organism interacts with its environment.
As living things live on this planet, they are affecting other organisms on the planet.
How does energy flows through the environment?
From sunlight to producers to consumers. Compounds, acquired by producers, move through organisms and eventually return to the soil or the atmosphere. The consumers can help producers reproduce by leaving it feces in far off areas.
What does the Cell Theory tells us?
All living things are made of cells.
What is a cell?
It is the lowest level of organization that does all activities required for life.
What does cells contain, that transmit information from parents to offsprings?
Genes! They are parts of your DNA that make different protiens, that makes up you.
They give you your traits.
What is a genome?
An organism’s complete library of genes.
