Life Science Flashcards
What two ways does biologist Carl Woese propose for organizing life?
Six kingdoms or three domains
What are the seven levels of classification if living organisms?
King Philip came over for green spaghetti. Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Who was Carolus Linnaeus?
His work was used as a basis for today’s current classification system. We use genus and species classifications to form the scientific name of organism.
What is the basic unit of life?
Cells because they are capable of complex biochemical processes that enable organisms to maintain themselves, grow, develop and reptoduce
What is homeostasis?
The ability to maintain the status quo, or proper levels of energy, water, waste, temperature, hormones, nutrients, etc to function properly.
Why aren’t we giant cells?
As the volume increases in the cell, the membrane is unable to keep up with the growth, therefore cells cooperate in order to form larger organisms
What are tissues?
Groups of cells of any given typ (muscle, nerve, etc) that form the organ of living plants and animals.
How do organs typically work?
They have specific functions yet generally work in conjunction with other organs to comprise body systems such as the cardiovascular system.
What are the two major plant groups?
Vascular (vessels differentiated roots, leaves, stems) and non Vascular (no vessels no roots or stems includes mosses)
What are the two divisions of vascular plants?
Seed plants and Seedless plants (they live close to water)
Seeds allow the embryo to survive long periods in unfavorable conditions
What are the two basic functions of stems?
Hold leaves up for sunlight and conduct various substances between roots and leaves
What is mesophyll?
The specialized cell that composes most leaf tissue. The contain chloroplasts that perform most of the plants photosynthesis
Aerobic Respiration
Step 1
What is glycolysis?
In the cytoplasm, glucose molecules are broken apart using the energy from 2 ATP molecules in this process, resulting in a release of 4 ATP for a net of two molecules?
What is the most important idea behind aerobic respiration?
For a total investment if 2 ATP initially along with a supply of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide, our cells can produce a total of 36 ATP molecules to operate the various processes inside the cell.
Mitosis
The copying and division of the genetic material in the nucleus and is followed by cell division; occurs in body (somatic) cells
Meiosis
Specialized form if mitosis that occurs in reproductive tissues only, however the gamete (sex cell) will have only one set of 23 chromosomes and will only be complete at fertilization where a second set of chromosomes will be supplied by other parent to make a complete paired set
Bacteria
Single cells prokaryotic organism (cells lacking a true nucleus);
Viruses
Entities consisting of RNA in some type of protein coating that are capable of penetrating our bodies to reproduce themselves
What are the body’s two major types of defenses against disease?
Nonspecific (skin, white blood cells, etc) that target any invading cells)
Specific: additional whit blood cells that target invading organisms
How do rain forests move water into the atmosphere?
Transpiration
In the nitrogen cycle, what does assimilation describe?
The intake of ammonium by pants and the animals that eat them
What would autotrophs, organisms capable of producing their own “food” be considered as?
Primary producers
The food chain is arranged by what trophic levels?
Producers, consumers ( primary, secondary, tertiary) and decomposes
What are most organisms dependent upon because of their inability to use atmospheric nitrogen?
The nitrogen cycle. Aquatic/terrestrial bacteria convert nitrogen to ammonium which is taken into the tissues of plants which are fed upon by other organisms (assimilation) and their waste and decomposing bodies supply soil with essential nitrogen for food and crops to grow
