Module 1: The Study Of Life

Question 1

What is DNA?

Answer 1

DNA is a set of instructions that

• take the chemicals which make up life and
• arrange them in just the right way so as to reproduce a living system.

Question 2

What would happen without the DNA instructions set?

Answer 2

Without the specific instructions provided by DNA,

-the components would not be arranged in a coherent manner

-and would not be able to carry out the processes necessary for life.

The chemicals that make up a life form would be nothing more than a pile of goo.

A pile of goo refers to a shapeless, amorphous mass of semi-liquid or viscous substance. It implies that the chemicals that make up living systems would lack the organization and structure necessary for the functioning of a complex organism.

Question 3

Can you define what classification is?

Answer 3

The exercise of taking all of the organisms that live on this earth and placing them in into one of the tree groups: Herbivores, carnivores or omnivores

Question 4

What is the definition of metabolism?

Answer 4

The process by which a living organism takes energy from its surroundings and uses it to sustain itself, develop and grow.

Question 5

What is the definition of photosynthesis?

Answer 5

Photosynthesis allows plants to convert the energy of sunlight into food.

The process by which a plant uses the energy of the sunlight and certain chemicals to produce its own food. Oxygen is often a by-product of photosynthesis.

Question 6

What is the definition of herbivores?

Answer 6

Organisms that eat plants exclusively.

Question 7

What is the definition of carnivores?

Answer 7

Organisms that eat only organisms other than plants.

Question 8

What is the definition of omnivores?

Answer 8

Organisms that eat both plants and other organisms.

Question 9

What is the definition of producers?

Answer 9

Organisms that produce their own food.

Question 10

What is the definition of consumers?

Answer 10

Organisms that eat living producers and /or other consumers for food

Question 11

Why are plants producers?

Answer 11

Because they make their own food from chemicals and the sun’s light.

Question 12

Why are omnivores, herbivores and carnivores all consumers?

Answer 12

Because they eat producers and other consumers.

Question 13

What is the definition of decomposers?

Answer 13

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

Question 14

What is the definition of autotrophs?

Answer 14

Organisms that are able to make their own food.

Question 15

What is the definition of heterotrophs?

Answer 15

Organisms that depend on other organisms for their food.

Question 16

What is the definition of receptors?

Answer 16

Special structures or chemicals that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their surroundings.

Question 17

What is the definition of asexual reproduction?

Answer 17

Reproduction accomplished by a single organism.

Question 18

What is the definition of sexual reproduction?

Answer 18

Reproduction that requires 2 organisms, a male and a female.

Question 19

What is the definition of inheritance?

Answer 19

The process by which physical and biological characteristics are transmitted from the parent (or parents) to the offspring.

Question 20

What is the definition of mutation?

Answer 20

An abrupt and marked difference between offspring and parent.

Question 21

What is the definition of hypothesis ?

Answer 21

An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question. The explanation will have to be tested with a significant amount of data before it can be considered a theory.

Question 22

What is the definition of theory?

Answer 22

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.

Question 23

What is the definition of scientific law ?

Answer 23

A theory that has been tested by and is consistent with generations of data.

Question 24

What is the definition of microorganism ?

Answer 24

Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked eye.

Question 25

What is the definition of abiogenesis?

Answer 25

The theory that, long ago, very simple life forms spontaneously appeared through random chemical reactions.

Question 26

What is the definition of prokaryotic cell ?

Answer 26

A cell that has no distinct, membrane-bound organelles.

Question 27

Define Organelles

Answer 27

Organelles are specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions. They are typically enclosed within membranes and carry out various cellular processes.

Question 28

Define Membrane-bound

Answer 28

When we say that an organelle is membrane-bound, it means that the organelle is surrounded by a membrane or a lipid bilayer. This membrane acts as a barrier, separating the organelle’s internal environment from the surrounding cytoplasm.

Question 29

What is the definition of eukaryotic cell?

Answer 29

A cell with distinct, membrane-bound organelles.

Question 30

What is the definition of species?

Answer 30

A unit of one or more populations of individuals that can reproduce under normal conditions, produce fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other such units.

Question 31

What is the definition of binomial nomenclature?

Answer 31

Naming an organism with its genus and species name.

Question 32

What is the definition of taxonomy?

Answer 32

The science of classifying organisms.

Question 33

What are the 4 criteria of life?

Question 34

An organism is classified as a carnivore. Is it heterotroph or an autotroph? Is it a producer, consumer or decomposer? xxxxx

Question 35

An organism has receptors in tentacles that come out of its head. If those tentacles were cut off in an accident, what life function would be most hampered? xxxxx

Question 36

A parent and two offspring are studied. Although there are many similarities between the parent and the offspring, there are also some differences. Do these organisms reproduce sexually or asexually? xxxxxxxxxx

Question 37

Briefly explain the scientific method.
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Question 38

Where does the wise person place his or her faith: science or the Bible?

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