Science and Human Development

Question 1

What is human development?

Answer 1

Development is an organised sequence of changes in cells, organs and the pattern of the organism as a result of gene expression.
- Indicates the changes that take place from fertilisation to death
- Also, repair process

Question 2

Give 4 ways of Human “Knowing”

Answer 2

• Artistic expression (poetry, painting, writing, etc.)
  -Mystical experience
  -Intuitive arts (shamanic journeying, dreamwork, active imagination)
  -Science and “scientific method”

Question 3

What are the conditions for conducting scientific research?

Answer 3

• The instrument used (ex. mircoscope)
  The ability to isolate a particular process or object to control variables (ex. cell cultures, which allow you to control the environment)
• The theoretical “worldview(s)” in which we base our inquiry (ex. scientific disciplines and cultures)

Question 4

Who is credited for research on early embryology?

Answer 4

Aristotle (284-322) wrote about human development in ‘On the Generation of Animals’

Question 5

What were Aristotle’s belief in epigenesis?

Answer 5

• The chick embryo heart can be seen with the naked eye
  -From observing the chick embryo, Aristotle thought that the heart formed first, followed by the other body parts from internal to external.
  -Theory of Epigenesis: development occurs in a series of steps from simple to differentiated.

Question 6

Who invented the compound microscope?

Answer 6

Robert Hooke (1635-1703)

Question 7

Explain Robert Hooke’s “Cell”

Answer 7

-Hooke observed small “boxes” he linked to monk’s cells in a thin section of cork
-Thought these may contain fluids in a living sample
-Though they were exclusive to plants

Question 8

Who developed the single lens microscope?

Answer 8

Antony can Leeuwenhoek (1690)

Question 9

Explain the hypothesis of preformation

Answer 9

-First theorised by Nicholas Hartsoeker who developed the early single senses microscope and observed semen.
- In 1674 he was one of the first to seem sperm and hypothesised that tiny “homonculi” were fully-formed inside each sperm
- This is called “preformation” and is the opposite of “epigenesis”.
-With the development of better microscopes, this cell theory was proved to be wrong.

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a living thing?(60

Answer 10

-Consist of one or more cells
-Take in and use energy and materials
-Sense and respond to changes in the environment
-Maintain homeostasis
-Reproduce and grow
-Have evolutionary history

Question 11

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 11

Photosynthesis (plants and some bacteria) provide all energy to life, by harvesting the energy of sunlight and storing it in molecules

Question 12

How is energy derived through photosynthesis?

Answer 12

Energy and materials are derived from breaking down other life forms (digestion of food)

Question 13

What is a key factor in relation to photosynthesis? (location)

Answer 13

Necessary energy and materials must be transported to the correct locations (ex. Circulatory system, transport across cell membranes and movements within cells)

Question 14

Why are materials and energy needed within the cell?

Answer 14

Materials and energy are needed for reassembly of molecular building blocks into needed biological macromolecules inside of cells

Question 15

What is metabolism?

Answer 15

The chemical reaction within cells

Question 16

Carbohydrate metabolism and lactose intolerance
(how do each process react in the body)

Answer 16

-carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars by enzymes in the small intestine
-Lactose is a carbohydrate made of one glucose molecule and one galactose molecule
- Where the enzyme (protein that speeds up
chemical reactions) lactase is present,
galactose and glucose are absorbed by the
small intestine, and used in the body’s cells

Question 17

What is a funny term for lactose?

Answer 17

Lactose is a “homotetramer” meaning protein with 4 associated parts of the same kind

Question 18

When does “lactose intolerance” occur?

Answer 18

Lactose intolerance occurs when an individual does not make the lactase needed to breakdown the lactose molecules in the intestine.

Question 19

Explain the reaction to dairy products for someone who is lactose intolerant

Answer 19

Lactose is not absorbed, and moves on to the colon, where it is used by bacteria there (causing flatulence) and where it draws water into the colon (to flush it out, causing loose stools)

Question 20

What is homeostasis? (give an example)

Answer 20

The ability of a living organism to maintain an internal environment that operates under specific conditions
Example: Human body temperature- between 36.5 degrees and 37.5 degrees

Question 21

Ways to maintain homeostasis in the human body?

Answer 21

Response to external temperature, such as shivering and perspiring

Question 22

Levels of Organisation

Answer 22

-Individuals are grouped into populations
-Populations of different organisms interact in communities
-Communities interact in ecosystems
-Biosphere: Most inclusive level of organisation; earth’s water, crust and atmosphere

Question 23

Life’s Organisation

Answer 23

Nature is organized into eleven general levels – Atom
– Molecule: combination of atoms
– Cells: built from atoms and molecules * Organized into tissues
– Organs: made up of different kinds of tissues – Organ systems make up entire organisms

Question 24

Flow of energy and materials

Answer 24

• Organisms must take in energy and materials
• Energy flows into the biosphere from the sun – Solar energy used by plants
  – Fuel used for building tissues
  – Other raw materials come from air, soil, and water
• Producers: self-feeding organisms

Question 25

Name the consumers in the cycling of materials

Answer 25

– Animals, including humans
– Feed on plant materials or other animals

Question 26

Explain the role of bacteria and fungi in the cycling of materials

Answer 26

– Obtain energy by breaking down tissues
– Recycle materials back to producers

Question 27

How are the organisms in the cycling of materials connected?

Answer 27

One-way flow of energy through organisms and cycling of materials among them connects each to the others

Question 28

Examples of large scale effected of human activities on ecosystems (3)

Answer 28

– Loss of biodiversity
– Climate change
– Acid rain

Question 29

Explain the web of life ecosystem

Answer 29

– Actions in one part of the web affect the whole
– May eventually impact the entire biosphere