Semester 1 Flashcards
To study for exams
Describe the cycle of scientific enterprise
Start with a theory. Good theories enable new predictions. So then we form a hypothesis. Then we do experiments. Then we get new facts. If the new facts are consistent with the theory, then we take the new facts and add it to the theory.
Explain the difference between truth and fact
Truth is not in science because it never changes and it has to be revealed. God is truth. Fact is based upon new data and is always changing. Science is fact.
Define science
Science is the use of observation, experimentation, and logical thinking to develop mental models of the natural world. These models are called theories
What are the two main qualities that a good theory must possess.
- Explain most of the facts
2. Enable a new hypothesis to be formed
When an experiment does not confirm the hypothesis, are the results still valuable?
Yes, because you can use the new facts to alter the theory, then start the cycle over again
What are the ten levels or organization of biological hierarchy according to your text?
1.Biosphere 2.Ecosystem 3.Community 4.Population 5.Organism 6.Organs and organ system 7,Tissue 8.Cells 9.Organelles 10.Molecules
What are the seven characteristics of life?
1.Order 2.Evolutionary Adaption 3.Regulation 4.Energy Processing 5.Reproduction 6.Growth and Development 7.Response to the environment
In Darwin’s book The Origin of Species what were the two main points?
- Species showed evidence of decent through modification of common ancestors
- Natural selection is the mechanism behind descent with modification.
Aristotle
first arranged life forms on a ladder of increasing complexity (scala natural)
Linnaeus
founded taxonomy and developed the binomial format for naming species
Cuvier
developed a large part of paleontology and advocated catastrophism
Hutton
proposed that the earth’s changes were do to gradual mechanisms
Lyell
made uniformitarianism
Lamark
proposed that species evolved through use and disuse and inheritance of aquired characteristics.
Wallace
discovered Natural selection also, but decided to let Darwin take the credit
Darwin
came up with natural selection and got the credit for it
What is natural selection?
Certian species have certain traits and the ones that have traits more fit to the environment reproduce more and outlive the others who are unfit
Catastrophism
events in the past occured suddenly and were caused by mechanisms different from those operating in the present
Taxonomy
The branch of biology concerned with classifying organisms
Paleontology
the study of fossils
Uniformitarianism
mechanisms of change are constant over time
Explain how the rapid evolution of drug-resistance in bacteria is an example of natural selection
The part of the bacteria that is resistant to the drug does not die. That part keeps growing and reproducing and the other parts keep dying until the entire bacteria is resistant to that particular drug