Study Guide Bio 102 Exam 1 Flashcards
biology
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments
inductive reasoning
a form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion
Deductive reasoning
a form of logical thinking that uses a general statement to forecast specific results
Metabolism
all the chemical reactions that take place inside cells, including those that use energy and those that release energy
Catabolism
describes the pathway in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones, yielding energy as an additional product of the reaction
Anabolism
describes the pathway that requires a net energy input to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones
Kinetic energy
the type of energy associated with objects in motion
Potential energy
the type of energy that refers to the potential to do work
Enzymes
a molecule that catalyzes a biochemical reaction
Glycolysis
the process of breaking glucose into two three-carbon molecules with the production of ATP and NADH
ID and describe the properties of life.
1: Order
Organisms are highly organized structures that consist of one or more cells. Even very simple, single-celled organisms are remarkably complex. Inside each cell, atoms make up molecules. These in turn make up cell components or organelles. Multicellular organisms, which may consist of millions of individual cells, have an advantage over single-celled organisms in that their cells can be specialized to perform specific functions, and even sacrificed in certain situations for the good of the organism as a whole.
ID and describe the properties of life.
2. Sensitivity and the response to stimuli
Organisms respond to diverse stimuli. For example, plants can bend toward a source of light or respond to touch. Movement toward a stimulus is considered a positive response, while movement away from a stimulus is considered a negative response.
ID and describe the properties of life.
3: Reproduction
Single-celled organisms reproduce by first duplicating their DNA, which is the genetic material, and then dividing it equally as the cell prepares to divide to form two new cells. Many multicellular organisms (those made up of more than one cell) produce specialized reproductive cells that will form new individuals. When reproduction occurs, DNA containing genes is passed along to an organism’s offspring. These genes are the reason that the offspring will belong to the same species and will have characteristics similar to the parent, such as fur color and blood type.
ID and describe the properties of life.
4: Adaptation.
All living organisms exhibit a “fit” to their environment. Biologists refer to this fit as adaptation and it is a consequence of evolution by natural selection, which operates in every lineage of reproducing organisms. Examples of adaptations are diverse and unique, from heat-resistant Archaea that live in boiling hot springs to the tongue length of a nectar-feeding moth that matches the size of the flower from which it feeds. All adaptations enhance the reproductive potential of the individual exhibiting them, including their ability to survive to reproduce. Adaptations are not constant. As an environment changes, natural selection causes the characteristics of the individuals in a population to track those changes.
ID and describe the properties of life.
5: Growth and Development
Organisms grow and develop according to specific instructions coded for by their genes. These genes provide instructions that will direct cellular growth and development, ensuring that a species’ young (Figure 1.4) will grow up to exhibit many of the same characteristics as its parents.
ID and describe the properties of life.
6: Regulation.
Even the smallest organisms are complex and require multiple regulatory mechanisms to coordinate internal functions, such as the transport of nutrients, response to stimuli, and coping with environmental stresses. For example, organ systems such as the digestive or circulatory systems perform specific functions like carrying oxygen throughout the body, removing wastes, delivering nutrients to every cell, and cooling the body.
ID and describe the properties of life.
7: Homeostasis.
To function properly, cells require appropriate conditions such as proper temperature, pH, and concentrations of diverse chemicals. These conditions may, however, change from one moment to the next. Organisms are able to maintain internal conditions within a narrow range almost constantly, despite environmental changes, through a process called homeostasis or “steady state”—the ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions. For example, many organisms regulate their body temperature in a process known as thermoregulation. Organisms that live in cold climates, such as the polar bear (Figure 1.5), have body structures that help them withstand low temperatures and conserve body heat. In hot climates, organisms have methods (such as perspiration in humans or panting in dogs) that help them to shed excess body heat.
ID and describe the properties of life.
8: Energy processing.
All organisms (such as the California condor shown in Figure 1.6) use a source of energy for their metabolic activities. Some organisms capture energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy in food; others use chemical energy from molecules they take in.
Know the levels of organization and their descriptions.
Atom
A basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.
