Test 1 Study Guide Flashcards
What did Carl Sagan mean when he said we are all made of star stuff?
Living things are composed of the same chemical elements as nonliving things. They also obey the same physical and chemical laws that govern everything in the universe.
Define Biology.
The scientific study of life.
What are the characteristics of living things?
- Organized from the atom to the biosphere.
- Use materials and energy from the environment (sun)
- Maintain a relatively constant internal environment (homeostasis)
- Respond to internal and external stimuli
- Reproduce and grow
- Have the ability to change over time
What are the stages of the hierarchy of complexity?
- Atom
- Molecule
- Cell
- Tissue
- Organ
- Organ System
- Organism
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Biosphere
What is the basic unit of structure and function of all living things?
The cell
What are emergent properties?
Properties that become apparent and result from various interacting components within a system but are properties that do not belong to the individual components themselves.
What is metabolism?
All the chemical reactions that occur in a cell.
What is the ultimate source of energy for nearly all life on Earth?
The sun
Who is capable of conducting photosynthesis?
Eukaryotic cells with chloroplasts; ie. plants
Who is capable of conducting cellular respiration?
All eukaryotic cells; ie plants and animals
What is homeostasis?
The maintenance of internal conditions within certain boundaries.
What does Eukarya mean?
“True Nucleus”, meaning the cell contains a membrane-bound nucleus
What are the three domains of life?
Domain Archaea, Domain Bacteria, Domain Eukarya
What domain are prokaryotes located in?
Domain Archaea, Domain Bacteria
What is the difference between Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria?
Archaea live in extreme environments similar to the primative earth, whereas, Bacteria live in all environments.
What are the kingdoms of Domain Eukarya?
Protista, Animalia, Plantae, Fungi
What is the least inclusive category for organizing life?
species
What is the most inclusive category for organizing life?
domain
What are the categories for organizing life from most inclusive to least inclusive?
domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
How does adaptations relate to “Survival of the fittest”?
Adaptation is a process where, over a LONG time, characteristics that lead to better reproductive success become more prevalent in the population. The means that only the “fittest” survive.
How does natural selection apply to “Survival of the fittest”?
Natural selection are traits that enhance survival and reproduction. They are fueled by mutations and if positive, lead to adaptations in the entire population over time.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Predictions
- Test with Data Collection and Statistical Analysis
- Results/Conclusion
What is a hypothesis?
A statement that tries to explain the question.
What are predictions?
Specific statements that can directly be tested (if/then statements)
What is the purpose of Peer Review?
It helps guard against faulty research. Any paper that is not up to par must be revised before being published.
What is the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?
A theory joins together two or more hypothesis that are supported by a broad range of observations, experiments, and data. A law is a widely accepted set of theories, with no challenges to validity.
How are species names set up? Ex. Homo sapien.
The first name is the genius and the second name is the species.
What is the difference between an experimental and control group?
An experiment manipulates a variable to produce a result. The control group does not get the variable, whereas an experimental group does.
What is a gene?
The code for making a single individual protein.
What do genes determine?
The characteristics of an organism.
What are genes composed of?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
What is matter?
Anything that occupies space and has mass.
What is energy?
The capacity to do work (put matter into motion).
What is kinetic energy?
The movement of particles or objects (active energy).
What is potential energy?
stored energy (has the potential to do work).
What is chemical energy?
Energy locked up in chemical bonds (when bonds break = kinetic)
What is electrical energy?
Energy from the movement of charged particles (ex. nervous impulses).
What is mechanical energy?
Energy directly involved in moving matter (ex. riding bike).
What is radiant energy?
(Electromagnetic energy) Energy that travels in waves (ex. light, UV, X-ray).
What energy does your cells use?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
Can energy be created or destroyed?
No, the law of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant. Energy can only be converted between different forms.
What are the subatomic particles?
protons, neutrons, electrons
Where are the subatomic particles located?
Nucleus: protons and neutrons
Orbiting clouds around nucleus (electron shells): electrons
What is the mass of the subatomic particles?
1 amu: protons and neutrons
0 amu: electrons
What is the charge of the subatomic particles?
+: protons
0: neutrons
-: electrons
What is a valence shell?
The outermost energy shell, where electrons that participate in chemical bonding occur.
How many electrons are needed for stability in an atom?
8 electrons are needed in an atom’s valence shell.
How do isotopes differ from each other?
Isotopes have the same number of protons, but they differ in the number of neutrons they contain.
How many atoms of each element is in C_6H_12O_6?
C: 6
H: 12
O: 6
What is an ionic bond?
A bond where atoms donate or take on electrons. These occur between particles that are charged.
What is a non-polar covalent bond?
A bond where electrons are shared equally between atoms.
What is a polar covalent bond?
A bond where electrons are shared unequally between atoms. Different atoms have different abilities to attract electrons, therefore, they attract the electron closer to them than to the other atom. This creates partial charges on the atoms involved in the bond.
What is a hydrogen bond?
A weak attraction between the “poles” of water molecules due to the partial charges created by the polar covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen.