Topic 1: intro to biology

Question 1

what is life defined as?

Answer 1

-an imperfect replicating system that evolves by natural selection
-very methodical and calculated

Question 2

what is evolution?

Answer 2

-the process of change over time in the genetic composition of a population
-the fundamental principle of biology
-an organisms adaptations to its environment
-descent with modification

Question 3

what are emergent properties?

Answer 3

-properties that emerge as complexity increases
-depends on arrangement and interaction
-not unique to life > ex: a bike

Question 4

what is reductionism and what is it used for?

Answer 4

-reduces complex systems into simpler components
-used to better understand the parts of a system and how they work in the system
-used to explore emergent properties

Question 5

What are the identifying features of a prokaryote?

Answer 5

-no nucleus (nucleoid region)
-has a cell wall (non-permeable)
-non-compartmentalized
-always single celled
-uses DNA as genetic code

Question 6

what are the identifying features of a eukaryote?

Answer 6

-has a nucleus
-has a cell membrane (semi-permeable)
-compartmentalized
-can be single celled OR multicellular < typically
-uses DNA as genetic code

Question 7

what is DNA

Answer 7

-deoxyribonucleic acid
-the genetic material of life
-contained in genes
-can be single or double stranded

Question 8

what is a DNA double helix?

Answer 8

-2 long strands of DNA
-composed of nucleotides with a sugar-phosphate backbone
-forms a twisted staircase

Question 9

what is single stranded DNA?

Answer 9

-1 long sequence of DNA
-composed of nucleotides with a sugar-phosphate backbone

Question 10

what is RNA and what is it used for?

Answer 10

-ribonucleic acid
-has multiple forms (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA)
-used to control protein production

Question 11

what are genes?

Answer 11

-heritable units of DNA that encode for proteins and other RNA molecules

Question 12

what is gene expression?

Answer 12

-the entire process of DNA. replication
-required to manufacture cellular products
-transcription, translation, and protein folding

Question 13

what is transcription?

Answer 13

-the synthesis of RNA using a DNA template
-DNA is copied into a new molecule called mRNA (messenger RNA)
-occurs in the nucelus

Question 14

what is translation?

Answer 14

-the synthesis of a polypeptide chain
-mRNA encodes for specific amino acids
-tRNA brings the anticodon (complementary to the codon)
-occurs in ribosomes

Question 15

what are the steps in energy flow?

Answer 15

-light energy is taken from the sun
-gets converted into chemical energy
-organisms use the energy for work
-energy gets lost from the ecosystem as heat

Question 16

what are the steps in the chemical cycle?

Answer 16

-plants take chemicals and atoms from the soil and air
-chemicals are passed to animals who eat the plants
-fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms and return the chemicals back to the soil

Question 17

why are interactions in biological systems important?

Answer 17

they ensure that there is a smooth operation between all components of the system

Question 18

what levels have interactions in their systems?

Answer 18

-all levels!
-lower levels: between organs, tissues, cells, and molecules
-higher levels: between each organism (ex: tree + animals + insects + soil)

Question 19

what are the 10 components to the hierarchy of life in order.

Answer 19

-the biosphere
-ecosystems
-communities
-populations
-organisms
-organs + organ systems
-tissues
-cells
-organelles
-molecules

Question 20

the biosphere (HOL)

Answer 20

-consists of all life on earth contained within all the ecosystems

Question 21

ecosystems (HOL)

Answer 21

-all living things within a particular area + its non living components they interact with

Question 22

communities (HOL)

Answer 22

-groups of different populations of different species living close together with potential to interact

Question 23

populations (HOL)

Answer 23

-a group of the same species that inhabits a particular area

Question 24

organisms (HOL)

Answer 24

-individual living things

Question 25

organs + organ systems (HOL)

Answer 25

-a collection of different tissues with specialized functions that are organized into systems

Question 26

tissues (HOL)

Answer 26

-a collection of differentiated and specialized cells that perform functions

Question 27

cells (HOL)

Answer 27

-a collection of organelles within a membrane

Question 28

organelles (HOL)

Answer 28

-a collection of molecules form specific organelles

Question 29

molecules (HOL)

Answer 29

-a chemical structure that consists of 2 or more atoms

Question 30

atoms

Answer 30

-the smallest unit of matter
-retains properties of a specific element

Question 31

what are the 7 principals of life?

Answer 31

-order
-energy processing
-growth and development
-self regulation
-response to the environment
-reproduction
-evolutionary adaptation

Question 32

order (POL)

Answer 32

-organized into highly ordered structures
-energy must be put in to maintain order
-non-living things can also be ordered (crystalline structures), but less than living things

Question 33

energy processing (POL)

Answer 33

-maintenance of order
-reproduction
-movement in the environment
-obtaining food and resources for growth and development

Question 34

growth and development (POL)

Answer 34

-DNA is inherited
-it controls the pattern of growth and development
-does so through the regulation of gene expression

Question 35

self regulation (POL)

Answer 35

-homeostasis
-response to the environment
-blood flow through vessels

Question 36

reproduction (POL)

Answer 36

-the need to make more of its own kind
-asexual and sexual modes of reproduction
-ex: cloning, fragmentation, budding, and sex

Question 37

evolutionary adaptation (POL)

Answer 37

-populations adapt to a changing environment by evolution
-environment selects against unsuited individuals by natural selection

Question 38

natural selection

Answer 38

-mechanism of evolution
-those with favourable traits will survive and reproduce better than others with less favourable traits

Question 39

requirements for natural selection

Answer 39

-individuals in a population must vary in their traits (different alleles)
-traits must be heritable (passed from parent to offspring)
-population can produce more offspring than can be supported (competition)
-species are adaptable to their environment

Question 40

what types of traits are selected for or against?

Answer 40

-selected traits must vary and be heritable
-traits that do not vary and are not heritable cannot be selected for

Question 41

what is the linnaean classification system?

Answer 41

-named after carl linnaeus
-groups organism based on how closely they resemble each other

Question 42

how are species named based on the linnaean system?

Answer 42

-first part = genus
-second part = species specific

Question 43

what is the order of the linnaean system from most broad to most narrow

Answer 43

-domain
-kingdom
-phylum
-class
-order
-family
-genus
-species
-downstairs king phillip cried out for goodness sake

Question 44

taxomy

Answer 44

-branch of biology that names and classifies species

Question 45

what is a heritable trait?

Answer 45

-a trait that can be passed down (from parent to offspring)

Question 46

what is a variable trait?

Answer 46

-a trait that differs in its alleles

Question 47

what are the 3 major domains of life?

Answer 47

-bacteria (prokaryote)
-archaea (prokaryote)
-eukaryotes

Question 48

what are the steps to the scientific method?

Answer 48

-observation
-question
-hypothesis
-experiment
-data collection
-results

Question 49

what is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Answer 49

-qualitative (descriptions)
-quantitative (numerical)

Question 50

what are the standards of a hypothesis

Answer 50

-must be testable and falsifiable
-based on available data and inductive reasoning
-cannot be proven only supported

Question 51

how is a theory different from a hypothesis?

Answer 51

-a hypothesis is a based on a smaller observation and assumption
-a theory is supported by a large body of evidence, through many hypotheses

Question 52

inductive reasoning

Answer 52

-logic that has generalizations based on a large number of observations
-ex: sun rises in the east and sets in the west

Question 53

deductive reasoning

Answer 53

-logic that flows from general to specific, goes from IF to THEN
-ex: if leaf colour is related to temp, then leaves will change colour in cooler temps

Question 54

independent variable

Answer 54

-what the researcher manipulates

Question 55

dependent variable

Answer 55

-what changes because of the manipulation

Question 56

what is the difference between a cause and a correlation?

Answer 56

-cause: factor A leads to condition B
-correlation: when factor A changes, so does condition B
-every cause could be considered a correlation, but not every correlation can be considered a cause

Question 57

protein

Answer 57

-a large complex molecule, made up of 1 or more amino acid (poly peptide) chains
-get foiled and shaped into specific structures to perform specific functions

Question 58

selective pressure

Answer 58

-force that causes a phenotype to be more favourable
-force comes from the environment
-humans can cause stress but they are not actively providing or selecting for traits

Question 59

phylogenetic trees

Answer 59

-branching diagrams that represents the evolutionary history between a group of organisms
-depict evolutionary relationships

Question 60

what are some concerns about science being reported in the media? any positives?

Answer 60

-each writer may portray the information differently (bias or tone)
-information can be skewed by readers through passing of info
-some science reported may not be ethical
-can inform people of important subjects
-can allow people to gauge a new perspective
-can spark interests in younger generations