Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

XYC001 Biological systems > Topic 1: Study of life > Flashcards

Topic 1: Study of life Flashcards

1
Q

Biology
(1)

A

Biology is the study of life- how organism work, function and interact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What has biology achieved?

A

-developed medicines
-medical/surgical treatments
-predict the effects of changing environments
-meeting global food demands
-impact of food
-effects of exercise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 4 basic principles of modern biology?

A

-cell theory
-gene theory
-homeostasis
-evolution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Cell theory

A

-cells are basic units of life
-all cells arise from existing cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Gene theory

A

-all cells contain DNA
-DNA codes for functions and structures of cells
-DNA is passed to offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Homeostasis

A

organisms maintain a constant internal environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Evolution

A

change of inherited characteristics over time through natural selection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Domains

A

-American microbiologist carl woese has shown that life on earth has evolved down three lineages, now called domains- Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Phylogenetic tree

A

-a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms
-phylogenetic trees are hypotheses not definitive facts
-the pattern of branching in a phylogenetic tree reflects how species or other groups evolved from a series of common ancestors
-in a phylogenetic tree the species or groups of interest are found at the tips of lines referred to as the tree’s branches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Science
(2)

A
  • systematic and logical approach to discovering how things in the universe work
    -the body of knowledge accumulated through the discovery about all things in the universe
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

“scientia”

A

knowledge based on demonstratable and reproducible data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Science- Aims

A

-science aims to produce measurable results through testing and analysis, a process known as the scientific method
-factual, not opinion or preferences
-designs to challenged ideas through research
-science begins with observation therefore much of it is purely descriptive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Characteristics of natural science

A

-subject to change
-based on the observation of the environment
-based on the formulation of theories
-inferences are made from observations
-it is subject to review and experimentation
-when findings are made that suggest inconsistency, changes are made

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Scientific method definition
(3)

A

-a logical problem-solving approach
-follows principles and procedures to gain knowledge
-making questions and observations
-formulating hypothesis
-performing experiments and testing a hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Steps of scientific method

A

1) make an observation
2) ask a question
3) forms a hypothesis that answers the question
4) make a prediction based on the hypothesis
5) do an experiment to test the prediction
6) analyse the results to make new hypothesis or predictions (the hypothesis is correct or incorrect)
7)report the results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Steps of scientific method (example)

A

1) observation: the toaster wont toast
2) question: why didn’t my bread get toasted?
3) hypothesis: the toast didn’t toast because the electrical outlet is broken
4) prediction: if I plug the toaster into a different outlet then it will toast the bread
5) test the prediction: we can plug the toaster into a different outlet and try again to see if it toasts
6) analyse the results: if the bread toast then the hypothesis is correct/supported so we might do additional tests to confirm it or revise it to be more specific e.g. we might investigate why the outlet is broken.
If the bread still won’t toast then the hypothesis is wrong/not supported so we can come up with a new hypothesis e.g. the next hypothesis may be that there is a broken wire in the toaster (so we then try again and repeat the steps from step 3 hoping this time the hypothesis will be correct)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Hypothesis definition

A

a testable explanation of a natural phenomenon that is arrived logically from a theory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Step 3 of scientific method- generating a hypothesis

A

-a statement is testable if evidence that be collected that either does or doesn’t support it
-but it can never be proven beyond doubt
-often must be refined and revised or discarded

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Organizing data (final step of scientific/report the results)

A

involves placing observations or measurement (data) in order- graphs, charts, tables or maps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Theory

A

a well developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena that can be used to make predictions about future observations

21
Q

Deductive reasoning
(4)

A

uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results

22
Q

Deductive reasoning (general premise and predicted results example)

A

-from a general premise, specific results are predicted

general premise
-individuals most adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass their traits to the next generation

predicted results
-if the average temperature in an ecosystem increases, due to climate change, individuals better adapted to hotter temperatures will outcompete those that are not

23
Q

Deductive reasoning (noble gases example)

A

-all noble gases are stable
-neon is a noble gas
-therefore neon is stable

This is a valid and sound deductive argument

24
Q

Deductive reasoning (Claire pizza example)

A

-all students eat pizza
-Claire is a student at ASU
-therefore Claire eats pizza

25
Deductive reasoning (Barry gym example)
-all athletes work out in the gym -Barry Bonds is an athlete -therefore Barry Bond works out in the gym
26
inductive reasoning
draws general conclusions that are likely, from specific results
27
inductive reasoning (observations and conclusions example)
From a number of observations, a general conclusions is drawn observations -members of a species are not all the same -individuals compete for resources -species are generally adapted to their environment conclusions -individuals most adapted to the environment are more likely to survive and pass on their traits to the next generation
28
inductive reasoning (Jennifer example)
-Jennifer leaves for school at 7:00am -Jennifer is always on time -Jennifer concludes that she will always be on time if she leaves at 7:00am -the conclusion in an inductive argument can never be guaranteed
29
Inductive reasoning (schizophrenia example)
-from data to general conclusions, in other words what theory or theories could explain this data -example: probability of becoming schizophrenic is greatly increased if at least one parent is schizophrenic -conclusion: schizophrenia may be inherited
30
Basic science (5)
-the goal of basic/pure science is to understand how things work -the knowledge obtained in life sciences is mostly basic science -it is the source of most scientific theories: ------cell biology ------genetics ------molecular biology ------microbiology and virology -------physiology
31
Applied science
-applied science is using scientific discoveries, such as those from pure research, to solve practical problems -for example, medicine is applied science -studies of wind patterns and bird migration routes determine the placements for the windmills
32
Adaptation
any structure, behaviour or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and survive to produce offspring
33
Energy
the ability to cause change
34
Environment
the surroundings to which an organism must adjust; includes air, water, temperature, organisms and other factors
35
Homeostasis
an organisms ability to control its internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival
35
Evolution
gradual change in a species through adaptations over time
36
Organism
anything that possesses all the characteristics of life
37
Properties of life
living organism: -are composed of cells -can be complex and are ordered -adjust or respond to their environment -can grow and reproduce -obtain and use energy -maintain internal balance -allow for evolutionary adaptation
38
Why aren't viruses considered living organisms?
-a virus can store and transmit information -a virus has a protein coat
39
Levels of organisation among living things (7)
-molecules -macromolecules -organelles -cells -organs -organ system -organism -population -community -ecosystem -biosphere
40
Levels of organisation among living things (with examples)
-organelles: the nucleus -cells: human blood cells -tissue: human skin tissue -organs and organ systems: organs such as the stomach and small intestines make up the human digestive system -organisms, populations and communities: in a forest each pine tree is an organism. Together all the pine trees make up a population. All the plant and animal species in the forest make up a community. -ecosystem: a coastal ecosystem in the southeastern united states includes living organisms and the environment in which they live -biosphere: all the ecosystems on earth Each level of organisation builds on the level below it but often demonstrates new features
41
Chemical level
-when we talk about the chemical level of organisation, we think of the simplest building blocks: subatomic particles, atoms and molecules -examples of these are hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, calcium and iron -the smallest unit of any of these pure substances (elements) is an atom. Atoms are made of subatomic particles such as the proton, electron and neutron. -two or more atoms combine to form a molecule, such as the water molecule. Molecules are the chemical building blocks of all body structures.
42
Organisms
all organisms are made of either a single cell or a group of cells
43
Cells
a cell is the smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism
44
Levels of organisation- cellular organisation
-atoms -molecules -organelles -cells The cell is the basic unit of life
45
Levels of organisation- organismal level
-tissues -organs -organ systems -organism -
46
Levels of organism- population level
-population -species -community -ecosystem
47
Emergent properties
new properties present at one level that are not seen in the previous level

XYC001 Biological systems (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions