Topic 1 - Themes And Concepts In Biology

Question 1

What are the common characteristics of life?

Answer 1

Order, sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution

Question 2

Order

Answer 2

Living things are highly complex and ordered. All living things are made of cells. These discrete units are bound by a cell membrane which distinguishes the living world from the environment.

Question 3

Sensitivity

Answer 3

Living things respond to their environment.

Question 4

Reproduction

Answer 4

All organisms make offspring and pass their DNA to the next generation.

Question 5

Adaptation

Answer 5

Organisms “fit” their environment through the process of evolution by natural selection.

Question 6

Growth and development

Answer 6

All organisms can grow and develop and pass down their genetic material to the next generation.

Question 7

Homeostasis

Answer 7

Organisms can achieve a relatively constant internal environment.

Question 8

Energy processing

Answer 8

Energy from the environment, whether in the form of sunshine or food, is transformed by living things to do the work of life.

Question 9

Evolution

Answer 9

The diversity and unity of life is a consequence of changes in hereditary material over time. This results in organisms suited for their environment.

Question 10

What are the levels of biological organization?

Answer 10

Molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ/organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere

Question 11

What are the unifying themes of biology?

Answer 11

1. Cell theory
2. Molecular basis of inheritance
3. Structure relates to function
4. Diversity of life arises by evolutionary change
5. Evolutionary conservation explains the unity of living organisms
6. Cells are information processing systems
7. Living systems require energy

Question 12

Cell theory

Answer 12

AKA biogenesis
All life is made of cells that came from preexisting cells.

Question 13

Molecular basis of inheritance

Answer 13

DNA is responsible for heredity. Able to replicate itself, it is the code for making proteins; the code is transmitted to offspring.

Question 14

Structure relates to function

Answer 14

Predictions of function can be made from the structure.

Question 15

Diversity of life arises by evolutionary change

Answer 15

Adaptations lead to speciation.

Question 16

Evolutionary conservation explains the unity of living organisms

Answer 16

All organisms arose from an ancestral cell. Organisms that share characteristics are more closely related.

Question 17

Cells are information processing systems

Answer 17

Using the code from DNA, cells produce proteins that regulate life.

Question 18

Living systems require energy

Answer 18

The work done by living creatures requires converting energy from an outside source.

Question 19

Hypothesis

Answer 19

Possible explanation for an observation.

Question 20

Experimental group

Answer 20

Receives treatment

Question 21

Control group

Answer 21

Receives no treatment

Question 22

Independent variable

Answer 22

Cause that is applied to experimental group

Question 23

Dependent variable

Answer 23

Effect of the independent variable

Question 24

What is qualitative data?

Answer 24

Categorical and discrete data, like colors or number of eyes

Question 25

What is quantitative data?

Answer 25

Numerical and continuous data, like temperature or height

Question 26

Controlled variables

Answer 26

Variables that are held constant in both the control and experimental group

Question 27

Where is the independent variable on a graph?

Answer 27

X axis

Question 28

Where is the dependent variable on a graph?

Answer 28

Y axis

Question 29

Are bar graphs qualitative or quantitative?

Answer 29

Qualitative

Question 30

Are line graphs qualitative or quantitative?

Answer 30

Quantitative