Topic 1.1: The Study of Life Flashcards
What are the 6 characteristics of life?
1) Organized
2) Requires materials and energy
3) Has the ability to reproduce and develop
4) Responds to its environment
5) Maintains an internal environment
6) Has the capacity to adapt to its environment
What are the levels of biological organization?
Atom
Molecule
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organisms
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Define “Atom”
Smallest unit of an element; composed of electrons, protons, and nuetrons
Define “Molecule”
Union of two or more atoms of the same or different elements
Define “Cell”
The structural and functional unit of all living organisms
Define “Tissue”
A group of cells with a common structure and function
Define “Organ”
Composed of tissues functioning together for a specific task
Define “Organ System”
Several organs working together
Define “Organism”
An individual; complex individuals contain organ systems
Define “Species”
A group of similar, interbreeding organisms
Define “Population”
Organism of the same species in a particular area
Define “Community”
Interacting populations in a particular area
Define “Ecosystem”
A community plus the physical environment
Define “Biosphere”
Regions of the Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms
Define “Taxonomy”
The discipline of identifying and grouping organisms according to certain rules (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Species)
What are the 5 domains?
Archaea
Bacteria
Eukarya
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation.
What is the process of the scientific method?
The basic process involves making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment and finally analyzing the results
Define “Control group”
The control group comprises participants who do not receive the experimental treatment
Define “Homeostasis”
Homeostasis is the state of steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions maintained by living systems (an equilibrium)
Define “Hypothesis”
An educated guess
Define “Scientific Theory”
A scientific theory is an explanation of an aspect of the natural world and universe that has been repeatedly tested and corroborated in accordance with the scientific method
Define “Experimental Variable”
Factor of experiment being tested
Define “Response Variable”
Result/Change that occurs due to the experimental variable
Which of these is not a property of all living organisms?
a) organization
b) acquisition of materials and energy
c) care for their offspring
d) reproduction
e) responding to the environment
c) care for their offspring
Which of the following on this list represents the lowest level of biological organization?
a) an organ
b) a cell
c) an organ system
d) an organism
b) a cell
The process of passing on genetic information between generations is called
a) natural selection
b) reproduction
c) development
d) metabolism
b) reproduction
Which of the following includes prokaryotic organisms?
a) protists
b) fungi
c) archaea
d) plants
c) archaea
The term “supergroup” is used in the classification of
a)the archaeans
b) the bacteria
c) the eukaryotes
d) all of the domains of life
c) the eukaryotes
The process by which evolution occurs is called
a) natural selection
b) development
c) reproduction
d) taxonomy
a) natural selection
After formulating a hypothesis, a scientist
a) proves the hypothesis to be true or false
b) test the hypothesis by experimentation
c) decides how to best avoid having a control
d) makes sure environmental conditions are just right
e) formulates a scientific theory
b) test the hypothesis by experimentation
Experiments examine the contribution of the ______________ to the observation
a) responding variable
b) control group
c) standard deviation
d) experimental variable
d) experimental variable
Which of the following is not correctly linked?
a) model: a representation of an object used in an experiment
b) standard deviation: a form of statistical analysis
c) principle: a theory that is not supported by experimental evidence
d) data: the results of an experiment or observation
c) principle: a theory that is not supported by experimental evidence
Which of the following applies scientific knowledge to the needs of society?
a) evolution
b) taxonomy
c) systematics
d) technology
d) technology
Which of the following represents the permanent loss of a species?
a) natural selection
b) greenhouse effect
c) extinction
d) climate change
c) extinction
H5N1 and SARS are examples of
a) extinct species
b) forms of greenhouse gasses
c) endangered habitats
d) emerging diseases
d) emerging diseases
Thinking critically: You are a scientist working at a pharmaceutical company and have developed a new cancer medication that has the potential for use in humans. Outline a series of experiments, including the use of a model, to test whether the cancer medication works.
The medication should be studied in a model species. The experiment should have a control group (without treatment or with a placebo) and a treatment group. Both groups should have identical circumstances. The data will be collected and if the treatment group shows greater tumor reduction than the control group, the medication could be approved for trials on humans.
Define “Archaea”
Archaea is a domain of single-celled organisms. These microorganisms lack cell nuclei and are therefore prokaryotes.
Define “Bacteria”
a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease
Define “Eukarya/Eukaryotes”
are organisms whose cells have a nucleus. All animals, plants, fungi, and many unicellular organisms, are Eukaryotes
Define “Prokaryotes”
a microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include the bacteria and cyanobacteria.
