U0 Chapter 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

Question 1

Biology

Answer 1

The scientific study of life, is a subject of enormous scope, and exciting new biological discoveries are being made every day

Question 2

Emergent Properties

Answer 2

Due to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases

Question 3

Systems Biology

Answer 3

The exploration of a biological system by analyzing the interactions among its parts

Question 4

Eukaryotic Cell

Answer 4

Contains membrane enclosed organelles

Question 5

Prokaryotic Cells

Answer 5

Lacks a nucleus or other membrane enclosed organelles

Question 6

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Answer 6

Information within cells, genetic material

Question 7

Genes

Answer 7

Each section of the DNA of the chromosome

Question 8

Gene Expression

Answer 8

Process by which the information in a gene directs the manufacture of a cellular product

Question 9

Genome

Answer 9

The entire “library” of genetic instructions that an organism inherits

Question 10

Genomics

Answer 10

The study of whole sets of genes (or other DNA) in one or more species

Question 11

Proteomics

Answer 11

The study of sets of proteins and their properties
- the entire set of proteins expressed by a given cell, tissue, or organism = proteome

Question 12

Bioinformatics

Answer 12

The use of computational tools to store, organize, and analyze the huge volume of data that results from high-throughput methods

Question 13

Feedback Regulation

Answer 13

The output or product of a process regulates that very process
- the most common form of regulation in living systems is the negative feedback loop (the response reduces the initial stimulus)
- a positive feedback loop is where the end product speeds up its own production

Question 14

Climate Change

Answer 14

A directional change to the global climate that lasts for three decades or more (as opposed to short-term changes in the weather)

Question 15

Evolution

Answer 15

A process of biological change in which species accumulate differences from their ancestors as they adapt to different environments over time

Question 16

Bacteria and Archaea

Answer 16

Consist of single-celled prokaryotic organisms

Question 17

Inquiry

Answer 17

The search for information and explanations of natural phenomena

Question 18

Data

Answer 18

Recorded observations

Question 19

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 19

Collecting and analyzing observations can lead to important conclusions based on this type of logic

Question 20

Hypothesis

Answer 20

An explanation based on observations and assumptions, that leads to a testable prediction

Question 21

Experiment

Answer 21

A scientific test carried out under controlled conditions

Question 22

Deduction Reasoning

Answer 22

Involves logic that flows in the opposite direction, from the general to the specific

Question 23

Controlled Experiment

Answer 23

One that is designed to compare an experimental group with a control group

Question 24

Variables

Answer 24

A feature or quantity that varies in an experiment
- Independent variable, the factor being manipulated by the researchers
- Dependent variable, the factor being measured that is predicted to be affected by the independent variable

Question 25

Model Organism

Answer 25

A species that is easy to grow in the lab and lends itself particularly well to the questions being investigated

Question 26

Emergent Properties

Answer 26

Result from interactions among components at the lower levels

Question 27

Systems Biology

Answer 27

Scientists attempt to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems by studying the interactions among the system’s parts

Question 28

Gene Expression

Answer 28

Produces RNAs that are not translated into protein but serve other important functions

Question 29

Genomics

Answer 29

The large-scale analysis of the DNA sequences of a species (its genome) as well as the comparison of genomes between species

Question 30

Bioinformatics

Answer 30

Uses computational tools to deal with huge volumes of sequence data

Question 31

Producers

Answer 31

Convert energy from sunlight to chemical energy, some of which is used by them and by consumers to do work, and is eventually lost from the ecosystem as heat