Unit 1: Biology: The science of life

Question 1

Abiotic

Answer 1

An adjective that describes nonliving materials in the environment, such as sunlight, rain, gases in the air, rocks, and chemicals in the soil.

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of supporting life.

Question 3

Molecule

Answer 3

Two or more atoms held together by a chemical bond.

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

All the individuals of the same species that occupy the same area and are likely to breed with one another.

Question 5

Atom

Answer 5

The basic unit of matter that cannot be further broken down without losing its unique properties. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.

Question 6

Cell

Answer 6

The smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in life. Cells are fluid-filled spaces bound by a membrane. When first formed, all cells include DNA and other macromolecules and are organized to grow, reproduce, and respond to changes in the external environment.

Question 7

Organ

Answer 7

A collection of tissues grouped together based on a common general function. Some common organs in the human body are the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Question 8

tissue

Answer 8

A groups of similar cells carrying out the same detailed function within an organism. In the lung, for instance, the lining of airways comprises one type of tissue: a layer of similar cells that forms a sealed surface.

Question 9

Biotic

Answer 9

An adjective that describes living organisms or their remains. Common characteristics of biotic (living) things are that they use energy and raw materials to grow, sense, and respond to changing environments; they reproduce; and they consist of one or more cells.

Question 10

Community

Answer 10

All of the populations interacting with each other within a specified area.

Question 11

Organ System

Answer 11

An organ system is an integrated collection of organs in the body that work together to perform a vital function. This course will organize the organ systems of the body based on the vital functions defined earlier.

Question 12

ecosystem

Answer 12

All the living (biotic) things in a particular area together with the abiotic (nonliving) materials and conditions in that area; i.e., a biological community and its physical environment.

Question 13

Organelle

Answer 13

A specialized structure within a cell formed when a specific set of molecules bond, creating a subunit that has a specific function. Most, but not all, organelles are enclosed by a membrane. In eukaryotes, organelles are membrane-bound compartments that contain specific groups of macromolecules that carry out specific cellular functions. Although, prokaryotes are less complex than eukaryotes, they contain subunits (non-membrane bound structures) that perform specific functions, such as the flagellum and the ribosome.

Question 14

Biology

Answer 14

The scientific study of life. Biology is a vast subject divided into many branches or subdivisions representing areas of specialization. Branches of biology include anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, evolution, genetics, immunology, and physiology.

Question 15

Macromolecule

Answer 15

A large and complex molecule formed by combining smaller subunits producing a larger unit consisting of many atoms with new properties. Biological macromolecules are special large macromolecules produced by living organisms that contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms. There are four main types of biological macromolecules (sometimes referred to as biomolecules or biomacromolecules) that you will be learning about in this course: carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins.

Question 16

Organism

Answer 16

An organism is an individual living entity that survives and reproduces as a unit. Examples include a single bacterial cell, a plant grown from a single seed, or you—as an individual human being. Any life form - animal, plant, fungus, bacteria, protist, or single-celled entity.