Unit 1: Chapter 1: The Science of Living Things

Question 1

Biology

Answer 1

the scientific study of organisms, both living and dead with the goal of understanding and discovering the diversity and the complex processes that makeup life

Question 2

Organisms

Answer 2

Composed of a common set of chemical compounds, made up of cells, extract energy from the environment to do work

Question 3

Nucleic Acid

Answer 3

molecules that could reproduce themselves and serve as templates for the synthesis of proteins

Question 4

Proteins

Answer 4

large molecules with complex but stable shapes

Question 5

Liposomes

Answer 5

spherical structures formed from agitated fatty acids on the surface of the water

Question 6

Prokaryotes

Answer 6

bacteria enclosed by a single outer membrane and unicellular

Question 7

Nucleus

Answer 7

the organelle that contains the cell’s genetic information

Question 8

Cellular Specialization

Answer 8

enabled multicellular eukaryotes to increase in size and become more efficient at gathering resources and adapting to specific environments

Question 9

Metabolism

Answer 9

taking in small molecules from their environment, breaking the chemical bonds of these molecules, and using the energy released from those chemical bonds to do cellular work

Question 10

Photosynthesis

Answer 10

The process that transforms sunlight into a form of chemical energy that can be used to do work

Question 11

Aerobic metabolism

Answer 11

a biochemical process that uses oxygen to extract energy from nutrient molecules

Question 12

Anaerobic metabolism

Answer 12

less efficient biochemical process that does NOT use oxygen

Question 13

genes

Answer 13

units of inheritance

Question 14

genetics

Answer 14

science of genes

Question 15

DNA

Answer 15

Deoxyribonucleic acid = genetic info that specifies what an organism is and how it will function

Question 16

genome

Answer 16

complete DNA sequence for a particular organism/individual

Question 17

nucleotide

Answer 17

basic chemical in nucleic acids, consisting of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base

Question 18

transcription

Answer 18

synthesis of RNA using one strand of DNA as a template

Question 19

RNA

Answer 19

Ribonucleic Acid = single-stranded nucleic acid whose uses ribose rather than deoxyribose; serves as the genome for some viruses

Question 20

mutation

Answer 20

a change in the genetic material not caused by recombination

Question 21

population

Answer 21

any group of organisms coexisting at the same place and time, and capable of interbreeding with another

Question 22

evolution

Answer 22

any gradual change

Question 23

Adaptation

Answer 23

evolutionary biology, a particular structure, physiological process, or behavior changed to allow for better survival/reproduction

Question 24

genomics

Answer 24

study of genes and their interactions

Question 25

bioinformatics

Answer 25

use of computers/mathematics to analyze complex sequences of biological info

Question 26

phylogenetic trees

Answer 26

graphic representation of the evolutionary descent

Question 27

binomial nomenclature

Answer 27

a taxonomic naming system where each species is given a binomial and genus name followed by a species name

Question 28

genus

Answer 28

the specific name for a group of similar/related names

Question 29

protists

Answer 29

encompasses a large number of distinct and distantly related eukaryotes

Question 30

tissues

Answer 30

a similar group of cells organized into a functional unit

Question 31

organ

Answer 31

body part composed of multiple tissues integrated to perform a distinct function

Question 32

organ system

Answer 32

group of organs that work together to perform a physiological function

Question 33

internal environment

Answer 33

extracellular fluids that surround the cells

Question 34

homeostasis

Answer 34

steady-state

Question 35

sensory mechanisms

Answer 35

means by which external stimuli is converted to neural signals

Question 36

effector mechanisms

Answer 36

adaptations that allow the organism to alter its physiological or behavioral state

Question 37

signaling mechanisms

Answer 37

means of transferring information between cell, organs, and organisms

Question 38

community

Answer 38

a group of species living together at the same place and time

Question 39

ecosystem

Answer 39

where organisms of a community live with the physical/chemical environment

Question 40

biomes

Answer 40

the major division of ecological communities on Earth

Question 41

biosphere

Answer 41

all regions on Earth

Question 42

data

Answer 42

quantified observations about a system under study

Question 43

inductive logic

Answer 43

involves making observations and then formulating one or more possible scenarios (hypothesis) that might explain those observations

Question 44

hypothesis

Answer 44

theory or tentative answer to a question that can be tested and proven or disproven

Question 45

deductive logic

Answer 45

the logical thought process that starts with a premise believed to be true then predicts what facts would also have to be true to be compatible with that premise

Question 46

controlled experiment

Answer 46

an experiment where variables are under control and can be manipulated to prove or disprove a hypothesis

Question 47

comparative experiment

Answer 47

experimental design in which data from various unmanipulated samples or populations are compared, but in which are not controlled or even necessarily identified

Question 48

null hypothesis

Answer 48

a premise that any differences observed in an experiment are simply the result of random differences that arise from drawing two finite samples from the same population