Unit 1 - Characteristics of Life Flashcards
I should be able to: 1. Explain how the various characteristics of life differentiate between 'life' and 'not life' 2. List the various levels of organization in life 3. List the three domains of life 4. Describe what it means to be an organic molecule and explain the properties of carbon that are important in biological molecules 5. Explain what is meant by the terms monomer and polymer and be able to describe the chemical reactions leading to polymer synthesis (dehydration reactions) and
List the three domains of life
Domain Bacteria, Domain Archaea, Domain Eukarya
List the various levels of organization of life
biosphere, ecosystem, community, population, organism, organ system, organs, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules
Describe and give an example of order as a property of life
organisms are made of many simple components organized and structured in complex ways.
Examples:
cells attaching together to create a more complex organism.
atoms coming together to make molecules which come together to make organelles which make up cells which then make up organisms.
Describe and give an example of the energy processing process of life.
organisms obtain and convert fuel/food into stored energy, then use this stored energy to power work/activities of life.
Examples:
photosynthesis. leaves of a potato plant convert light into energy and store it, creating potatoes.
animals+humans eating, storing the energy from the food and the using it to be active and move around.
Describe and give an example of the growth and development process of life.
An organism grows and develops based on the genetic information passed down from parents.
Examples:
embryo to baby to child to teen to adult to elder.
seed to seedling to tree.
the life cycle of living things.
Describe and give an example of the response to environment property of life.
organisms detect, analyze and respond to changes/stimuli that happen in the environment around them.
Examples:
pinecones drying out and expanding when weather gets cold.
someone putting on a sweater when they are cold.
sunflower turning to face the direction of the sun.
Describe and give an example of the regulation property of life.
organisms detect, analyze, and respond to changes in their internal environment to maintain balanced, functioning systems.
Examples:
Body produces sweat when we are hot to cool us down.
heart rate and breathing increasing to deliver more oxygen to cells when exercising or in trouble.
Describe and give an example of the reproduction process of life.
organisms have the necessary components to pass their genes onto their offspring, producing new organisms with similar characteristics.
Example:
cells dividing to produce more cells.
animals having intercourse and giving birth to offspring
Describe and give an example of the evolutionary adaptation process of life.
organisms with mutations that increase their ability to survive and reproduce will pass these genes to their offspring, causing a species to change and adapt over many generations.
Example:
hominids evolving into humans over the course of millions of years.
white moths blending in with the white bark of trees eventually evolving into black moths as the industrial revolutions caused the trees bark to turn black over time.
what does an ecosystem include?
give an example
all organisms and non-living parts of the environment.
example: Desert, Boreal forest, tundra
what does a biosphere include?
give an example
all living organisms and places where they exist.
example: Earth
what do organisms include?
give an example
each individual living thing
example: plants, deer
what does a community include?
give an example
all different types of organisms that live in a particular ecosystem.
example: plants, animals, fungi, prokaryotes
what does a population include?
give an example
all individuals of one species that live in a particular area
example: oak bay deer population, human population of Canada
what is an organ system?
give an example
an organ system is a group of organs that work together to form a broad function
example: cardiovascular system, skeletal system, nervous system, digestive system
what is an organ?
give an example
an organ is a body part that performs specific function(s)
example: heart, stomach
what are tissues?
give an example
groups of cells that work together to perform a specialized function
example: muscle tissues contract, nervous tissue conducts signals
what are cells?
example?
cells are the smallest unit that performs all processes of life.
example: muscle cell, bacterial cell
what are organelles?
give an example
organelles are components that make up a cell.
example: mitochondria, chloroplasts
what are molecules?
give an example
molecules are chemical structures made up of two or more atoms.
example: water molecule, cholesterol, DNA
what is an element?
a substance that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions.
what is an atom and what is it made up of?
the smallest unit with properties of an element. atoms are made up of subatomic particles called electrons, protons, and neutrons.
organisms grouped according to similarities and relationships is called…
classification/taxonomy
what is included in domain eukarya?
kingdom animalia, kingdom plantae, kingdom fungi, kingdom protista
what is the broadest group of organisms?
the three domains of life
