Week 1 - General Biology Flashcards
Name the 5 majors themes of Biology.
Organisation, Interactions, Information, Energy and Matter, Evolution.
Describe the organisation theme
Biologists use a structural hierarchy (levels of organization) to help study organisms and their relationship between each other.
What are emergent properties? Give an example.
Higher levels have properties greater than the sum of thei parts.
- Atoms combined form molecules
- Cells work together to form tissues and organs
- Organisms of the same type form a population
List the levels of organization.
Atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ system, organisms, population, community, ecosystem.
What is the fundamental unit of life and why? (What does it do?)
Cells, which replicate and produce energy. And all organisms are made of one or more cells.
What are the two types of cells?
Prokarotic and eukaryotic
Describe the interaction theme of biology.
All levels of organization require interaction to ensure proper functionning of the whole. There is interaction between elements/compartements in communities (hare and fox), also in organisms (blood, liver)
Discuss the effects of DDT at different levels of organization.
DDT inteferes with nervous system function in insects, causing deaths. It alterates important enzymes.
DDT effects levels or organization by having indirect and harmfull interactions with us.
Descibe the information theme.
Life’s processses involve the expression and transmission of genetic information.
Ex. transcriptase (enzyme)
Which structure in in cells contains genetic material?
Chromosomes (grouping of DNA)
Discuss DNA.
DNA is genetic material and it unites all living organisms.
DNA mutations give us biodiversity
Describe central dogma in information (formation of proteins)
DNA:
1. Pre-transcriptional modifications
2. Transciption
mRNA (single strand)
3. Post-transcriptional modification
4. Translation
Protein
5. Post-translational
Describe the structure-function relationship.
Carbon bonds with mutiple different elements to produce different structures.
Organic molecules determine:
Structure of cells and the materials found within cells
Function of cells and materials within cells
Functional groups determine if chemical reactions occur
WE NEED CHEMICAL ACTIVITY FOR LIFE!
List some anatomical systems
Circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, skeletal system.
How is the energy and matter them realted to the study of life?
The input of enerygy from the sun and the tranformation of energy from one form to another makes life possible
Matter cycles though biological systems
