General Biology - The Science of Life (BIOL 1406)

Flashcards covering key concepts from the provided biology lecture notes.

What is Biology?

The study of life.

List the levels of biological organization from atom to biosphere.

Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

What is the first level of organization listed in the notes?

Atom.

What is the role of DNA?

Transmits information from generation to generation, makes up genes, and codes for proteins.

What is a population?

All the members of one species in a defined area.

What is a community?

Many populations of different species inhabiting a common environment and interacting.

What is an ecosystem?

Total biotic and abiotic factors in the environment.

What is the biosphere?

All of Earth's ecosystems.

What is a biome?

A world-wide complex of communities characterized by its climax vegetation.

In an ecosystem, who are producers?

Organisms that produce organic matter from inorganic sources (e.g., plants and phytoplankton).

In an ecosystem, who are decomposers?

Organisms that break down dead matter and recycle nutrients.

What are the two main types of cells?

Prokaryotic cells (no nucleus) and Eukaryotic cells (have a nucleus).

What are examples of prokaryotic organisms?

Bacteria and Archaea.

What are examples of eukaryotic organisms?

Fungi, Protists, Plants, and Animals.

What is metabolism?

Total of all chemical reactions in an organism.

What is homeostasis?

The body's ability to regulate and balance the internal environment.

What is growth?

Cells or organisms are dividing; increases in size and/or number of cells.

What is development?

Changes that take place during an organism’s lifetime.

What is reproduction?

Process that maintains the continuity of life by producing new organisms.

What is the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction?

Asexual: low genetic variability; no fusion of sex cells. Sexual: high genetic variability; fusion of two sex cells.

What is adaptability?

Ability to adjust to environmental changes.

What does evolution mean in the context of populations?

Populations evolve and become adapted to the environment; adaptations enhance survival.

What is taxonomy?

Study of the classification of all living organisms.

What is binomial nomenclature?

System of naming organisms using genus and species names.

What is a taxon?

Any unit of classification.

How should binomial names be formatted?

Genus capitalized, species lowercase, in italics or underlined.

What is the binomial name for humans?

Homo sapiens.

What are the eight taxonomic ranks from Domain to Species?

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What are the three domains?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

What are the six kingdoms?

Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Plantae, Animalia, Fungi.

What is a hypothesis?

Tentative scientific explanation that must be tested experimentally.

What is a theory?

A well-supported explanation of the natural world based on several hypotheses, observations, and experiments.

What are the initial steps of the scientific method?

Observation, Question, Hypothesis.

What are the steps after forming a hypothesis in the scientific method?

Perform experiments, collect and analyze data, draw a conclusion.

What is a control group?

A group that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison.

What is a placebo?

A non-active treatment used as a control.

What is a blind study?

Participants do not know which treatment they receive.

What is a double-blind study?

Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments.

What is an organelle?

A specialized subcellular structure (e.g., nucleus).

What is the nucleus surrounded by?

The nuclear envelope.

What is the powerhouse of the cell?

Mitochondrion.