General Biology and Scientific Principles Flashcards

Flashcards covering fundamental cell biology concepts, genetic information, evolution, ecosystem organization, the scientific method, and biological influence on public policy.

What are the core characteristics of living organisms?

They consist of one or more cells, contain genetic information to reproduce, convert environmental molecules into new biological molecules, extract energy to do biological work, and regulate their internal environment through homeostasis.

Who discovered and named cells, and in what century?

Robert Hooke discovered and named cells in the 1600s.

What was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's contribution to cell biology?

He studied single-cell organisms using the microscope.

What are the key points of Cell Theory outlined in the notes?

Cells are the basic structural building blocks of life, exist either on their own or as part of larger organisms, come from pre-existing cells, carry out internal chemical reactions, and pass DNA during mitosis.

What is a genome?

All of the DNA of an organism, which contains instructions for cells.

What does DNA stand for and what information does it contain?

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, and it contains information for making proteins.

What are genes?

Sections in DNA.

What is homeostasis?

The regulation of an organism's internal environment.

How are populations, communities, and ecosystems defined?

Populations are individuals living in the same spot; communities are different populations living together; ecosystems consist of all populations together along with their environment.

Who proposed evolution by natural selection and how is it described?

Charles Darwin proposed natural selection, describing it as a process where organisms fight for resources and survivors pass on their traits.

What are the key events in evolution listed in the notes?

Chemical evolution, cell enclosed membranes, and photosynthesis.

What are the three domains of biodiversity on Earth?

Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Observation, Questions, Hypothesis, Predictions, Testing, and Conclusions.

What is the difference between comparative experiments and controlled experiments?

Comparative experiments look at differences between two groups, whereas controlled experiments control everything except for one variable.

What criteria must scientific conclusions meet?

They must be testable, repeatable, and have the potential to be rejected.

How does biology influence public policy according to the notes?

It influences topics such as men and women in sports and decisions regarding who puts tax dollars into science.