biology

biology

the study of life

unicellular

organisms are composed of a single cell

multicellular

organisms are composed of several or great numbers of cells

prokaryotic cells

no membrane bound nucleus

eukaryotic cells

have membrane bound nucleus

genome

an organisms entire set of DNA instructions

genes

transmits information from one generation to the next

growth

an increase in the number of cells/tissues/organs or in individual cell size

development

the process of change during the life span of the organism

energy

the capacity to do work

metabolism

includes the chemical processes essential to growth, repair, and reproduction

homeostasis

an organism’s ability to maintain a relatively constant internal environment

autotrophic

make their own food

photosynthesis

use sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen

heterotrophic

get their food from another source

decomposers

get food by breaking down non-living organic matter

organic

contains carbon

adaptations

characteristics that enhance an organism’s ability to survive

natural selection

the fundamental method of evolution; organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

species

a group of organisms that can interbreed

populations

are the interacting members of the same species found in each area at the same time

communities

are the populations of organisms found in each area at the same time

ecosystem

the community and the abiotic environmental factors

biotic factors

the living things

abiotic factors

the non-living things

ecology

the study of ecosystems

biosphere

all the ecosystems of the earth collectively

taxonomy

the science of naming and classifying organisms

deductive reasoning

applies general principles to predict specific results

inductive reasoning

uses specific observations to construct general ideas

variable

a factor that influences a process, outcome, or observation

control group

does not change and is used for comparison. You don’t manipulate any of the variables. They remain constant

independent variable

the variable that is being tested. It is changed/manipulated to observe its effect on dependent variable

dependent variable

the variable that is observed/measured in response to independent variable

first step to scientific method

make observations. A scientist will make careful observations about the world around them. These observations will lead to the formulation of questions

second step to scientific method

form hypothesis. A hypothesis must be testable, must be repeatable, and allow for predictions to be made

third step to scientific method

conduct experiment. Must be carefully designed to test only one variable at a time. An experiment will consist of an experimental group and a control group

fourth step to scientific method

draw conclusions. Hypothesis will be accepted or rejected based on experimental results. Hypothesis must be rejected if the experiment produces results inconsistent with the predictions. An accepted hypothesis does not make something universally true

characteristic of living organisms. Have cells

Cells carry out all the basic activities of ‘living’

characteristic of living organisms. Grow and develop

Living things grow and develop

characteristic of living organisms. Use/need energy

All living organisms take in energy and use it to perform many kinds of work

characteristic of living organisms. Respond to external stimuli

Responses of animals are more obvious. Plants respond to light, gravity, water, touch and other stimuli

characteristic of living organisms. Move

Most living things can move at some stage of development

characteristic of living organisms. Reproduce

Life comes from life. Reproduction varies greatly between different species

characteristic of living organisms. Adapt to environment

Living things change over time and become adapted to the environment they live in

first principle of cell theory

cells are surrounded by a selective boundary, the plasma membrane

second principle of cell theory

cells contain DNA

third principle of cell theory

cells have organelles with specialized functions

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA is composed of

on the origin of species by means of natural selection

name the book that Darwin wrote

proposed a method for how evolution was occurring

what was Darwin’s greatest accomplishment?

domain

which taxonomic group would have the greatest number of species?

species

which taxonomic group would have the fewest number of species?

highest level of classification, largest species number/diversity

what separates the 3 domains of organisms from each other?

prokaryotic

no membrane bound nucleus

cell walls contain peptidoglycan

kingdom eubacteria

prokaryotic

cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan

extremophile bacteria

kingdom archaebacteria

eukaryotic

includes eukaryotic organisms that don’t fit anywhere else

kingdom Protista

eukaryotic

heterotrophic

decomposers

get energy from decaying organic matter

no photosynthesis

kingdom fungi

eukaryotic

multicellular

autotrophic

photosynthesis

kingdom plantae