Chapter 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

Practice flashcards covering biological themes, structural hierarchy, cell types, genetic expression, ecosystem energy flow, evolutionary theory, and scientific methodology from Chapter 1.

Who are the authors of the Chapter 1 lecture presentations?

Nicole Tunbridge and Kathleen Fitzpatrick

What are the five unifying themes of biology outlined in Chapter 1?

1. Organization, 2. Information, 3. Energy and Matter, 4. Interactions, 5. Evolution

What are the ten levels of biological organization in order from largest to smallest?

1. The Biosphere, 2. Ecosystems, 3. Communities, 4. Populations, 5. Organisms, 6. Organs, 7. Tissues, 8. Cells, 9. Organelles, 10. Molecules

How does the reductionist approach differ from systems biology?

The reductionist approach studies isolated components of a living system, whereas systems biology analyzes the interactions among the parts of a biological system.

What are the seven emergent properties or characteristics of life listed in the lecture?

Order, Regulation, Evolutionary adaptation, Reproduction, Energy processing, Response to the environment, and Growth and development

What are the structural differences between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells?

A eukaryotic cell has membrane-enclosed organelles with the largest usually being the nucleus. A prokaryotic cell is simpler, usually smaller, and does not contain a nucleus or other membrane-enclosed organelles.

What four chemical building blocks (nucleotides) make up DNA chains?

Nucleotides abbreviated as A, G, C, and T

What is the sequence of information flow during gene expression for a protein-encoding gene?

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into a chain of amino acids that folds into a protein.

How do genomics and proteomics differ from one another?

Genomics is the study of sets of genes in one or more species, while proteomics is the study of whole sets of proteins and their properties.

How do energy and chemical nutrients move differently through an ecosystem?

Energy flows through an ecosystem, usually entering as light and exiting as heat, whereas chemical nutrients cycle within an ecosystem, where they are used and recycled.

What is the difference between negative feedback and positive feedback regulation?

In negative feedback, the response reduces the initial stimulus, making it the most common form of regulation. In positive feedback, an end product speeds up its own production.

Which scientist stated that "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"?

Theodosius Dobzhansky

How many species have been identified and named to date, and what is the estimated range of total existing species?

Approximately $1.8\text{ million}$ species have been identified and named; estimates of total existing species range from $10\text{ million}$ to over $100\text{ million}$.

What are the three domains of life, and which ones consist of prokaryotes?

The three domains are Domain Bacteria, Domain Archaea, and Domain Eukarya. Domains Bacteria and Archaea consist of prokaryotes.

What book did Charles Darwin publish in $1859$, and what were its two main points?

Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in $1859$. His two main points were that species showed evidence of "descent with modification" from common ancestors and that "natural selection" is the mechanism behind descent with modification.

What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data?

Qualitative data take the form of recorded descriptions, while quantitative data are expressed as numerical measurements organized into tables and graphs.

How do inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning differ?

Inductive reasoning draws generalizations through repeating specific observations, whereas deductive reasoning uses general premises to make specific predictions.

Who hypothesized that coat color patterns in beach and inland mice evolved as adaptations to protect them from predators, and who tested this hypothesis in $2010$?

Francis Bertody Sumner hypothesized that color patterns evolved as adaptations to protect mice from predators, and Hopi Hoekstra (with a group of students) tested this hypothesis in $2010$.

What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable in a controlled experiment?

The independent variable is the feature or quantity manipulated by researchers, while the dependent variable is the factor predicted to be affected in response.

What model organism is specifically named as an example where scientists cooperate by sharing data?

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster