Bio 160 - 1: What is Life

evolution, structure and function, information flow and storage, transformations of energy and matter, systems

Five Core Concepts in Biology

Evolution

Populations of organisms and their cellular components have changed over time through both selective and non-selective evolutionary processes

Structure and Function

All living systems (organisms, ecosystems, etc.) are made of structural components whose arrangement determines the function of the systems.

Information flow and storage

Information (DNA, for example) and signals are used and exchanged within

and among organisms to direct their functioning.

Transformations of Energy and Matter

All living things acquire, use, and release matter and energy for cellular / organismal functioning

Systems

Living systems are interconnected, and they interact and influence each other on multiple levels

Cells, replication, information(genes), energy, evolution

5 fundamental characteristics that all living organisms share

Theory

Explanation for a broad patterns supported by wide body of evidence

Cell theory, Theory of evolution by natural selection, chromosome theory of inheritance

The three theories that form the framework of modern biological science

Robert Hooke and Antone van Leeuwenhoek

Devise 30x and 300x microscopes that would discover the cell

Cell

Highly organized compartments separated from their environment by membrane barrier

All organisms are made of cells, all cells come from preexisting cells,

Cell theory

Hypothesis

testable statement that explains something observed

Experiment

allows researchers to test effect of factor on particular phenomenon

Prediction

measurable or observable result

spontaneous generation

Cell theory challenged _______ _______ which claimed organisms could arise spontaneously under certain conditions

cells arise from cells

Louis Pasteurs Hypothesis

two glass flasks with nutrient broth, one with neck open to

the air was the only one with cells that appeared inside of

Louis pasteurs experiment that proved all-cells-from-cells hypothesis was correct

chemical evolution

Life arose on earth from non early life through ____ ____ in hydrothermal vents

chromosomal theory of inheritance

Hereditary or genetic information is encoded in genes which are located on chromosomes

DNA

hereditary material

Gene

segment of DNA that codes for cell products

DNA codes for RNA which codes for proteins

Central dogma of biology

Species are related by common ancestry, descent with modification

Darwin and Wallaces 2 claims

Evolution

Change in characteristics of population over time, Species are related to one another and can change through time

Population

Group of individuals of same species living in the same area at the same time

1. Individuals must vary in characteristics that are heritable

2. In particular environments certain traits help individuals reproduce more than other versions

2 Conditions that must be met for natural selection to occur

individuals, populations

natural selection acts on ___ where as evolutionary change occurs in ____

Speciation

when populations diverge to form new species

Fitness

Ability of individual to produce offspring

Adaptation

Trait that increases fitness of individual in particular environment