BIOL 1700 - Chapter 1: Biology: The Study of Life

This set of flashcards covers the fundamental concepts of biology, including the characteristics of life, levels of biological organization, taxonomy, the scientific method, and ecological principles as presented in the BIOL 1700 lecture notes.

What is the definition of biology?

The study of living things

What is the term for the sum of all chemical reactions in an organism and within its cells?

$$\text{metabolism}$$

Which biological term refers to the maintenance of a constant, internal environment, such as body temperature?

homeostasis

What are genes in the context of heredity?

instructions passed from parents to offspring

What is the biological theme that states a population of a species changes over time through natural selection?

evolution

In the leaf variation example, why did plants with hairy leaves eventually dominate the population?

Deer prefer a diet of smooth leaves, causing plants with hairy leaves to reproduce more than others.

What is the basic unit of matter?

$$\text{atom}$$

What is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms?

$$\text{cell}$$

Which level of organization consists of different populations living in the same area?

community

What are the three domains of life?

Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya

Which domain is characterized by eukaryotic cells (containing a nucleus) and includes kingdoms like Fungi and Animalia?

Domain Eukarya

What are the two parts of a binomial scientific name?

genus and specific epithet (species term)

What must be true of a hypothesis for it to be part of the scientific process?

It must be testable.

What is the difference between a theory and a law in science?

A theory is a hypothesis tested many times and almost certain to be true; a law is an absolute truth.

What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem?

The nonliving components, such as the physical environment or habitat.

What is the ultimate source of energy for all life on earth?

Sunlight Energy

What is the organismic water cycle process where water evaporates out of the stomata of plants?

transpiration

In the nitrogen cycle, what chemical form is nitrogen in when it is in the atmosphere?

$$N_2$$

What are the characteristics of r-selected populations?

Short life spans, production of many young at one time, high mortality rate, quick maturation, and no parental care.

What is commensalism?

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other neither benefits nor is harmed.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The process where greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, causes the atmosphere to absorb and reradiate infrared rays (heat) toward the surface of the Earth.

Which population growth model produces a J-shaped curve?

exponential growth model

What is the carrying capacity in the logistic growth model?

The maximum population size that a habitat can support.

Approximately how many people make up the current human population?

over 8 billion