Chapter 1 exam review bio 101

Biology

The study of life

Evolution

the change in genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. A gradual change overtime.

Information transfer

The process by which genetic instructions, stored in DNA, are passed on to different parts of a cell/ to offspring through processes like transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein)

Energy transfer

the movement of energy from one organism to another within an ecosystem

Primary

The structure of biological molecules, the growth of plants, or the production of organic molecules

secondary

the local, regular folding patterns within a polypeptide chain, primarily formed by hydrogen bonds between the atoms of the polypeptide backbone

Consumers

An organism that cannot produce its own food and must obtain energy by eating other organisms, like plants or animals

Decomposers

An organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, essentially recycling them by releasing nutrients back into the environment as they eat decaying matter.

The basic characteristics of all living organisms

Composed of the same four classes of organic molecules

Engage in metabolism

respond to internal and external stimuli

specific biological structures have specific functions

maintain homeostasis

reproduce offspring

experience growth and development

subject to evolutionary forces

Receptor

A protein that binds to a specific molecule

control center

Receives and processes information from the receptor

effector

a molecule that binds to a specific protein and regulates its biological activity.

Inheritance

the way that genetic information is passed from a parent to a child

Atoms

the basic building blocks of matter and the smallest unit of a chemical element that retains its properties.

Molecules

a group of two or more atoms that form the smallest identifiable unit of a pure substance.

organelles

are compartments within the cell that perform specific functions.

cells

basic membrane-bound unit that contains the fundamental molecules of life and of which all living things are composed.

tissues

is an aggregation of cells that function together and have a similar function.

organs

a self-contained group of tissues that performs a specific function in the body.

organ systems

a group of organs that work together to perform a certain function in an organism’s body.

organism

is a living system that functions as an individual entity.

population

the number of organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic area at the same time, with the capability of interbreeding.

community

an interacting group of various species in a common location.

ecosystem

single environment and every living (biotic) organism and non-living (abiotic) factor that is contained within it or characterizes it.

biosphere

is where living organisms are found on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.

DNA

• (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the hereditary material in cells, carrying instructions for making proteins.

Genes

are segments of DNA that produce proteins.

Mutations

Are changes in DNA, RNA or chromosomes that can lead to genetic variation and contribute to evolution.

Domain

highest taxonomic rank used to categorize and group organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary history.

1. Bacteria

2. Archaea

3. Eukarya

Kingdom

second highest taxonomic rank. Are divided into smaller groups called phyla (singular phylum).

Phylum

taxonomic ranking that comes third in the hierarchy of classification. Organisms in this share a set a characteristics that distinguishes them from organisms in another one of these.

Class

is a taxonomic rank above the order and below the phylum. It is a group of related taxonomic orders. Members of a class share more characteristics with each other than they do with other organisms in the same phylum.

Order

1. A taxonomic rank above family and below class.

2. It groups related families based on shared characteristics.

3. Each order is split into families, and a group of closely related families forms an order.

Family

is a taxonomic rank that falls between genus and order. It is a group of one or more genera that share common attributes. The name of a family typically ends with "idae" for animals and "aceae" for plants.

Genus

• A group of species that are closely related through common descent.

• A taxonomic rank above species and below family.

• Comprised of species grouped based on shared attributes or being phylogenetically related.

• One of the eight major taxonomic ranks in the biological classification of living things.

Species

is a group of organisms that share a genetic heritage, are able to interbreed, and produce fertile offspring. It is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism

Binomial nomenclature

a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts.

Phylogenetic Tree of Life

Natural evolution

the process by which species change over time through mechanisms such as natural selection, mutation, migration, and genetic drift.

Artificial evolution

evolutionary process in which humans consciously select for or against particular features in organisms

Observation

• The beginning of the scientific method, leading to inferences and testable hypotheses.

Hypothesis

a testable statement proposing a potential explanation for natural phenomena. A testable statement.

in,

Experiments

• The independent variable is intentionally manipulated or altered by the researcher.

The dependent variable is what is measured and depends on the modifications made to the independent variable.

Controlled variables

any factor that is controlled or held constant during an experiment.

Control and experimental groups

An experimental group is a test sample or the group that receives an experimental procedure.

A control group is a group separated from the rest of the experiment such that the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.

Conclusion

a short paragraph that discusses the overall results of an experimental procedure and explains whether the proposed hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment was correct or not.

Theory or law

• Law: A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances.

• Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.