Set 1 - Properties of Life Lectures - Bio 180

What is the definition of biology?

The study of life

The root for water is "hydro". Based on this knowledge, what is a hydrologist?

A person who studies water

What is the definition of energy in scientific terms?

the capacity to do work

The sum total of all reactions in the body that utilize and release energy is called __________.

metabolism

Reactions that build larger molecules from smaller molecules require energy. These types of reactions are ___________ reactions.

anabolic

Reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller molecules release energy. These types of reactions are ___________ reactions.

catabolic

If your catabolic reactions are considerably exceeding your anabolic reactions, would you likely be gaining or losing weight?

losing

What is the genetic blueprint of all living organisms?

DNA

In order to generate a visible trait, like eye color, there is a "flow" of genetic information in a specific order. Your genetic information, ____________, is transcribed into a molecule of _____________, which is then "decoded" (or translated) into a ______________, which then gives you a visible trait.

DNA, RNA, protein

The ability to maintain a level of internal physiological constancy is called ________.

homeostasis

A change in the genetic makeup in a population over time is called ________________.

evolution

A specific version of a gene is called a(n) _________.

allele

On the molecular level, a change in the genetic makeup in a population over time is really a change in the ______________ frequencies.

allele

Evolution requires some mechanism to drive a change in the allele frequency of a population. It also requires what other two criteria among the individuals?

ability to reproduce and genetic variety among the population

A change in a DNA sequence is called a _____________.

mutation

According to Darwinian theory, would an Olympic athlete who had no children be more or less "fit" than a slightly overweight sedentary individual who has 6 children? Why?

The sedentary person would be more fit because they lived long enough to produce many children, and thus, transmitted their genes to a future generation.

What does the term, autotroph, literally mean? These organisms are the _________ (producers/consumers/decomposers) of the world.

Auto = self

Troph = to feed

Autotrophs are "self feeders", meaning they are able to make their own food.

These organisms are the producers of the world.

What are the building blocks of atoms? (electrons are an example)

subatomic particles

Molecules are made up of a specific arrangement of __________.

atoms

The smallest unit of life is the ________.

cell

Membrane-bound compartments within a cell are called _________.

organelles

What was the first organelle found in an early eukaryotic cell?

the nucleus

What is the main difference between a eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell?

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus (and other organelles) while prokaryotic cells do not.

What does the root "kary" mean?

nucleus

What does the root "eu" mean?

true or real

A group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit is called a(n) ____________.

tissue

A(n) ___________ is a group of several different kinds of tissues that perform a specific function.

organ

Organs that work together to provide a specific function make up a(n) ___________.

organ system

If you put all of the organ systems together, you have just built a multicellular ____________.

organism

A group of the same type of organisms living in the same area is called a ________.

population

The term describing multiple populations living in the same area is a ________.

community

A community and its surrounding non-living environment is called what?

an ecosystem

The ___________ is made up of all of the ecosystems on Earth where life exists.

biosphere

What is the hierarchy of biological organization from subatomic particles to the biosphere?

Note: Do not put organelles in your hierarchy, as they evolved AFTER life evolved, but are still considered non-living, raw materials!

subatomic particles --> atoms --> molecules and macromolecules --> cells --> tissues --> organs --> organ systems --> organism --> population --> community --> ecosystem --> biosphere

If an antibiotic kills 99.9% of a bacterial population, those who survive will then be able to reproduce, changing the genetic makeup of the new population. This is an example of which mechanism of evolution? ___________

You would expect the next generation of bacteria to be _________ (more/less/just as) resistant to that antibiotic as was the previous generation.

natural selection

more resistant

Why did the dark-colored moths survive better than the light-colored moths as the industrial revolution proceeded in London? Did they purposely camouflage themselves or change their DNA in response to the dark trees?

The dark moths survived because they happened to be dark when the trees were dark.

They did NOT purposely camouflage themselves!

They did not adapt TO the environment... the environment they were in just happened to be good at the time.

Their DNA did not change in RESPONSE to the dark trees... it was a random mutation that occurred that made them dark, and they happened to be in luck.

In order for evolution to occur, any mutation that occurs within individuals must occur in the ____________.

gametes (reproductive cells)

What is a hypothesis? Is it the answer to a question?

A hypothesis is not the answer to a question!

It is a guess, based on your knowledge or experience (an educated guess).

It's a proposal to a question that can be tested.

Is a theory a guess? Describe what it takes to make something a theory.

A theory is NOT a guess!!

It is a well-supported broad explanation of some aspect of the natural world.

A theory has been repeatedly tested and reconfirmed.

What is a Scientific Law? Is it a proven explanation of some aspect of the natural world? If not, what is it?

A Scientific Law is NOT an explanation of WHY something happens, it is a statement that describes WHAT happens, ALWAYS, under certain conditions in our universe.

So it's not explaining the WHY, it's simply stating the WHAT.

Laws cannot never be broken!

Which holds more weight, a hypothesis or a theory?

A hypothesis is just a guess, but a theory is an explanation that has be tested repeated and has been reconfirmed to be true.

A theory is not a guess! It holds a LOT more weight than a hypothesis!