Biology 1001 - Section 1 (Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry)

Biology

The scientific study of life.

7 Properties of Life

order, regulation, growth and development, energy processing, response to the environment, reproduction, evolutionary adaptation.

Order

A property of life in which structures are highly organized.

Energy Processing

A property of life in which energy is processed into fuel to complete work.

Growth and Development

A property of life in which inherited genetic information controls the pattern of growth and development.

Evolutionary Adaptation

A property of life in which organisms evolve adaptations due to reproductive success of those selected for by natural selection.

Response to the Environment

A property of life in which organisms respond to environmental stimulus.

Regulation

A property of life in which an organism self-regulates to maintain conditions for survival.

Reproduction

A property of life in which organisms reproduce their own kind.

5 Unifying Themes of Biology

Evolution, Organization, Energy and Matter, Genetic information and Interactions.

Evolution

A unifying theme of biology that suggests changes occur in species due to natural selection.

Organization

A unifying theme of biology that shows structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization.

Energy and Matter

A unifying theme of biology that shows how energy and matter cycle among organisms and their environment. Energy enters as light and exits as heat.

Genetic Information

A unifying theme of biology that says genetic information inherited from parents determine appearance.

Interactions Within Systems

A unifying theme of biology that describes how organisms interact with other organisms and their environment.

Levels of Biological Organization

Molecules, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organisms, Populations, Communities, Ecosystems and the Biosphere. (MCT OOP CEB)

Biosphere

All life on Earth, including the places where life exists.

Ecosystem

All of the living organisms in one area, and how they co-exist with non-living components.

Community

Array of organisms inhabiting a particular ecosystem.

Population

All individuals of a species within a community.

Organism

Any living thing within a population.

Organ

Multiple tissues within the body of an organism that carry out specific functions.

Tissue

Groups of cells within an organism that work together to perform specialized tasks.

Cells

The basic unit of structure and function in all living things.

Organelles

Structures within cells that perform specific functions.

Molecules

Chemical structures composed of two or more atoms.

Reductionism

Reducing complex systems to simpler, more manageable units.

Emergent Properties

New properties that emerge at each higher level of organization due to the arrangement and interactions of parts.

Systems Biology

An approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems based on a study of the interactions among the system's parts.

System

A group of independent parts that work together as a whole.

Structure and Function

Correlated at all levels of biological organization.

Ecosystem Function

Results from interactions between abiotic and biotic components.

Nutrient Cycling

The process in which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted by plants into a form usable by animals

Cell Theory

The theory that all living organisms are composed of cells.

Characteristics of All Cells

Enclosed in a membrane and use DNA as genetic information.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles found in Eukarya.

Prokaryotic Cells

Small and simple cells with no membrane-enclosed nucleus that is found in Bacteria and Archaea.

Chromosome

A threadlike, gene-carrying (DNA) structure found in the nucleus.

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Gene

Unit of inheritance; encodes the information to build the molecules in a cell, and is transmitted from parent to offspring.

Nucleotide

A structure within DNA that accounts for its ability to store information. It consists of sugar, phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

Gene Expression

The process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins.

RNA

A single-stranded nucleic acid that passes along genetic messages.

Transcription

The process in which the DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA).

Translation

The process in which the mRNA sequence is translated into an amino acid sequence.

Protein Folding

The physical process by which a polypeptide folds into its characteristic three-dimensional structure, which is essential to the protein's function.

Genome

The entire set of genetic material within an organism.

Proteome

All of the proteins expressed within a given cell, tissue or organism.

Genomics

The study of whole genomes of one or more species.

Proteomics

The study of sets of proteins and their properties.

Bioinformatics

The use of computers, software, and mathematical models to organize and store biological information from large data sets.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food.

Consumers

Organisms that eat living producers and/or other consumers for food.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

Light to Heat

The direction energy flows through an ecosystem.

Feedback Regulation

The regulation of a process by its output or end product.

Negative Feedback

A type of feedback that reduces the initial stimulus (Insulin signalling).

Positive Feedback

A type of feedback that reinforces the initial stimulus and increases the response (Platelets and injury).

Mutually Beneficial Interactions

An interaction in which both organisms benefit.

Mutually Harmful Interactions

An interaction in which both organisms are harmed.

Parasitic Interactions

An interaction in which one organism is harmed and another is benefitted.

Commensal Interactions

An interaction in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Climate Change

Directional change to the global climate lasting 30 years or more.

Evolution

The idea that all living organisms are modified descendants of common ancestors.

Adaptations

Changes in physical structure, function, or behavior that allow an organism or species to survive and reproduce in a given environment.

Taxonomy

The scientific study of how living things are classified or named.

8 Taxonomic Groups

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Binomial Nomenclature

Classification system in which each species is assigned a two-part scientific name, such as Homo sapiens.

3 Kingdoms of Eukarya

Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia.

Kingdom Plantae

Complex, multi-cellular organisms that use photosynthesis to make food.

Kingdom Fungi

Consists of unicellular and multicellular organisms that cannot make their own food (heterotrophs) and absorb nutrients from outside their bodies.

Kingdom Animalia

Consists of multicellular organisms that ingest other organisms.

Protists

Diverse group of single-celled eukaryotes.

Descent with Modification

A theory presented by Charles Darwin that said contemporary species arose from a succession of ancestors that differed from them.

Natural Selection

A process proposed by Charles Darwin that causes descent with modification.

Charles Darwin's 3 Observations

Individuals within a population show a variation in traits, which are heritable; populations can produce far more offspring than can survive and reproduce; species are adapted to their environments.

The Tree of Life

A diagram that illustrates evolutionary relationships with tree-like diagrams and branch points indicating common ancestors.

Process of Scientific Inquiry

Making observations, forming logical and testable explanations (hypothesis), testing hypothesis, repetition.

Scientific Literature

A set of published studies or findings.

Observation

The gathering of information through tools or senses.

Data

Recorded observations that can be qualitative or quantitative

Quantitative Data

Data that can be measured and expressed numerically.

Qualitative Data

Data that describes qualities or characteristics.

Statistics

A branch of mathematics that is used to analyze and determine the significance of data.

Significant Data

The data show an effect that is likely not due to chance.

Inductive Reasoning

A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Experiment

A set of controlled observations that test a hypothesis.

Scientific Method

An idealized process of inquiry based on hypothesis testing.

Deductive Reasoning

A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise.

Scientific Consensus

A shared conclusion that a particular hypothesis explains known data and can stand up to experimental testing.

Variables

Factors being manipulated and measured in an experiment.

Independent Variable

The experimental factor being manipulated.

Dependent Variable

The experimental factor being measured and predicted to be affected by the independent variable.

Controlled Experiment

An experiment in which an experimental group is compared with a control group.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the variable being tested.

Theory

An explanation of an aspect in the natural world.