Lecture 1: General Biology, Taxonomy, Biological Hierarchy, and Chemical Foundations

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from Chapters 1 through 8 including taxonomy, cell theory, biological hierarchy, atomic structure, and chemical bonding.

Name linnaen classification system

Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Three domains of life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

Cell

The smallest unit of a living thing that provides body structure, houses genetic material (DNA and RNA), and carries out essential biological functions.

Cell theory

The scientific principle stating that all living organisms are composed of cells and that cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Unicellular

Describing an organism that is composed of only one cell.

Multicellular

Describing an organism that is composed of multiple cells.

Macromolecules

Large molecules formed when smaller molecules combine, consisting of four basic biological types: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Organelles

Subcellular structures located inside a cell, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that perform specific functions.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass (or weight).

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that displays the chemical and physical properties of that element.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle located inside the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

An uncharged (neutral) subatomic particle located inside the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle located outside the nucleus in orbits or shells.

Atomic number

The total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass number

The total number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Group

A vertical column on the periodic table.

Period

A horizontal row on the periodic table.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements or atoms bind together.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share pairs of electrons to complete their outer shells.