Chatper 1

Why is structure so important

Structure dictates function

Reductionism

System can be studied at any level or organization by breaking it down

Systems Biology

Approach that tries to model what happens in a complete system by changing the variables

DNA

Made up of two long chains arranged in a double helix

Griffith’s experiment

R strain kills DNA effectively killing organism

Positive Feedback

Product speeds up its own production

Negative Feedback

Accumulation of a product slows down the process itself

Biodiversity

The sum of living things on the planet

What does the theory of evolution operates on what?

LUCA - Last Universal Common Ancestor

3 forces that have effected evolution

Mutation - genetic change

Time - time is needed for physical change

Selection - “survival of the fittest”

Taxonomy

Branch of biology that names and classifies species

Levels of Taxonomic organization:

Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Archaea

Prokaryotes

Eubacteria

Prokaryotes, true bacteria

Eukarya

Eukaryotes taht have a nucleus and organelles

Adaptive Radiation

The rapid evolution of diverse species from a common ancestor to adapt to different environments.

Discovery Science

Describing nature and slowly describing data

Hypothesis based Science

Explaining nautre - slowly finding out and trying to explain what you see in nature