Biology 101: Introduction to the Study of Life

Flashcards covering the fundamentals of biology, including the scientific method, reasoning types, history of life, levels of organization, and the properties of living things.

Biology

The study of life.

Inductive Reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion; it involves moving from the specific to the general.

Deductive Reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results.

Scientific Method

A method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation; credited to Sir Francis Bacon ($1561\text{--}1626$).

Natural History Timing

The Universe is approximately $14\text{ billion years}$ old, Earth is approximately $4.5\text{ billion years}$ old, and life has existed for approximately $3.6\text{ billion years}$.

Entropy Reduction Devices

A term describing living organisms because they bring order out of chaos and require certain elements in correct proportions.

Cyanobacteria

Formerly called blue-green algae, these are some of Earth's oldest life forms.

Stromatolites

Ancient structures formed by the layering of cyanobacteria in shallow waters, such as those found in Lake Thetis, Western Australia.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Normal residents of digestive tracts that aid in the absorption of vitamin K and other nutrients, though some virulent strains cause disease.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Also called Indigenous Knowledge or Native Science, it refers to the evolving knowledge acquired by Indigenous and local peoples over hundreds or thousands of years through direct contact with the environment.

Science Positivism

A philosophical system holding that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof.

Discovery-Approach

A scientific approach that describes natural structures and processes as accurately as possible through careful observation and analysis of data.

Syllogism

A formal argument where the conclusion is based on two premises ($P1$: All birds have feathers; $P2$: Chickens are birds; $C$: Therefore, chickens have feathers).

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation or prediction for an observation, usually based on prior experience and knowledge.

Valid Hypothesis Requirements

A hypothesis must be testable, repeatable, falsifiable, and specific.

Scientific Peer-reviewed Publication Format

The standard format includes an Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results \& Discussion, Conclusion, and Literature References.

Biological Levels of Organization

The hierarchy from smallest to largest: Molecule, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, and Biosphere.

LUCA

An acronym for the Last Universal Common Ancestor.

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram constructed by Carl Woese using data from sequencing ribosomal RNA genes, showing the separation of living organisms into three domains.

Domains of Life

The three domains are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms, specifically those in the domains Bacteria and Archaea, which lack intracellular organelles.

Properties of Life

The seven key characteristics: Order, Sensitivity or Response to Stimuli, Reproduction, Adaptation (Evolution), Growth and Development, Regulation/Homeostasis, and Energy Processing.

Homeostasis

The process by which organisms, like polar bears living in ice-covered regions, maintain internal conditions such as body temperature.

Biotechnology

The use of biological models for practical advantages, such as wastewater treatment, vaccine production, biofuels (ethanol), and biochemical synthesis.