BIOLOGY 1 B2029 A.R.C.H.E.R.S - Topic Review Flashcards

A set of practice flashcards covering biology fundamentals from unifying themes and hierarchy to genetics, evolution, and ecological energy flow.

What are the five unifying themes of biology?

Organization; Information; Energy and Matter; Interaction; and Evolution.

What does the theme 'Organization' describe in biology?

Life’s hierarchy from molecules and cells to the biosphere, with a correlation between structure and function.

What is the highest level of biological organization?

The biosphere (all life on Earth and all places life exists).

List the ten levels of biological organization in order.

Molecules, Organelles, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organisms, Populations, Communities, Ecosystems, Biosphere.

What is the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and are generally smaller.

What is the Central Dogma of molecular biology?

DNA is transcribed into RNA in the nucleus, and RNA is translated into a protein in the cytoplasm; codons specify amino acids.

What is a gene?

A segment of DNA that codes for a protein or functional RNA.

What is a genome?

The complete set of genetic instructions an organism inherits.

What is genomics?

The study of whole sets of genes or DNA in one or more species.

What is proteomics?

The study of sets of proteins and their properties; the proteome is the complete set of proteins made by a cell, tissue, or organism.

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

RNA uses uracil instead of thymine and ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose; RNA is typically single-stranded and is synthesized in the nucleus to help build proteins.

What is a codon?

A sequence of three mRNA bases that specifies one amino acid.

What is uniformitarianism and who proposed it?

Geologic processes today occur at the same rate as in the past; proposed by James Hutton and popularized by Charles Lyell.

What is Cuvier's theory of catastrophe?

Mass extinctions followed by repopulation with new species after catastrophic events.

What is natural selection?

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to heritable variation; over generations, advantageous traits become more common.

Who independently conceived natural selection alongside Darwin?

Alfred Russel Wallace.

What is Thomas Malthus’ Principle of Population?

Populations tend to grow faster than food supplies, leading to competition; famine, disease, and war act as checks.

What is descent with modification?

Over generations, species accumulate differences from their ancestors due to natural selection.

What is Lamarckism?

The Theory of Use and Disuse and Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics; acquired traits can be inherited (e.g., giraffe necks per Lamarck).

What is the key difference between Lamarckism and natural selection?

Lamarckism claims acquired traits are inherited; natural selection involves inheritance of genetic variation and differential survival.

What is an ecosystem?

A mix of biotic and abiotic components interacting in a given environment.

What are the main types of interactions in ecosystems?

Commensalism, Mutualism, Parasitism, Predation, Competition, Neutralism, Amensalism.

How does energy flow in ecosystems start and move?

The Sun is the primary energy source; producers convert solar energy to chemical energy; energy flows to consumers and decomposers, while matter cycles.

What is the central idea of evolution as described in these notes?

Evolution is the change in characteristics of populations over generations by natural selection, explaining unity and diversity of life.