BIOL1030 Exam #1 Ch.1

Describe the characteristics of "life." What is Life?

they're ordered, reproduce, grow/develop, process energy, regulate their internal environment, respond to the environment, adapt/evolve

Describe how biologists arrange and classify the diversity of life.

1. Bacteria - most abundant, moderate environments, peptidoglycan cell wall

2. Archaea - extremophiles, unusual lipids, DNA processes like eukaryotes.

3. Eukarya - nucleus & organelles; kingdoms Protists, Plants, Fungi, Animals

What are the 4 kingdoms within Eukarya?

1. Protists - single-celled organisms

2. Fungi - saprophytic decomposers

3. Plants - multicellular, photosynthetic self-feeders

4. Animals - heterotrophic feeders, ingest foods

Describe emergent properties in the hierarchy of life.

- Emergent properties = "whole greater than sum of parts"

- Hierarchy of life:

• Biosphere (all air, land, water with life)

• Ecosystem (living + nonliving in an area)

• Community (all species interacting)

• Population (same species in area)

• Organism (one individual)

• Organ system (organs working together)

• Organ (body part with a job)

• Tissue (similar cells together)

• Cell (smallest life unit)

• Organelle (cell part with a job)

• Molecule (atoms bonded)

• Atom (smallest matter)

Explain and apply the Scientific Method.

observation, question, hypothesis, experiment (control vs. test), data (qualitative/quantitative), conclusions

Describe the five Unifying Themes in Biology.

1. Evolution - core theme; theory

2. Life depends on the flow of info.

3. Structure & function are related

4. Life depends on the transfer/transformation of energy & matter

5. Life depends on interactions within & between systems

Describe why evolution is the core theme in biology.

Explains both the unity & diversity of life

Co-evolution = changing of organisms to fit each other to better achieve their respective functions regarding each other

Darwin's 2 main points: descent w/ modification & natural selection (individual variation, overproduction of offspring, unequal reproductive success (survival of the fittest), accumulation of favorable traits over time (evolution/adaptation - ex. Giraffe – adapted for reaching to highest branches to obtain foliage for food)

Evolution connected to our everyday lives - Antibiotic resistance in bacteria, Herbicide resistance in weeds, Insecticide resistance in insects

Explain how life depends on the flow of information.

environmental (plants grow toward light)

genetic information:

DNA - genetic code = codons (amino acid), genes (protein), chromosome (sequence of genes), organism (use same genetic code)

to mRNA to RNA to protein

Flow of info from DNA to RNA to protein

Transcription - copying info. encoded in DNA into info. in RNA

Translation - converting info. encoded in RNA into amino acid sequence of protein

Flow of info in regulation of blood glucose levels

AFTER A MEAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS RISE - pancreas detects & releases into the bloodstream; insulin binds to target cells to stimulate cells to take up glucose (blood glucose levels return to normal)

Describe how structure & function are related.

structure matches function - cells, organs, & organisms correlate w/ their specific function; Ex. small intestines and cells have huge surface area to maximize absorption

Explain how life depends on the transfer & transformation of energy & matter.

Energy - one-way flow (sun, then food, then heat)

Matter - recycled (nutrients then carbon dioxide, then water)

Producers, consumers (herbivores, omnivores, carnivores), decomposers form food webs

Energy is lost at every transfer from one trophic level to the next

Describe how life depends on interactions within & between systems.

Levels interact; no system works in isolation

Ex. roots of a plant depend on each other for water; circulatory & respiratory system work together to exchange carbon dioxide & dioxide with the environment