Biology Unit 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

Flashcards on Biology Unit 1: Evolution, Themes, and Scientific Inquiry

Evolution

The process of change over time that has resulted in the astounding array of organisms found on Earth

Biology

The scientific study of life

Properties of Life

Order, Energy Processing, Growth and Development, Evolutionary Adaptation, Regulation, Reproduction, Response to the Environment

Biosphere

All life on Earth

Ecosystems

All living/nonliving things in a particular area

Communities

Groups of organisms in a specific ecosystem (Multiple species)

Populations

All the individuals of a species in a specific area

Organisms

Individual living things

Organs

A body part made up of multiple tissues with specific functions

Tissues

Group of cells that work together performing a specific function

Cells

Life’s fundamental unit of structure and function

Eukaryotic Cells

Fungi, Plantae, Animalia, Protista; Membrane enclosed organelles; DNA containing nucleus

Prokaryotic Cells

Bacteria and Archaea; Lack of nucleus; Smaller

Organelles

The components in cells

Molecules

Chemical structure consisting of two or more units called atoms

Reductionism

Zooming through the levels of organization to easily understand simple components

Emergent properties

Properties that arise when multiple objects work together

Systems Biology

The exploration of a biological system by analyzing the interactions among its parts

Cell Theory

All living organisms are made of cells, and cells are the basic unit of life

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

Genetic material composed of nucleotides

Double helix structure

Two long strands covalently bonded by nucleotides

Nucleotide Bases

Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Uracil

Chromosomes

One condensed DNA molecule

Genes

Section of the DNA of the chromosome (units of inheritance)

Gene Expression

The process by which information in a gene directs the manufacture of a cellular product (DNA → RNA→ Protein)

Genome

A “library” of genetic instructions that an organism inherits

Genomics

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

Proteomics

The study of sets of proteins and their properties

Proteome

The entire set of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue, or organism

Bioinformatics

The use of computation tools to store, organize, and analyze the huge volume of data that results from high-throughput methods

High-Throughput technology

Tools that analyze biological samples rapidly

Producers

Photosynthetic organisms (converts light to chemical energy)

Consumers

Organisms that feed on other organisms and their remains

Feedback regulation

The output or product of a process regulated that very process

Negative feedback

A loop where it reduces the initial stimulus

Positive feedback

The end product speeds up its own production

Mutualism

Both animals benefit

Commensalism

One benefits, one has no effect

Parasitism

One benefits, one is harmed

Climate change

A directional change to the global climate that lasts for three decades or more (not short-term like weather)

Evolution

The concept that the organisms living on Earth today are the modified descendants of common ancestors

Unity

When two species share certain traits

Diversity

When two species have different traits

Three Domains of Life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

Bacteria

Prokaryotic; Most diverse with multiple kingdoms

Archaea

Prokaryotic; Live in extreme environments (i.e. boiling hot springs)

Kingdom Plantae

Produce their own sugars by photosynthesis

Kingdom Animalia

Obtain energy by eating and digesting other organisms

Kingdom Protista

Photosynthesis, Phagocytosis, Absorption of nutrients

Kingdom Fungi

Absorbs nutrients from surroundings

Charles Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection

Contemporary species arose from ancestors that differed from them; Natural Selection is a primary cause of descent with modification

Natural Selection

The idea that animals with similar structures evolved from a common ancestor but created adaptations that were acted upon by nature to increase survivability.

Science

An approach to understanding the natural world

Inquiry

A search for information and explanations of natural phenomena

Hypothesis

A explanation that leads to a testable prediction

Data

Recorded observations

Qualitative Data

Recorded descriptions

Quantitative Data

Numerical measurements

Statistics

A type of mathematics used to analyze data

Inductive Reasoning

Deriving generalizations from a large number of specific observations

Experiment

A scientific test carried out under controlled conditions

Deductive Reasoning

Logic that flows in the opposite direction from general to specific

Testable

Some observation or experiment that could reveal if an idea is true or false

Control Group

A group exposed to normal conditions; used as a comparison to see the effects of the experiment

Experimental Group

A group being tested on to confirm the validity of the hypothesis

Controlled Experiment

An experiment designed to compare an experimental group with a control group

Variables

A feature or quantity that varies in an experiment

Independent Variable

The factor being manipulated by researchers in an experiment

Dependent Variable

The factor being measured that is predicted to be affected by the independent variable

Theory

Broader in scope than a hypothesis; General enough to spin off new hypotheses; Supported by a body of evidence; Can be modified if new contrasting evidence arises

Model Organism

A species that is easy to grow in the lab and lends itself particularly well to the questions being investigated

The goal of technology

Applying scientific knowledge for some purpose

The goal of science

Understanding natural phenomena