Chapter 01: The Science of Biology

Flashcards covering core biological concepts, hierarchical organization, scientific methodology, and the principles of evolution based on Chapter 01 of the Raven Biology textbook.

Biology

The study of living things; the science of life.

Biology unifies much of natural science

Living systems are the most complex chemical systems on Earth.

Life is constrained by the properties of chemistry and physics

Life

Defies simple definition

Cellular organization

one or more cells.

Ordered complexity

Different types of cells in our body

Sensitivity to environment

Plants grow toward light

Energy utilization

Take in energy and use it to perform work

Homeostasis

maintain relatively constant internal conditions

Evolutionary adaptation

The interaction with other organisms and the nonliving environment that influences survival over time.

Cellular organization

Ordered complexity

Sensitivity to environment

Growth, development, and reproduction

Energy utilization

Homeostasis

Evolutionary adaptation

Characteristics of all living organisms:

Atom > molecules > organelles > cells

Cellular level

Atom

The basic unit of structure and function

Cell

The basic unit of life, as defined by Cell Theory.

Tissues > Organs > Organ Systems

Organismal Level

Tissues

Groups of similar cells acting as a functional unit.

Organs

Body structures composed of several different tissues that act as a functional unit.

Organ Systems

Groups of organs working together toward a common function.

Population > Community

Population level

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place.

Species

All populations of a particular kind of organism together.

Community

Consists of all the populations of different species living together in one place.

Ecosystems > Bioshpere

Ecosystem level

Ecosystems

Populations of organisms and their environment constitute ecological _____

Biosphere

The entire Earth is an ecosystem we call the ________

Emergent properties

Characteristics that result from the interaction of components and cannot be deduced by looking at the parts themselves.

“Life”

is an emergent property

Observation

Science aims to understand the natural world through ________ and reasoning

Classification of all life on Earth

Human genome sequencing

Science begins with observations, therefore, much of science is purely descriptive

Deductive reasoning

The use of general principles to make specific predictions.

Ex. All mammals have fur so if you find an animal that does not have fur, then you may conclude that this animal is not a mammal

Inductive reasoning

The use of specific observations to develop general scientific conclusions.

Ex. Poodles have hair, terriers have hair, and all other dogs you observe have hair, then you may conclude that all dogs have hair

Hypothesis-Driven

Science is __________

Systematic

Scientists uses a _______ approach to gain understanding of the natural world

Hypothesis

A possible explanation for an observation

tested

A hypothesis:

1. Must be _____ to determine its validity

2. Is often tested in many different ways

3. Allows for predictions to be made

4. Hypothesis can be changed and refined with new data

Variables

Factors that can change in an experiment.

Control experiment

A component of an experiment that does not receive experimental treatment and where all variables are kept the same.

Reductionism

An approach to science that breaks a complex process down into its simpler parts.

Systems biology

A focus on emergent properties that cannot be understood by looking at simpler parts.

Scientific Theory

A body of interconnected concepts supported by much experimental evidence and scientific reasoning that explains facts in a specific area of study.

Basic research

Research intended to extend the boundaries of what is currently known.

Applied research

Research utilizing the foundation of basic research that may involve manufacturing goods such as drugs or food additives.

Natural selection

A mechanism for evolution where environmental conditions determine which individuals survive and reproduce.

Homologous

Structures with the same evolutionary origin that now differ in structure and function, such as vertebrate forelimbs.

Analogous

Structures of different origin used for the same purpose, such as butterfly and bird wings.

Phylogenetic trees

A graphic representation of evolutionary relationships based on genome or protein comparisons.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Genetic information carried in every cell encoded by a sequence of 4 nucleotides.

Gene

A discrete unit of information that codes for a protein.

Genome

The entire set of DNA instructions for an organism.