BIOL109.004-FALL23’ | Foundations in Biology I

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology. CHAPTER 1!

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid

The polymer carries geneticinstructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

TISSUES

In biology, tissue is a historically derived biological organizational level between cells and a complete organ.

How do Tissues form?

Tissues are formed from the assemblage of cells and intercellular materials in various proportions in which one component predominates. In nervous tissue as an example, nerve cells predominate while in connective tissues such as Ligaments and Tendons, intercellular fibrous materials predominate.

Biological Organism Hierarchy

Biological organisms follow this hierarchy:

Cells < Tissue < Organ < Organ System < Organism

POPULATION

all the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves.

CELL

The smallest basic unit of life that is responsible for all of life’s processes.

ATOM

An atom is the smallest component of an element.

ECOSYSTEM

a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.

HOMEOSTASIS

the state of steady internal, physical, chemical, and social conditions maintained by living systems.

GENETIC MATERIAL

DNA

ORGANISM

a living thing that has an organized structure, can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow, adapt, and maintain homeostasis.

CELL THEORY

the cell is the basic unit of life, the components of a cell, organelles and molecules, are not living.

ENVIRONMENT

the external conditions, resources, stimuli, etcetera., with which an organism interacts.

REPRODUCTION

process by which organisms replicate themselves

BIOTIC

of, pertaining to, or produced by life or living organisms (of an ecosystem). e.g. secretions, wastes, and remains.

ABIOTIC

any component of the ecosystem that is devoid of life.