Introduction to Evolution and the Foundations of Biology (Chapter 1)

A comprehensive set of QA-style flashcards covering the core concepts from Campbell Biology in Focus Chapter 1: evolution, the cell, genetics, genomics, energy flow, ecology, the scientific method, and the unity and diversity of life.

What is the fundamental principle of biology as described in the overview of life (1 of 2)?

Evolution is the process of change that has resulted in the astounding array of organisms; it is the fundamental principle of biology.

What are emergent properties?

Properties that arise from the arrangement and interaction of parts within a system, not from the individual parts alone (e.g., a functioning bicycle emerges when all parts are connected correctly).

What are the unifying themes used to organize biological information?

Organization, Information, Energy and matter, Interactions, and Evolution.

At what levels can life be studied, and what is reductionism?

Life can be studied from molecules to the biosphere; reductionism simplifies complex systems into smaller components to make them easier to study.

What is the cell, and what are the two main forms of cells?

The cell is the smallest unit of life that can perform all activities required for life; the two main forms are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

What distinguishes a eukaryotic cell from a prokaryotic cell?

A eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; a prokaryotic cell lacks a nucleus and is generally smaller and simpler.

What contains a cell’s genetic material and what are the units of inheritance?

DNA contains the genetic material; genes are the units of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring.

What is the structure of DNA and its building blocks?

DNA consists of two long strands arranged in a double helix; the building blocks are nucleotides: A, T, C, and G.

What is gene expression?

The process of converting information from a gene into its cellular product, typically involving RNA as an intermediary to make proteins.

What is genomics and proteomics?

Genomics is the study of sets of genes within and between species; proteomics is the study of sets of proteins and their properties; the proteome is the entire set of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue, or organism.

What is high-throughput technology and bioinformatics?

High-throughput technology analyzes biological samples rapidly; bioinformatics uses computational tools to store, organize, and analyze large data sets.

How do producers and consumers differ in energy transfer?

Producers convert sunlight into chemical energy (sugars); consumers obtain energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.

Describe energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems.

Energy flows in as light, is converted to chemical energy by plants, and is used by organisms; heat is lost; decomposers recycle chemicals back to the soil.

What kinds of interactions occur between organisms and their environment?

Interactions can be mutualistic (beneficial to both) or harmful, and both organisms and environments are affected by these interactions.

What is climate change in this context?

A directional change in global climate lasting decades or more, with human activities increasing the planet’s average temperature and affecting organisms and habitats.

What is the core idea of evolution in terms of unity and diversity?

Evolution explains both the unity of life (shared DNA language) and the diversity of life (adaptations and speciation over time).

What are the two main points Darwin made about evolution?

Descent with modification from common ancestors and natural selection as the primary mechanism driving this modification.

What does the theory of natural selection imply about traits in a population?

Individuals best suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in advantageous traits over generations.

What is meant by the Tree of Life and radiation?

Darwin proposed that ancestral species can give rise to multiple descendant species (radiation); evolutionary relationships are often shown as treelike diagrams.

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in science?

A hypothesis is a testable explanation leading to predictions; a theory is broader in scope, well-supported by evidence, and can generate many testable hypotheses.

What is inductive reasoning in science?

Drawing generalizations from a large number of observations.

What is deductive reasoning in science?

Extrapolating from general premises to specific predictions that can be tested.

What is a controlled experiment and what are independent and dependent variables?

A controlled experiment compares an experimental group to a control group; the independent variable is the manipulated factor (e.g., color); the dependent variable is the measured outcome (e.g., predation rate).

What constitutes data in scientific observations?

Qualitative data are descriptions; quantitative data are measurements that can be organized into tables and graphs.

What are the three domains of life and what groups are in Domain Eukarya?

Domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya; Eukarya includes Plants, Fungi, Animals, and Protists.

What is the significance of DNA as the universal genetic language?

DNA is the molecular basis of inheritance across all organisms, with similarities evident at all levels of biological organization.

What is the evidence-based approach used to study changes in gene and protein networks?

Genomics and proteomics, using high-throughput methods and bioinformatics to analyze sets of genes and proteins and their coordinated activities.

What is the fundamental principle of biology as described in the overview of life (1 of 2)?

Evolution is the process of change that has resulted in the astounding array of organisms; it is the fundamental principle of biology.

What are emergent properties?

Properties that arise from the arrangement and interaction of parts within a system, not from the individual parts alone (e.g., a functioning bicycle emerges when all parts are connected correctly).

What are the unifying themes used to organize biological information?

Organization, Information, Energy and matter, Interactions, and Evolution.

At what levels can life be studied, and what is reductionism?

Life can be studied from molecules to the biosphere; reductionism simplifies complex systems into smaller components to make them easier to study.

What is the cell, and what are the two main forms of cells?

The cell is the smallest unit of life that can perform all activities required for life; the two main forms are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

What distinguishes a eukaryotic cell from a prokaryotic cell?

A eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; a prokaryotic cell lacks a nucleus and is generally smaller and simpler.

What contains a cell’s genetic material and what are the units of inheritance?

DNA contains the genetic material; genes are the units of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring.

What is the structure of DNA and its building blocks?

DNA consists of two long strands arranged in a double helix; the building blocks are nucleotides: A, T, C, and G.

What is gene expression?

The process of converting information from a gene into its cellular product, typically involving RNA as an intermediary to make proteins.

What is genomics and proteomics?

Genomics is the study of sets of genes within and between species; proteomics is the study of sets of proteins and their properties; the proteome is the entire set of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue, or organism.

What is high-throughput technology and bioinformatics?

High-throughput technology analyzes biological samples rapidly; bioinformatics uses computational tools to store, organize, and analyze large data sets.

How do producers and consumers differ in energy transfer?

Producers convert sunlight into chemical energy (sugars); consumers obtain energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.

Describe energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems.

Energy flows in as light, is converted to chemical energy by plants, and is used by organisms; heat is lost; decomposers recycle chemicals back to the soil.

What kinds of interactions occur between organisms and their environment?

Interactions can be mutualistic (beneficial to both) or harmful, and both organisms and environments are affected by these interactions.

What is climate change in this context?

A directional change in global climate lasting decades or more, with human activities increasing the planet’s average temperature and affecting organisms and habitats.

What is the core idea of evolution in terms of unity and diversity?

Evolution explains both the unity of life (shared DNA language) and the diversity of life (adaptations and speciation over time).

What are the two main points Darwin made about evolution?

Descent with modification from common ancestors and natural selection as the primary mechanism driving this modification.

What does the theory of natural selection imply about traits in a population?

Individuals best suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in advantageous traits over generations.

What is meant by the Tree of Life and radiation?

Darwin proposed that ancestral species can give rise to multiple descendant species (radiation); evolutionary relationships are often shown as treelike diagrams.

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in science?

A hypothesis is a testable explanation leading to predictions; a theory is broader in scope, well-supported by evidence, and can generate many testable hypotheses.

What is inductive reasoning in science?

Drawing generalizations from a large number of observations.

What is deductive reasoning in science?

Extrapolating from general premises to specific predictions that can be tested.

What is a controlled experiment and what are independent and dependent variables?

A controlled experiment compares an experimental group to a control group; the independent variable is the manipulated factor (e.g., color); the dependent variable is the measured outcome (e.g., predation rate).

What constitutes data in scientific observations?

Qualitative data are descriptions; quantitative data are measurements that can be organized into tables and graphs.

What are the three domains of life and what groups are in Domain Eukarya?

Domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya; Eukarya includes Plants, Fungi, Animals, and Protists.

What is the significance of DNA as the universal genetic language?

DNA is the molecular basis of inheritance across all organisms, with similarities evident at all levels of biological organization.

What is the evidence-based approach used to study changes in gene and protein networks?

Genomics and proteomics, using high-throughput methods and bioinformatics to analyze sets of genes and proteins and their coordinated activities.

Evolution

The process of change that has resulted in the astounding array of organisms; it is the fundamental principle of biology.

Emergent Properties

Properties that arise from the arrangement and interaction of parts within a system, not from the individual parts alone.

Reductionism

An approach that simplifies complex systems into smaller components to make them easier to study.

Cell

The smallest unit of life that can perform all activities required for life.

Prokaryotic Cell

A cell that lacks a nucleus and is generally smaller and simpler.

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

DNA

The molecule that contains a cell's genetic material; it consists of two long strands arranged in a double helix.

Gene

The units of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring.

Nucleotide

The building blocks of DNA: A, T, C, and G.

Gene Expression

The process of converting information from a gene into its cellular product, typically involving RNA as an intermediary to make proteins.

Genomics

The study of sets of genes within and between species.

Proteomics

The study of sets of proteins and their properties.

Proteome

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

High-throughput Technology

Technology that analyzes biological samples rapidly.

Bioinformatics

The use of computational tools to store, organize, and analyze large data sets from biological samples.

Producer

An organism that converts sunlight into chemical energy (sugars).

Consumer

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.

Decomposer

Organisms that recycle chemicals back to the soil in an ecosystem.

Mutualistic Interaction

An interaction between organisms or between an organism and its environment that is beneficial to both.

Climate Change

A directional change in global climate lasting decades or more, with human activities increasing the planet’s average temperature and affecting organisms and habitats.

Descent with Modification

One of Darwin's two main points about evolution; refers to the idea that ancestral species give rise to altered descendant species.

Natural Selection

The primary mechanism driving evolution, where individuals best suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in advantageous traits over generations.

Radiation (Evolutionary)

Darwin's concept that an ancestral species can give rise to multiple descendant species.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation leading to predictions.

Scientific Theory

A broad explanation, well-supported by evidence, that can generate many testable hypotheses.

Inductive Reasoning

Drawing generalizations from a large number of observations.

Deductive Reasoning

Extrapolating from general premises to specific predictions that can be tested.

Controlled Experiment

An experiment that compares an experimental group to a control group to test a hypothesis.

Independent Variable

The manipulated factor in a controlled experiment (e.g., color).

Dependent Variable

The measured outcome in a controlled experiment (e.g., predation rate).

Qualitative Data

Interpretive descriptions gathered during scientific observations.

Quantitative Data

Numerical measurements that can be organized into tables and graphs, gathered during scientific observations.

Domains of Life

The three highest levels of classification for organisms: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Eukarya

A domain of life that includes Plants, Fungi, Animals, and Protists.

Universal Genetic Language

Refers to DNA, which serves as the molecular basis of inheritance across all organisms, showing fundamental similarities.

Organism

An individual living entity; a form of life.

Biosphere

The entire portion of Earth inhabited by life; the sum of all ecosystems.