Zoology (Science of Zoology)

Life

a self-sustaining chemical system capable of evolution

General Properties of Living Systems

1. Chemical Uniqueness

2. Complexity & Hierarchical Organization

3. Reproduction

4. Genetic Program

5. Metabolism

6. Development

7. Environmental Interaction

8. Movement

Chemical Uniqueness

demonstrates a unique and complex molecular organization

Complexity & Hierarchical Organization

demonstrates a unique and complex hierarchical organization

Emergence

each level has properties that are greater than the sum of its parts

Reproduction

living forms reproduce to generate others like themselves

Genetic Program

offspring resemble qualities (DNA) of their parents

Fidelity

faithfulness

Metabolism

living organisms maintain themselves by acquiring nutrients from environments

Development

all organisms pass through a characteristic life cycle {describes the changes an organism undergoes from origin to final form}

Environmental Interaction

all organisms interact with environment

Ecology

study of organismal interaction with environment

Movement

living systems and their parts show precise and controlled movements within environment

Animals

eukaryotes/heterotrophs/lack cell walls/ have internal microbiome

Microbiome

bacteria and archea in gut

Science

a way of discovering explanations for natural phenomena

Falsifiable

constantly refining our explanations

Steps for Scientific Method

1. Observations

2. Questions

3. Forming a hypothesis

4. Make Predictions

5. Empirical Test

6. Conclusions

7. Publication

Theory

a hypothesis very powerful in explaining phenomena

Level of a Theory

if a hypothesis is powerful enough to explain a wide variety of related phenomena

Paradigms

powerful theories that guide extensive research

Taxonomy

a formal system for naming and classifying species following the principle of common descent

Systematics

a broader science of classifying organisms based on studies among populations which reveal evolutionary relationships

Taxon (Taxa)

major animal groups at each level

Homology

character similarity resulting from common ancestor

Analogy

character similarity with separate evolutionary origin

Ancestral Character

character state present in common ancestor

Derived Character

all other variant forms of the character

Polarity

identifying contrasting states- which ones are ancestral and which ones are derived