Biological Science - Chapter 1 Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 1 of Biological Science, focusing on themes of life, evolution, and cellular biology.

Cells

Membrane-bound compartments that make up all living organisms.

Replication

The ability of organisms to reproduce.

Information

The processing of hereditary information encoded in genes and environmental information.

Evolution

The process by which species change over time.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

The framework describing the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Cell Theory

A fundamental concept stating that all living organisms are made up of cells.

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

A theory explaining how species evolve and adapt over time through survival and reproduction.

Chromosome Theory of Inheritance

A theory stating that hereditary information is transmitted from one generation to the next via chromosomes.

Hypothesis

A testable statement that explains an observation.

Adaptation

A trait that increases an individual's fitness in a specific environment.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to reproduce.

Fitness

The ability of an individual to produce offspring.

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among species.

Taxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms.

Scientific Name

A unique two-part name for a species, consisting of its genus and specific epithet.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in organisms.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, involved in the synthesis of proteins.

Mutations

Changes in DNA sequence that can lead to genetic diversity.

Chemical Evolution

The process by which life arose from non-life through chemical processes.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus.

Prokaryotes

Organisms whose cells lack a nucleus.

Molecular Evidence

Data from DNA or RNA sequences used to analyze genetic variation.