Module 2 Bio

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the properties of life, mechanisms of reproduction and adaptation, the structure of phylogenetic trees, and the classification of organisms in biology.

What are the key properties that define life?

The key properties that define life include order, sensitivity to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation/homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution.

What is the fundamental unit of living organisms?

The cell is the smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms.

How do single-celled organisms reproduce?

Single-celled organisms reproduce by duplicating their DNA and dividing it equally to form two new cells.

What is adaptation in biological terms?

Adaptation is a characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, often arising from evolution by natural selection.

What does homeostasis refer to?

Homeostasis refers to the relatively stable internal environment that organisms need to maintain life.

Who constructed the phylogenetic tree based on ribosomal RNA genes?

Carl Woese constructed the phylogenetic tree using data from sequencing ribosomal RNA genes.

What are the three domains of life in Woese's phylogenetic tree?

The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

What is systematics in biology?

Systematics is the field that organizes and classifies organisms based on evolutionary relationships.

What does a branch point in a phylogenetic tree represent?

A branch point represents where two lineages diverged into distinct new lineages.

What is taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms into shared classification systems.

What leads to the diversity of life on Earth according to the lecture?

The diversity of life is a result of evolution, which involves gradual changes in populations or species over time.

What is the Linnaean classification system?

The Linnaean classification system is a hierarchical system used to organize living organisms into increasingly specific categories.

What defines a species in biological terms?

A species is defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding to produce viable offspring.

What is a subspecies?

A subspecies is a group of organisms within the same species that can mate and reproduce but are separated due to geographic or behavioral factors.