Biology Notes Chapter 1

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a Biology lecture, focusing on the characteristics of life, scientific methods, and hierarchical organization.

Biology

The study of life.

Life

Living systems are complex chemical systems constrained by the properties of chemistry and physics.

7 Characteristics of Living Organisms

Cellular organization, ordered complexity, sensitivity, growth/development/reproduction, energy utilization, homeostasis, and evolutionary adaptation.

Cell Theory

All organisms are composed of cells, cells are life’s basic units, and all cells come from preexisting cells.

Cellular Level of Organization

Atoms, molecules, organelles, cells.

Organismal Level of Organization

Tissues, organs, organ systems.

Population

All of one species in a location.

Community

All living things in a location.

Ecosystem

Living and nonliving components in a location.

Biosphere

The Earth, an ecosystem.

Emergent Properties

Results from the interaction of components at a lower level and cannot be predicted from the parts themselves.

Sensitivity (in Living Organisms)

Sense and respond to the environment or stimuli.

Reproduction (of cells)

Duplication of genetic material followed by cell division.

ATP

The body's "energy currency".

Homeostasis

Maintain a constant internal environment.

Evolutionary Adaptation

Change over time explained by the inherent ability of all organisms to adapt.

Natural Selection

Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Science

Aims to understand the natural world through observation and reasoning.

Deductive Reasoning

Uses general principles to make specific predictions.

Inductive Reasoning

Uses specific observations to develop general conclusions.

Scientific Method

Observation, hypothesis formation, prediction, experimentation, conclusion.

Hypothesis

A testable statement that can be falsified.

Experiment

Tests the hypothesis by manipulating one variable at a time, using test and control experiments.

Scientific Theory

A body of interconnected concepts supported by much experimental evidence and scientific reasoning.

3 Domains of Life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryote.

Archaea

Single-celled prokaryote.

Eukarya

Single-celled or multicellular eukaryote.