TEST 1 BIOLOGY

Unifying Themes and Levels of Biological Organization

Biology

Study of life and living organisms.

Unifying Themes

Five core concepts organizing biological information.

Organization

Structure and arrangement of living systems.

Information

Genetic data guiding organismal functions.

Energy and Matter

Flow and transformation in biological systems.

Interactions

Relationships among organisms and their environment.

Evolution

Change in species over time through adaptation.

Biosphere

Global sum of all ecosystems and life.

Ecosystem

Community of organisms interacting with their environment.

Community

Group of different species living together.

Population

Individuals of a species in a specific area.

Organism

Individual living entity, such as a plant or animal.

Reductionism

Breaking down complex systems into simpler components.

Organs

Structures composed of tissues performing specific functions.

Tissues

Groups of cells working together for a function.

Photosynthesis

Process converting light energy into chemical energy.

Hierarchy of Organization

Levels of biological structure from molecules to biosphere.

Molecules

Chemical structures forming the basis of life.

Cells

Basic unit of life, building blocks of organisms.

Species

Group of organisms capable of interbreeding.

Microorganisms

Tiny organisms, often requiring a microscope to see.

Biological Community

All populations interacting in a specific environment.

Living Systems

Complex networks of interacting biological components.

Epidermis

Outer tissue layer of a leaf.

Chloroplasts

Organelles responsible for photosynthesis.

Cell

Basic unit of life structure and function.

Organelles

Functional components within a cell.

Molecule

Chemical structure of two or more atoms.

Chlorophyll

Pigment that absorbs sunlight in plants.

Photosynthesis

Process converting light energy to chemical energy.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Gas absorbed by leaves for sugar production.

Global Warming

Increase in Earth's average temperature due to gases.

Climate Change

Long-term directional change in global climate.

Extinction

Permanent loss of a species.

Interactions

Continuous exchanges between organisms and environment.

Fossil Fuels

Natural resources contributing to CO2 emissions.

Temperature Increase

Average planet temperature rise by 1°C since 1900.

Species Range Shift

Movement of species to suitable habitats due to change.

Droughts

Extended periods of deficient rainfall.

Extreme Weather

Increased occurrence of severe weather events.

Photosynthetic Organisms

Organisms that generate oxygen through photosynthesis.

Habitat Deterioration

Decline in living conditions for species.

Division of Labor

Specialization of cells in multicellular organisms.

Microscope

Tool used to magnify small structures like cells.

Soil Formation

Process aided by plant roots breaking rocks.

Molecule

Composed of atoms bonded together.

Organelle

Specialized structure within a cell.

Biological hierarchy

Levels of organization from molecules to ecosystems.

Unity of life

Shared features among diverse organisms.

Diversity of life

Variety of species on Earth.

Evolution

Process explaining unity and diversity of life.

Descent with modification

Species evolve from common ancestors.

Common ancestor

An ancestral species from which others diverged.

Fossil record

Historical evidence of life's evolution.

Species

Basic unit of biological classification.

Genus

Group of closely related species.

Taxonomy

Science of classifying organisms.

Prokaryotic

Cells without a nucleus, includes Bacteria and Archaea.

Eukarya

Domain of organisms with eukaryotic cells.

Climate change

Long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns.

Sceloporus

Genus of lizards affected by climate change.

Reproductive success

Ability to produce offspring that survive.

Species identification

Process of naming and classifying new species.

DNA sequencing

Method for assessing species relationships.

Hummingbird

Bird that uses sugar for energy.

Porcupine quills

Sharp defense mechanism against predators.

Appendix A

Section with suggested answers and examples.

Biological diversity

The range of different species in an ecosystem.

Domain Bacteria

Most diverse prokaryotes, classified into multiple kingdoms.

Domain Archaea

Prokaryotes living in extreme environments.

Domain Eukarya

Includes all eukaryotic organisms.

Kingdom Plantae

Multicellular eukaryotes performing photosynthesis.

Kingdom Fungi

Organisms absorbing nutrients from surroundings.

Kingdom Animalia

Multicellular eukaryotes that ingest other organisms.

Protists

Mostly unicellular eukaryotes, some multicellular relatives.

Photosynthesis

Conversion of light energy into chemical energy.

Cilia

Cell extensions aiding in locomotion in eukaryotes.

Unity in Diversity

Similarities among organisms despite their diversity.

Evolution

Process explaining similarities and differences in life.

Biological Hierarchy

Levels of organization in biological systems.

DNA

Universal genetic language across all living organisms.

Paleontology

Study of fossils to understand life's history.

Inductive Generalizations

Forming general principles from specific observations.

Peromyscus polionotus

Species of mice with variable color patterns.

Extreme Environments

Habitats like salty lakes and hot springs.

Nutritional Modes

Ways organisms obtain nutrients: photosynthesis, absorption, ingestion.

Single-Celled Organisms

Organisms consisting of only one cell.

Multicellular Eukaryotes

Organisms composed of multiple eukaryotic cells.

Evolutionary Relationships

Connections among species based on common ancestry.

Color Variation

Differences in coloration among species or populations.

Ecological Adaptation

Changes in organisms to better fit their environment.

Beach Mouse

Mouse species living along Florida's white sand dunes.

Inland Mouse

Mouse species inhabiting darker, fertile soils inland.

Camouflage Hypothesis

Coloration evolved to protect mice from predators.

Predation

The act of one animal hunting another for food.

Visual Hunters

Predators that rely on sight to locate prey.

Francis Bertody Sumner

Naturalist who studied mouse populations in the 1920s.

Hopi Hoekstra

Biologist who tested mouse coloration hypotheses in 2010.

Control Group

Group in an experiment that remains unchanged.

Experimental Group

Group in an experiment that receives the treatment.