Human Bio Chapter 1

Flashcards covering key concepts from Introduction to Human Biology.

Characteristics of Life

Living things differ from nonliving things by having a unique molecular composition, requiring energy, being composed of cells, maintaining homeostasis, responding to the environment, growing, and reproducing.

Three Domains of Life

The three domains are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that lack a membrane-bound nucleus, found in domains Bacteria and Archaea.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a membrane-bound nucleus, found in the domain Eukarya.

Classification of Humans

Humans are classified under Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Homo, and Species sapiens.

Bipedalism

The ability to stand upright and walk on two legs, a defining feature of humans.

Opposable Thumbs

The ability to grasp objects between the thumb and the tips of the fingers.

Hierarchy of Biological Organization

The levels of biological organization include atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.

Scientific Method

A systematic process for testing ideas, including observations, forming hypotheses, making predictions, conducting experiments, and modifying hypotheses based on results.

Theory

An explanation that has been extensively tested, supported over time, and explains a broad range of facts; a well-tested hypothesis.