Week 1 Biology Notes: Introduction to Biology & Levels of Biological Organization

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory biology concepts, characteristics of life, and levels of biological organization based on Week 1 lecture notes.

Biology

Study of life and living organisms.

Major characteristics of living things

Made of cells, use energy, maintain homeostasis, grow and develop, respond to stimuli, reproduce, contain genetic material (DNA), and populations can evolve over generations.

Homeostasis

Maintaining relatively stable internal conditions (e.g., body temperature, blood glucose, water balance).

Metabolism

All chemical reactions occurring within an organism.

Stimulus

Change in the internal or external environment.

Response

Reaction to a stimulus.

Levels of Biological Organization

Sequence from smallest to largest: Atom, Molecule, Organelle, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere.

Cell

Smallest basic unit of life.

Tissue

Group of similar cells working together.

Organ

Multiple tissue types working together.

Organ system

Organs working together.

Organism

Individual living thing.

Population

Organisms of the same species living in the same area.

Community

All the different populations living in an area.

Ecosystem

Living organisms plus the nonliving environment.