biology & society

exam 1

Biology

the branch of science studying life

bio - life

-ology - the study of or branch of knowledge about

Society

a voluntary association of individuals for common ends

Species

unique types of organisms, organisms that share the same characteristics and are capable of exchanging genes/producing offspring

Genus

a group of species that share a unique set of traits

Taxon

a group of organisms that share a unique set of traits; a rank within a taxonomic level (broad to specific)

Taxonomy

practice of naming and classifying species

Linnaean System developed by Carolus Linnaeus

Homo (genus) sapeans (species)

Atom

fundamental building block of all matter (smallest unit of matter)

Molecule

an association of two or more atoms

Unique properties of life emerge from the interactions of these components

Cell

smallest unit of life, consist of molecules

Tissue

specific cell types organized in a pattern and performing a specific function

Organ

tissues that carry out specific task(s)

Organ system

interacting organs and tissues that fulfill specific body function(s)

Organism

an individual; consists of one or more cells

Population

group of individuals of a species in a given area

Community

all populations of all species in a given area

Ecosystem

a community interacting with its environment

Biosphere

all regions of Earth that hold life

Prokaryotes

single-celled organisms without a nucleus

bacteria

most numerous organisms on Earth

archaea

more closely related to eukaryotes than to bacteria (hot spring areas)

Eukaryotes

organisms with a nucleus

protists

eukaryote that is not a fungus, plant or animal, vary from single-celled consumers to giant multicellular producers

fungi

consumer that breaks down food externally

plant

multi-celled, photosynthetic producer

animal

multi-celled consumer that ingest food or juices of other organisms (breaks down internally)

Nucleus

saclike structure containing cells DNA

All species are related to each other in some way or another.

All living things have similar characteristics including…

Cellular basis

all living things consist of one or more cells

Requirements for energy and nutrients

life is sustained by ongoing inputs of energy and nutrients

Homeostasis

living things sense and respond to change (process by which an organism keeps its internal conditions within a range that favors survival by sensing and responding to change) (ex. sweating)

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is hereditary material

genetic information is passed to offspring, carries information that guides development

Growth

increase in size, volume, and number of cells in multi-celled species

Development

process by which the first cell of a new individual becomes a multicelled adult

Reproduction

process by which individuals produce offspring

Inheritance

transmission of DNA to offspring

Energy

the capacity to do work

Nutrient

substance that is necessary for survival that an organism cannot make itself

Producers make their own food using energy and simple raw materials from non biological sources (ex. Photosynthesis for plants)

Consumers obtain energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms (ex. mammals)

Biodiversity

scope of variation among living organisms

Determination of similar-looking organisms…

Compare traits

looks, environment

Compare DNA

biochemical traits

Critical thinking

deliberate process of judging the quality of information before accepting it

Science

systematic study of the observable world (helps us communicate the natural world without bias)

Hypothesis

testable explanation for a natural phenomenon

Prediction

statement, based on a hypothesis, about a condition that should exist if the hypothesis is correct

Scientific method

systematically making, testing, and evaluating hypotheses, and making conclusions about resulting data

Experiment

test designed to support or falsify a prediction

Data

test results from experiment/research

Variable

characteristic that differs among individuals or over time

Model

analogous system used for testing hypotheses (used when experiments have ethical or technical restrictions)

The Scientific Method

Observe some aspect of nature

Think of an explanation for your observation (hypothesis)

Test the hypothesis

Make a prediction (if…then)

Test using experiments or surveys

Analyze the data of the tests

Decide whether the results of the tests support your hypothesis or not (conclusion)

Report results to the scientific community

Sampling error

difference between results obtained as a subset and results from a whole

Probability

the chance a particular outcome will occur

Statistically significant

a result that is not likely to have occurred by chance alone

Scientific theory

hypothesis that hasn't been disproven after many years of rigorous testing (ex. evolution - one of the most well supported)

Pseudoscience

claims, arguments, or methods that are presented as science but do not follow scientific principles (supernatural/mysterious phenomena, untestable, lack of data, ex. The Bermuda Triangle)

Chapter 2

Artificial trans fats (adding hydrogen atoms to liquid vegetable oil) in fast foods raise cholesterol and increase risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and diabetes.

Atoms consist of electrons (negatively charged) moving around a nucleus of protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutrally charged).

Charge

electrical property of some subatomic particles

Electron

negatively charged subatomic particle that occupies orbitals around the atomic nucleus

Proton

positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of all atoms

Neutron

uncharged subatomic particle found in the atomic nucleus

Atomic number

determines an element (number of protons in the atomic nucleus determines chemical properties of the element and periodic table)

Mass number

total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an element's atoms

Element

a pure substance that consists only of atoms with the same number of protons

Isotopes

forms of an element that differ in the number of neutrons their atoms carry (changes the mass number but not the charge)

Radioisotope

isotope with an unstable nucleus, such as carbon