General Biology 1: Origin and Characteristics of Life Flashcards

A collection of 20 vocabulary flashcards covering key biology concepts including theories on the origin of life and fundamental characteristics of living organisms.

Biology

The study of life.

Abiogenesis

The concept that life originates from non-living matter, also known as spontaneous generation.

Biogenesis

The principle that life originates from pre-existing life.

Divine Creation

The belief that the universe, Earth, and all forms of life were created by a divine being in a purposeful act within a six-day period.

Primordial Soup Theory

The theory suggesting that life began in early Earth's water bodies containing organic molecules formed from simple inorganic gases under a reducing atmosphere and energy sources like lightning.

Panspermia

The hypothesis that life, or the building blocks of life, originated not on Earth but elsewhere in the universe and was transported here via comets, asteroids, or other celestial objects.

Nutrition

The process of acquiring food, which provides nutrients that serve as building blocks for energy.

Metabolism

Chemical processes happening inside the body of an organism that allow organisms to capture, convert, and use energy.

Excretion

The removal of waste and excess materials such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and urea from an organism.

Homeostasis

The state of balance in temperature, moisture level, acidity, and other physiological factors required for life to continue.

Irritability

The ability of an organism to respond to a stimulus.

Tropism

The reaction of an organism to stimuli.

Motility

The capacity for self-directed movement, whether of the whole organism, parts of the organism, or individual cells.

Individual Adaptation

Often non-heritable changes or adjustments an individual organism makes during its lifetime to better survive in its environment.

Evolutionary Adaptation

Heritable genetic changes in a population over generations that enhance the survival and reproduction of the species in their environment.

Reproduction

The process of making more of the same kind of organism where genetic information is passed from parents to offspring.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, long molecules that make up genes in all organisms and provide instructions for organization and metabolism.

Growth

The increase in size and mass of an organism.

Development

The transformation of an organism as it goes through the growth process.

Organization / Order

The characteristic of life where organisms follow a structure, are made of one or more cells, and are connected across biological levels from atoms to the biosphere.