Characteristics of Life and Scientific Method Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the characteristics of life, domain and kingdom classifications, species concepts, human taxonomy and features, and the scientific method based on lecture notes.

Characteristics of Life: Organization

Possessing a different molecular structure than nonliving things, with Carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen being the most common elements.

Characteristics of Life: Metabolism

The requirement and utilization of energy by an organism.

Characteristics of Life: Cellular

The state of being composed of cells.

Characteristics of Life: Homeostasis

Responding to the external environment to maintain a stable internal state, such as blood volume, pH, water balance, and body temperature.

Characteristics of Life: Reproduction

The process where all living organisms start as a zygote and produce offspring.

Characteristics of Life: Adaption

The evolution of populations (not individuals) over time as a result of natural selection.

Three Domains of Life

Domain Bacteria, Domain Archaea, and Domain Eukarya.

Kingdom Protista

A kingdom under Domain Eukarya comprising unicellular and simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms, such as protozoa, algae, and slime molds.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom under Domain Eukarya consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic organisms.

Kingdom Fungi

A kingdom under Domain Eukarya consisting of eukaryotic organisms (molds, yeasts, mushrooms) that are decomposers and NOT photosynthetic.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom under Domain Eukarya consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic, and photosynthetic organisms.

Biological Species Concept

Defines a species as a group of organisms that can mate with each other (or potentially could) and produce offspring, but cannot successfully reproduce with organisms from other species.

Morphological Species Concept

Defines a species as a group of organisms that look physically different from other groups.

Lectotype

A specimen chosen later to be the official example of a species when the original type specimen was not designated or is no longer available.

Ecological Species Concept

Defines a species as a group of organisms that lives in and is adapted to the same specific environment or job in an ecosystem (niche).

Phylogenetic Species Concept

Defines a species as the smallest group of organisms that shares a common ancestor and has unique traits distinguishing it from other groups.

Classification of Humans

Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Homo, species sapiens.

Bipedalism

The ability to stand upright and walk on two legs; a defining feature for humans.

Opposable Thumbs

The ability to grasp objects between the thumb and tips of fingers; a defining feature for humans.

Steps in the Scientific Method

1. Observe and generalize, 2. Formulate a hypothesis, 3. Make a testable prediction, 4. Experiment or observe, 5. Modify the hypothesis as necessary and repeat.

Hypothesis

A prediction that has to be testable and falsifiable.

Falsifiable

The characteristic of a hypothesis where an attempt can be made to show it is incorrect.

Pseudoscience

A belief in a hypothesis that has not been tested, cannot be tested, or a refusal to believe tested results.