BIO 101 CH1 & CH2

BIO1010 Reading Guide Chapter 1 - The Science of Biology

1. Define the following:

A. Biology: The study of living organisms & their interactions with one another and their environment

B. Cell: Smallest fundamental unit of structure & function in living organisms

C. Prokaryotic/eukaryotic cells: Prokaryotes are all unicellular, very small, and lack nuclei, Eukaryotes can be unicellular or multicellular and have nuclei

D. Unicellular/multicellular organism: Simpelst living organisms are unicellular, uni=one (Bavteria, yeast, amoebae) Multicellular, multi=many, plants & animals

2. Describe the steps of scientific method, including the following:

Observation, scientists make observations

Hypothesis, formulate a hypothesis based on the observations

Prediction, Design an experiment to test their hypothesis and make predictions about the outcome

Experiment, Design an experiment to test their hypothesis, perform the experiment and collect results

Variables, Things that can be changed in a system that you are studying

3. When given a description of an experiment, be able to identify the following:

Control variables, variables that are kept the same

Independent variable, the variable that is changed

Dependent variable, the variable measured at the end of the experiment

4. Recognize the basic properties of living organisms.

Have order, are sensitive & respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow and develop, have regulation and homeostasis, process energy.

5. Order the hierarchy of living things from atoms to the biosphere.

Atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism,

6. Distinguish between valid and invalid sources of scientific information.

Valid sources are Peer-reviewed, contain an abstract, introduction, materials & methods, results and/or discussion, conclusion, and references.

7. List and explain the three parts of Cell Theory.

Staes that all living organisms are composed of cells, that cells are the basic unit of life, and that cells come from pre-existing cells