Intro to Biology

Evolution:: natural selection and adaptation over generations, fundamental theory of biology
Matter:: calls, fundamental unit of life, anything that occupies space and has mass
Energy:: neither created nor destroyed, most systems lose energy through heat, matter cycles through energy
Information:: central dogma DNA → RNA → proteins, DNA is life’s main info molecule, proteins control metabolic activities
Regulation:: how living systems are monitored, coordinated, developed, and maintained
Communication & Interaction:: how living systems receive and exchange info, interactions between and within systems

hypothesis:: proposed explanation based on limited evidence, starting point for further investigation
control setup:: control group, doesn’t receive independent variable, used for comparison to verify conclusions
Controlled Variables:: variables that remain constant/unchanged throughout experiment, same for all groups
Manipulated Variable:: variables changed by researcher, independent variables, what is being tested
Dependent Variable:: response to changing independent variable, what is being measured for effects of independent variable
Quantitative Data:: can be counted/measured in numerical values
Qualitative Data:: can’t be counted/measured, can be observed/recorded, qualities and characteristics
Null Hypothesis:: proposes that no statistical significant exists (reject or fail to reject after experiment)
Modal Organisms:: help scientists understand complex biological processes by observing systems of simple organisms (e.g. fruit fly, sea slug, zebrafish)

Negative Feedback:: output decreases the response and shuts down the pathway, maintains homeostasis
- examples - regulating body temperature, regulating blood sugar
Positive Feedback:: output increases the output, amplifies effects when something needs to happen quickly, helps return to homeostasis faster
- examples - contractions in child birth, ripening of fruits