Biology Notes- Ch 1

Living things are organized from cells to the biosphere.
- Cell - Tissue - Organ - Organ System - Organism - Population - Community - Ecosystem - Biosphere
Living things acquire materials and energy.
- Energy is the capacity to do work.
- Metabolism: chemical reactions in a cell.
- Photosynthesis: solar energy converted to chemical energy.
Living things respond to their environment through senses.
Living things reproduce and develop, passing on genes.
Living things have adaptations, often through natural selection.
- Species: interbreeding individuals producing viable, fertile offspring.
- Evolution: modification by descent.

Taxonomy classifies organisms based on evolutionary relationships.
Classification categories (most to least inclusive):
- Domain - Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species
Three Domains:
- Bacteria (prokaryotic)
- Archaea (prokaryotic)
- Eukarya (eukaryotic)
Kingdoms within Eukarya: protists, fungi, plants, animals.
Binomial nomenclature: uses scientific names for organisms.

Natural selection: varying environments select suited individuals.
Biodiversity: total species, genetic material diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
Extinction impacts biodiversity.
Evolution is descent with modification.

Steps:
- Observation
- Hypothesis (using inductive reasoning)
- Experiments/Further Observations
- Conclusion
Experimental design includes experimental and control groups.
Scientific theories explain the natural world.
Controlled Study:
- Test group: receives variable.
- Control group: does not receive variable (placebo).