Biology Ch. 1

Front 1

Biology

Back 1

Science of life

Front 2

Evolution

Back 2

The process of --- is the framework for the science of biology and is a major theme of this book.

Front 3

Information transfer

Back 3

Organisms must be able to receive information from their environment. The survival and function of every cell and every organism depends on the orderly transmission of this.

Front 4

Energy Transfer

Back 4

All of life's processes require this; continuously transferred from one chemical compound to another within every cell.

Front 5

Cells

Back 5

All organisms consist of these basic units.

Front 6

Cell theory

Back 6

Concepts of new cell formation; a fundamental unifying concept of biology.

Front 7

Unicellular

Back 7

Each organism consists of a single cell

Front 8

Multicellular

Back 8

Organism made of two or more cells. Life processes depend on the coordinated functions of component cells that may be organized to form tissues, organs, etc.

Front 9

Plasma Membrane

Back 9

Envelopes every cell; separates it from the surrounding external environment.

Front 10

DNA

Back 10

Deoxyribonucleic Acid; where genetic instructions are encoded.

Front 11

Organelles

Back 11

Internal structures in cells that are specialized to perform specific functions.

Front 12

Prokaryotic Cells

Back 12

Exclusive to bacteria and microscopic organisms called archaea.

Front 13

Eukaryotic Cells

Back 13

Typically contain a variety of organelles enclosed by a membrane; includes a nucleus, which houses the DNA.

Front 14

Nucleus

Back 14

Organelle which houses the DNA.

Front 15

Biological Growth

Back 15

Involves an increase in the size of individual cells of an organism.

Front 16

Development

Back 16

Includes all changes that take place during an organism's life.

Front 17

Metabolism

Back 17

Sum of all chemical activities in the organism

Front 18

Homeostasis

Back 18

An appropriate, balanced internal environment

Front 19

Stimuli

Back 19

Physical or chemical changes in their internal or external environment.

Front 20

Cilia

Back 20

Tiny, hairlike extensions of the cell

Front 21

Flagella

Back 21

Longer structures on the outside of the cell that help it move.

Front 22

Sessile

Back 22

Organisms that do not move from place to place. They remain firmly attached to a surface, such as a rock or the sea bottom.

Front 23

Asexual Reproduction

Back 23

The way simple organisms, such as amoebas, perpetuate themselves.

Front 24

Sexual Reproduction

Back 24

Process which is carried out by the fusion of an egg and a sperm cell to form a fertilized egg.

Front 25

Adaptations

Back 25

Inherited characteristics that enhance an organism's ability to survive in a particular environment.

Front 26

Reductionism

Back 26

Learning about a structure by studying its parts is called this.

Front 27

Emergent properties

Back 27

Characteristics not found at lower levels in the structure.

Front 28

Atom

Back 28

Smallest unit of a chemical element

Front 29

Molecules

Back 29

Atoms combine chemically to form these.

Front 30

Tissues

Back 30

Cells associate to form these.

Front 31

Organs

Back 31

Tissues organize into functional structures called this.

Front 32

Organ system

Back 32

Each major group of biological functions is performed by a coordinated group of tissues and organs called this.

Front 33

Organism

Back 33

Organ systems make up this complex, multicellular ---.

Front 34

Population

Back 34

Basic unit of ecological organization.

Front 35

Communities

Back 35

Various populations form this.

Front 36

Ecosystem

Back 36

A community and its physical environment form this.

Front 37

Biosphere

Back 37

All of Earth's ecosystems together make up this.

Front 38

Ecology

Back 38

Study of how organisms relate to one another and to their physical environment

Front 39

Genes

Back 39

DNA makes up this.

Front 40

Nucleotides

Back 40

Each DNA chain is made up of a sequence of chemical subunits called ---.

Front 41

Proteins

Back 41

Large molecules important in determining the structure and function of cells and tissues.

Front 42

Hormones

Back 42

In multicellular organisms, cells produce these chemical compounds that signal other cells to secrete a particular substance or to change some metabolic activity.

Front 43

Cell signaling

Back 43

When hormones cause cells to communicate to other cells; helps to regulate growth, development, and metabolic processes. Also often involves complex biochemical processes.

Front 44

Neurotransmitters

Back 44

Nervous systems that transmit information by way of both electrical impulses and chemical compounds known as this.

Front 45

Cellular Respiration

Back 45

During this process, cells capture energy released by nutrient molecules through a series of carefully regulated chemical reactions.

Front 46

Autotrophs

Back 46

Plants, algae, and certain bacteria are producers, otherwise known as ---. They produce their own food from simple raw materials.

Front 47

Photosynthesis

Back 47

Process during which producers (autotrophs) synthesize complex molecules such as glucose from carbon dioxide and water. CO2+H2O+light energy --> C6H12O6 + O2

Front 48

Heterotrophs or consumers

Back 48

Organisms that depend on autotrophs for food, energy, and oxygen.

Front 49

Decomposers

Back 49

Most bacteria and fungi are this; heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by breaking down nonliving organic material such as wastes, dead leaves, branches, and the bodies of dead organisms.

Front 50

Systematics

Back 50

The field of biology that studies the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships.

Front 51

Taxonomy

Back 51

A sub-specialty of systematics, the science of naming and classifying organisms.

Front 52

Species

Back 52

A group of organisms with similar structure, function, and behavior. Consists of one or more populations whose members are capable of breeding with one another.

Front 53

Gene Pool

Back 53

Members of a population contribute to this; they share a common ancestry (all of the genes present in the population).

Front 54

Genus

Back 54

Closely related species are grouped in this next broader category of classification.

Front 55

Binomial system of nomenclature

Back 55

Linnaean system of naming species; each species is assigned a two-part name.

Front 56

Specific Epithet

Back 56

Second part of scientific name; designates a particular species belonging to that genus.

Front 57

Taxonomic classification

Back 57

Includes species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, and domain.

Front 58

Clade

Back 58

A group of organisms with a common ancestor

Front 59

Tree of life

Back 59

A family tree showing proposed evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Front 60

Cladogram

Back 60

A branching diagram that depicts the tree of life as it is currently understood.

Front 61

Protists

Back 61

Unicellular, colonial, or simple multicellular organisms that have a eukaryotic cell organization.

Front 62

Plantae

Back 62

Complex multicellular organisms adapted to carry out photosynthesis.

Front 63

Fungi

Back 63

Composed of yeasts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. Do not photosynthesize. Obtain their nutrients by secreting digestive enzymes into food and then absorbing it.

Front 64

Animalia

Back 64

Made up of multicellular organisms that obtain their nutrients by eating other organisms.