Chapter 1: An Intro To Biology

Front 1

Define Organisim

Back 1

All living things;

Maintain an internal order that is separated from the environment

Front 2

Define Cell

Back 2

The simplest/smallest unit of life

Front 3

Define Cell Theory

Back 3

1) All organisms are composed of cells

2) Cells are the smallest units of life

3) New cells come from pre-existing cells via cell division

Front 4

Define Growth

Back 4

Growth produces more or larger cells

Front 5

Define Development

Back 5

Development produces organisms with a defined set of characteristics

Front 6

Define Cell Division

Back 6

The dividing of one cell into two cells with the same genetic material

Front 7

Define Homeostasis

Back 7

The process whereby living organisms regulate their cells and bodies to maintain relatively stable internal conditions

Front 8

Define Respiration

Back 8

Metabolic reactions that a cell uses to get energy from food molecules and release waste products

Front 9

Define Tissue

Back 9

The association of many cells of the same type, for example, muscle tissue

Front 10

Define Organ

Back 10

Two or more types of tissue combined to perform a common function

Front 11

Define Reproduction

Back 11

The generation of offspring by sexual or asexual means

Front 12

Define DNA

Back 12

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) - One of two classes of nucleic acids; consists of two strands of nucleotides coiled around each other to form a double helix, held together by hydrogen bonds

Front 13

Define RNA

Back 13

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) - One of two classes of nucleic acids; consists of a single strand of nucleotides

Front 14

Define Genes

Back 14

A unit of heredity that contributes to characteristics or traits of an organism; at the molecular level, a gene is comprised of organized sequences of DNA

Front 15

Define Polypeptide

Back 15

A linear sequence of amino acids; the term denotes structure

Front 16

Define Protein

Back 16

A functional unit composed of one or more polypeptides; each polypeptide is composed of a linear sequence of amino acids

Front 17

Define Biological Evolution

Back 17

Also known as evolution, biological evolution is the phenomenon that populations of organisms change from one generation to the next; as a result, some organisms become more successful at survival and reproduction

Front 18

Define Atom

Back 18

The smallest functional unit of matter that forms all chemical substances and cannot be further broken down into other substances by ordinary chemical or physical means

Front 19

Define Molecule

Back 19

Two or more atoms that are connected by chemical bonds

Front 20

Define Macromolecule

Back 20

Many molecules bonded together to form a polymer; carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids (for example, DNA and RNA) are important macromolecules found in living organisms

Front 21

Define Polymer

Back 21

A large molecule formed by linking many smaller molecules called monomers

Front 22

Define Carbohydrate

Back 22

An organic molecule often with the general formula, C(H2O); a carbon-containing compound that includes starches, sugars, and cellulose

Front 23

Define Nucleic Acid

Back 23

An organic molecule composed of nucleotides; the two types of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA

Front 24

Define Species

Back 24

A group of related organisms that share a distinctive form in nature and (for sexually reproducing species) are capable of interbreeding

Front 25

Define Ecosystem

Back 25

The biotic community of organisms in an area as well as the abiotic environment affecting that community

Front 26

Define Gametes

Back 26

A haploid cell that is involved with sexual reproduction, such as a sperm or egg cell

Haploid Cell = Containing one set of chromosomes

Front 27

Define Prokaryote

Back 27

One of the two categories into which all forms of life can be placed; prokaryotes lack a nucleus and include bacteria and arcaea

Front 28

Define Eukaryote

Back 28

One of the two categories into which all forms of life can be placed; the distinguishing feature of eukaryotes is cell compartmentalization, including a cell nucleus; includes protists, fungi, plants, and animals

Front 29

Define Cell Nucleus

Back 29

The membrane bound area of a eukaryotic cell in which the genetic material is found

Front 30

Define Genome

Back 30

The complete genetic composition of a cell or a species

Front 31

Define Proteome

Back 31

The complete complement of proteins that a cell or organism can make

Front 32

Define Anatomy

Back 32

The study of the structure or internal workings of something

Front 33

Define Physiology

Back 33

The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

Front 34

Define Systems Biology

Back 34

A field of study in which researchers investigate living organisms in terms of their underlying networks - groups of structural and functional connections - rather than their individual molecular components

Front 35

Define Metabolism

Back 35

The sum total of all chemical reactions that occur within an organism; also, a specific set of chemical reactions occurring at the cellular level

Front 36

Define Photosynthesis

Back 36

The process whereby light energy is captured by plant, algal, or bacterial cells and is used to synthesize organic molecules from CO2 and H2O (or H2S)

Front 37

Define Asexual Reproduction

Back 37

A reproductive strategy that occurs when offspring are produced from a single parent, without the fusion of gametes from two parents. They offspring are therefore clones of the parent.

Front 38

Define Sexual Reproduction

Back 38

A process that requires a fertilization event in which two gametes unite to produce a cell called a zygote

Front 39

Define Mutation

Back 39

A heritable change in the genetic material of an organism

Front 40

Define Natural Selection

Back 40

The process that eliminates those individuals that are less likely to survive and reproduce in a particular environment, while allowing other individuals with traits that confer greater reproductive success to increase in numbers

Front 41

Define taxonomy

Back 41

The field of biology that is concerned with the theory, practice, and rules of classifying living and extinct organisms and viruses

Front 42

Define Domains

Back 42

A defined region of a protein with a distinct structure and function (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya)

Front 43

Define Scientific Method

Back 43

A series of steps to test the validity of a hypothesis. This approach often involves a comparison between control and experimental groups

Front 44

Define Hypothesis

Back 44

A proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon based on previous observations or experimental studies

Front 45

Define Prediction

Back 45

An expected outcome based on a hypothesis that can be shown to be correct or incorrect through observation or experimentation

Front 46

Define Theory

Back 46

A broad explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is substantiated by a large body of evidence

Front 47

Define Independent Variable

Back 47

Stands on its own; causes a change in the dependent variable

Front 48

Define Dependent Variable

Back 48

Relies on the Independent variable; changes in the independent variable affect the outcome of the dependent variable

Front 49

Define Control Group

Back 49

A group of subjects closely resembling the treatment group in many demographic variables but not receiving the active medication or factor under study

Front 50

Define Experimental Group

Back 50

An experimental group is the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

Front 51

Define Constants

Back 51

A quantity or parameter that does not change its value whatever the value of the variables

Front 52

Describe the characteristics that distinguish living organisms from nonliving matter

Back 52

8 of 12 broad principles are often used as criteria to define the basic features of life:

1) Maintain an internal order; 2) Use Energy; 3) Interact with their environment; 4) Maintain homeostasis; 5) Grow and Develop; 6) Reproduce; 7) Evolve; 8) Related by an evolutionary history

Front 53

Diagram the hierarchical organization of living matter from atoms to the biosphere

Back 53

Atoms -> Molecules/Macromolecules -> Cells -> Tissues -> Organs -> Organism -> Population -> Community -> Ecosystem -> Biosphere

Front 54

What is the Domain Bacteria

Back 54

Mostly unicellular prokaryotes that inhabit many diverse environments on earth

Front 55

What is the Domain Archaea

Back 55

Unicellular prokaryotes that often live in extreme environments, such as hot springs

Front 56

What is the Domain Eukarya

Back 56

Have larger cells with internal compartments that serve various functions; has a cell nucleus

Front 57

What are the steps of hypothesis testing?

Back 57

1) Observations are made regarding natural phenomena

2) A hypothesis that tries to explain the phenomena is created

3) Experimentation is conducted

4) Data from experiment analyzed

5) Hypothesis is considered to be consistent with the data, or it is rejected

Front 58

What is horizontal gene transfer?

Back 58

NOT the most common; can occur between members of different species

Front 59

What is vertical gene transfer?

Back 59

The more common method of gene transfer; new species evolve from pre-existing ones by the accumulation of mutations, which are random changes in the genetic material of organisms.

Front 60

Explain why variation and mutations within a population improves the chances that the species will survive under new environmental conditions

Back 60

The mutations and variations give the species a better set of tools to deal with the new environmental conditions. For instance, large areas of North America changed from dense forests to grasslands and, as a result, horses increased in size to allow them to better escape predators and travel greater distances for food