Life: Characteristics of Living Forms

Question 1

Artificial Life

Answer 1

The simulation of any aspect of life, through computers, robotics, or biochemistry. an attempt to recreate biological phenomena.

Question 2

Astrobiology

Answer 2

The branch of biology that investigates the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

Question 3

Characteristics of life

Answer 3

-DNA/RNA -Absorb/Use/Transfer energy -Homeostasis -Respond to Stimuli -Grow and Develop -Reproduce -Capacity to Evolve -Metabolism -Age -Instinct -Consume -Move -Consciousness -Die -Maintenance -Complex Organization***

Question 4

Death

Answer 4

The state of a thermodynamic bio system in which it cannot get and organize autonomously the energy from the environment.

Question 5

DNA

Answer 5

Deoxyribonucleic acid. A double-stranded nucleic acid that contains the genetic info. for cell growth, division, and function. DNA contains the instructions for building molecules, mostly proteins, that do the work of the cell. Cell function depends upon the action of these proteins, & organism function depends on cell function. So ultimately, organism function depends upon the instructions in the DNA.

Question 6

RNA

Answer 6

Ribonucleic acid Plays a role in transferring info. from DNA to protein-forming system of the cell. RNA molecules have only one strand of nucleotides. (Double stranded in some viruses) The nitrogenous bases used are Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, & Uracil (rather than Thymine) The sugar in RNA is ribose (not deoxyribose)

Question 7

Apoptosis

Answer 7

Programmed cell death. Causes cells to commit suicide at particular times during development, in order to remove cells from the developing organism. Creation of fingers/web example.

Question 8

Emergence

Answer 8

Describes what happens when a system becomes more than the combination of its pieces. A set of rules, group of animals, or collection of objects can develop special properties that none of the single pieces possess.

Question 9

Energy

Answer 9

Something that allows work to be done. Is often stored by cells in biomolecules, like carbohydrates (sugars) and lipids. The energy is released when these molecules have been oxidized during cellular respiration. After this, the released energy is carried and transported by an energy-carrier molecule called ATP. Can’t be created or destroyed (1st law of thermodynamics), it simply converts to another form. Examples of energy include: kinetic, potential, thermal, gravitational, elastic, electromagnetic, chemical, nuclear, and mass. Energy can be expressed in joules or ergs.

Question 10

Ethics

Answer 10

The philosophy or code pertaining to what is ideal in human character and conduct.

Question 11

Evolution

Answer 11

The change in genetic composition of a population over time. Occurs as a result from natural selection and genetic drift. Genetic Variation brings about evolution, w/o it there will be no evolution.

Question 12

Growth

Answer 12

The development of an organism over time. (Ex: the development of a plant from a seed to full maturity)

Question 13

Heritable

Answer 13

Capable of being passed from one generation to the next through genes.

Question 14

Homeostasis

Answer 14

The tendency of an organism or cell to regulate its internal conditions. Such as the chemical composition of its body fluids, so as to maintain health and functioning, regardless of outside conditions. In humans, homeostasis happens when the body regulates body temperature in an effort to maintain an internal temperature of around 98.6 degrees F. For ex) We sweat to cool off during the hot summer days, and we shiver to produce heat during the cold winter season.

Question 15

Hylomorphism

Answer 15

All things in the material universe have both matter and form. The form of a living thing contains ‘souls’ (sets of properties): Vegetative, Anima, Conscience, Growth, Movement, Intellect.

Question 16

Life (as defined in biology)

Answer 16

The properties or qualities that distinguish living plants and organisms from dead or inanimate matter. Including the capacity to grow, metabolize nutrients, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and adapt to the environment.

Question 17

Materialism

Answer 17

The idea that all living things are made up of matter and are a complex form or arrangement of matter. All that exists is matter.

Question 18

Matter

Answer 18

Something that has mass. Most of the matter in the universe is composed of atoms which are themselves composed of subatomic particles. Every living/non-living thing is made of matter. Principal conditions in which matter exists are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

Question 19

Metabolism

Answer 19

The chemical processes by which cells produce the substances and energy needed to sustain life. As part of metabolism, organic compounds are broken down to provide heat and energy in the process called catabolism. Simpler molecules are also used to build more complex compounds like proteins for growth and repair of tissues as part of anabolism. Many metabolic processes are brought about by the action of enzymes.

Question 20

Natural selection

Answer 20

Organisms with the best-suited characteristics for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This is the heart of natural selection. If there’s competition for survival and not all the organisms are the same, then the ones with the advantageous traits are more likely to survive. If these traits can be inherited, then the next generation will show more of these advantageous traits.

Question 21

Organ

Answer 21

A distinct part of an organism that performs one or more specialized functions. Examples of organs are the eyes, ears, lungs, and heart of an animal, and the roots, stems, and leaves of a plant.

Question 22

Organ system

Answer 22

A group of organs that work together to carry out a particular task

Question 23

Organelle

Answer 23

A structure or part that is enclosed within its own membrane inside a cell and has a particular function.

Question 24

Organism

Answer 24

An individual form of life that is capable of growing, metabolizing nutrients, and usually reproducing. Organisms can be unicellular or multicellular. They are scientifically divided into five different groups (called kingdoms) that include prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.

Question 25

Organization

Answer 25

An arrangement of parts for the performance of the functions necessary to life.

The cell may be regarded as the most simple, the most common, and the earliest form of organization.

Question 26

Reproduction

Answer 26

The process by which cells and organisms produce other cells and organisms of the same kind. The reproduction of organisms by the union of male and female reproductive cells (gametes) is called sexual reproduction. Reproduction in which offspring are produced by a single parent, without the union of reproductive cells, is called asexual reproduction. The fission (splitting) of bacterial cells and the cells of multicellular organisms by mitosis is a form of asexual reproduction, as is the budding of yeast cells and the generation of clones by runners in plants. Many plants and fungi are capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually, as are some animals, such as sponges and aphids.

Question 27

Stimulus

Answer 27

Something that can elicit or evoke a physiological response in a cell, a tissue, or an organism. A stimulus can be internal or external. Sense organs, such as the ear, and sensory receptors, such as those in the skin, are sensitive to external stimuli such as sound and touch.

Question 28

Systemic view

Answer 28

Looking at organisms as systems that have emergent life properties. Of, relating to, or affecting the entire body or an entire organism. The emergent properties of self organizing, self-sustaining, autopoietic (chemical) systems (capable of evolving)

Question 29

Themes in Biology

Answer 29

Unity & Diversity - Similarities & Differences. Chemistry & Energy - Properties of matter & energy. Emergent Properties - Exhibited properties not inherent in system’s components. Cellular Basis of Life - Life composed of cells/cell products. Structure & Function - Form determines function in processes & physical characteristics. Homeostatic Mechanisms - Maintenance of constant internal environment. Interactions & Connections - Dependency on environment & other organisms. Heritable Information - Trait inheritance & Information molecules (DNA/RNA) - Genetics & Epigenetics Evolution - Change in population over time. Natural Selection - Environmental influence on fitness. Scientific Inquiry - Science & Society - Scientific Methodology. - Knowing how science works. Organizational Levels - The organization of/in order; - Atoms-Molecules-Organelles-Cells-Tissues-Organs-Organ Systems-Organisms-Ecosystems-Populations-Communities-Biosphere.

Question 30

Virus

Answer 30

Viruses are not considered living organisms b/c they lack biological processes (such as metabolism and respiration) and cannot reproduce on their own but require a living cell (of a plant, animal, or bacterium) to make more viruses. The virus attaches it’s proteins to a receptor on a cell. The virus shoots its nucleic acid into the cell, taking over the cell. The viral nucleic acid reprograms the cell, turning it into a viral production factory. Instead of doing its job for the body, the cell starts making viral nucleic acid and proteins. The cell even uses its own molecules and energy reserves (ATP) to produce the viral parts. The viral components pull themselves together to form mature viruses. Eventually, this viral replication creates too much of a crowd for the cell to handle and the cell explodes, releasing viral particles to go wreak havoc in other cells in the host’s body. The number of viruses that go on attack at this point can range from ten to tens of thousands, depending on the type of virus.

Question 31

Vitalism

Answer 31

Belief that the life-principle is essentially immaterial and that organic material can come from nonliving things. Belief of the life principle.

Question 32

Weak emergence

Answer 32

Properties resulting from interactions of a system’s components.

Question 33

Strong emergence

Answer 33

Properties not directly traceable to a system’s components.