1.1.1 Properties of Life

Question 1

key concepts

Answer 1

• the key to life is organization. Living things can be organized into a hierarchical structure.
• The secret of life exists somewhere between molecules, organelles, and cells.
• The characteristics that make something alive are order, reproduction, growth and development, energy use, response to the environment and homeostasis.

Question 2

the correct order, from largest to smallest, for an individual animal according to the hierarchical structure of biological organization

Answer 2

• subatomic particle, atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, multi-cellular (organism), population/community, ecosystem/environment, biosphere

Question 3

homeostasis

Answer 3

• the condition in which the internal environment of an organism is maintained within a particular range.

Question 4

cell

Answer 4

• smallest unit of life

Question 5

not a characteristic exclusive to life

Answer 5

• capable movement

Question 6

adaptive

Answer 6

• if a variety of a trait improves an organism’s survival, enabling it to produce more offspring than other members of the population

Question 7

Which of the following represents the correct order, from largest to smallest, for an individual animal according to the hierarchical structure of biological organization?

Answer 7

• Nervous system, brain, nerve cell, molecule

Question 8

____________________ is the condition in which the internal environment of an organism is maintained within a particular range.

Answer 8

• homeostasis

Question 9

____________________ is the smallest unit of life.

Answer 9

• the cell

Question 10

Which of the following is not a characteristic exclusive to life?

Answer 10

• capable of movement

Question 11

If a variety of a trait improves an organism’s survival, enabling it to produce more offspring than other members of the population, then the trait is said to be

Answer 11

• adaptive