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CSET Life Sciences > Biological Organization and Differentiation > Flashcards

Biological Organization and Differentiation Flashcards

Recognize levels of biological organization from cells to systems and understand how cells specialize to perform specific functions. (52 cards)

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1
Q

What is the purpose of biological organization?

A

To organize living objects from the smallest parts to the largest parts.

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2
Q

List the levels of biological organization from smallest to largest.

A
  • Atoms
  • Molecules
  • Cells
  • Tissues
  • Organs
  • Organ Systems
  • Organism
  • Population
  • Community
  • Ecosystem
  • Biome
  • Biosphere
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3
Q

Define:

Organism

A

A basic living thing, which can be multicellular or unicellular.

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4
Q

Define:

Population

A

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time.

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5
Q

Define:

Community

A

Two or more populations of organisms living together.

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6
Q

Define:

Ecosystem

A

The collection of both living and non-living things in an area.

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7
Q

Define:

Biome

A

An area of the world that has a similar temperature, vegetation, soil makeup, and rainfall.

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8
Q

What is the largest level of organization?

A

The biosphere.

Composed of all life on Earth.

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9
Q

What is cell differentiation and why is it important?

A

The process of cells becoming more specialized, which is important because it creates the different cell types needed for specialization in multicellular organisms.

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10
Q

Define:

Cells

A

The basic units of life.

An organism cannot be considered living unless it is made up of at least 1 cell.

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11
Q

When many cells with the same structure and function come together they form what?

A

Tissues

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12
Q

A collection of tissues creates what?

A

An organ.

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13
Q

Why are stem cells unique?

A

They can differentiate into any type of cell based on the needs of the body.

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14
Q

Where are stem cells found within the body?

A

Within various types of tissues.

This includes the brain, bone marrow, and liver.

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15
Q

What are the 2 most common types of stem cells?

A
  • Embryonic stem cells
  • Adult stem cells
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16
Q

What is a biome?

A

A regional area characterized by the plants, animals, and climate in that area.

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17
Q

Name the five primary biomes in the world.

A
  • Grassland
  • Desert
  • Forest
  • Aquatic biome
  • Tundra
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18
Q

Where are savannas located?

A

Near the equator.

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19
Q

What are the two types of temperate grasslands?

A
  • Prairies - contain tall grasses
  • Steppes - contain shorter grasses
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20
Q

What is the largest steppe in the world called?

A

The Eurasian steppe.

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21
Q

What are the three categories into which savannas are sometimes divided based on precipitation level?

Savannas are considered a grassland.

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Wet
  • Dry
  • Thornbush
22
Q

What are some common animals found in savannas?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Lions
  • Zebras
  • Cheetahs
  • Giraffes
  • Elephants
  • Vultures
23
Q

How much precipitation do temperate grasslands receive annually on average?

Study These Flashcards
A

10 to 20 inches

24
Q

What are the four main types of deserts?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Hot and Dry
  • Semi-Arid
  • Coastal
  • Cold
25
What are the characteristics of **hot deserts**?
* Annual rainfall usually averages 6 inches per year. * Temperatures can range from 25 to 100°F. * Extreme hot deserts can have temperature ranges over 100°F. ## Footnote Typically located on the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
26
What are the characteristics of **semi-arid deserts**?
* Located in the Northern Hemisphere in areas such as Europe, North America, Russia, and northern Asia. * Summers are long with temperatures ranging from 69 to 80°F. * Winter for semi-arid deserts can be much cooler. * Usually experience up to 20 inches of rainfall yearly.
27
Where are **coastal deserts** found and what are their characteristics?
* Found on the western edges of continents between 20 degrees to 30 degrees latitude. * Have high humidity but experience little precipitation. * Summers range from 55 to 75°F and winters average 41°F.
28
Where are **cold deserts** found and what are their characteristics?
* Found in the Antarctic, Greenland, Northern and Western China, Turkestan, and Iran. * Temperatures average 28 to 39°F in the winter and 70 to 79°F in the summer. * Receive a large amount of snowfall and higher rainfall amounts, averaging 6 to 10 inches per year.
29
What is the **Savanna** and what are its characteristics?
* The African savanna spans several countries in Africa and is composed mainly of grasses with few scattered trees and shrubs. * Temperatures range from 68 to 77°F in the winter and 68 to 86°F in the summer. * Yearly precipitation levels average 40 to 60 inches.
30
What are the characteristics of **temperate deciduous rainforests?**
* Located in mid latitudes between polar and tropics. * Experience warm and wet summers and cold winters. * Rainfall averages 30 to 60 inches annually.
31
What are the characteristics of **tropical rainforests**?
* Located close to the equator. * Warm, humid, and moist receiving 80 to 400 inches of rainfall each year. * Temperatures average 70 to 85°F. * Contain the greatest species richness in the world.
32
What are the characteristics of **jungles**?
* Tropical forests with thick vegetation. * Located in tropical climates. * Do not have a canopy of trees as seen in the rainforest.
33
What are the characteristics of **Taiga/Boreal forests**?
* Coldest and driest climate of the forest biome categories. * Located in the northern hemisphere south of the Arctic Circle. * Most precipitation falls as snow. * Coniferous trees are endemic to the area.
34
What is the **difference** between jungles and rainforests?
* **Rainforests** tend to be more dark, damp, and humid because of the canopy formed from the tall trees. * In the **jungle**, trees are smaller and not as high, allowing the sun to reach the ground.
35
What are the two main categories of Aquatic Biomes?
* Freshwater * Marine
36
What are **aquatic biomes**?
Located in areas dominated by water, they are the largest of all biomes, covering almost 75% of Earth.
37
What defines **freshwater habitats**?
They have less than 1% salt in the water and include ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.
38
What defines **marine habitats**?
They have a high concentration of salt in the water and include oceans and salty seas.
39
What are **coral reefs**?
They are located in the ocean and are considered a subtype of marine biomes. ## Footnote They are known for their enormous diversity of organisms.
40
What is the **tundra biome** characterized as?
A treeless polar desert, the coldest and harshest biome on Earth. ## Footnote Tundra biomes can be found in high latitudes in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Sub-Antarctic Islands.
41
What is **permafrost**?
**Permanently frozen ground** located under the soil and is unique to the tundra biome.
42
What are the **two categories** of tundra biomes?
* Arctic tundra * Alpine tundra
43
What animals can be found in the **arctic tundra**?
* arctic foxes * polar bears * gray wolves * snow geese * musk oxen
44
What are the characteristics of the **arctic tundra**?
* Covers one fifth of the Earth's surface. * Located at the North Pole above the tree line. * Has harsh temperatures that can reach -50°F.
45
What are the characteristics of the **alpine tundra**?
* Found further away from the poles. * Experiences higher temperatures. * Has a wider range of precipitation than the arctic tundra.
46
What is the **difference** between an environment and an ecosystem?
* An **environment** is the place an organism calls home, composed of all abiotic and biotic factors. * An **ecosystem** includes factors within a habitat that directly interact with each other.
47
What are the **levels of organization** in an ecosystem?
* Organismal ecology * Population ecology * Community ecology * Ecosystem ecology * Biosphere ecology
48
What is **organismal ecology** focused on?
Individual organisms and how they interact with their environment.
49
What does **population ecology** focus on?
A specific type of organism and identifies population trends, density, and abundance within a given area.
50
What does **community ecology** include?
Multiple species, focusing on the number, type, density, and abundance of organisms within a given area.
51
What does **ecosystem ecology** consider?
The interactions between organisms and the abiotic components of an area.
52
What is the focus of **biosphere ecology**?
All living organisms and all environments on the planet.

CSET Life Sciences (25 decks)

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