Chapter 1 Flashcards
(40 cards)
Biology
The scientific study of organisms, living and fossil
Nucleic acids
(DNA/RNA) that reproduce themselves and serves as templates of protein synthesis
Prokaryotes
Single celled, two main groups emerged early: bacteria and archaea
Eukaryotes
Membrane-enclosed organelles, emerged much later, the nucleus contains the genetic information
Photosynthesis
2.5 billion years ago, transforms light energy into chemical energy, food for organisms
cyanobacteria
(prokaryotes), create more oxygen than trees
nucleus
contains the genetic information
aerobic metabolism
more efficient, uses a lot of oxygen
anaerobic metabolism
fermentation; does not use oxygen
cell specialization
allowed multicellular organisms to get larger and become more efficient at gathering resources and adapting to specific environments
tissue
a group of similar cells
organs
developed by different tissue types
organ systems
grouped by the organs
homeostasis
regulate their internal environments
community
all organisms (living things) in an ecosystem
ecosystem
all living and nonliving things in a particular area
biomes
major ecosystems with distinctive physical features and communities
Ex: arctic tundra, coral reefs, tropical rainforest
biosphere
all environments (everything) on earth
genes
inherited traits; segments of DNA that encode information
genome
sum total of all the DNA molecules in an organism
nucleotide sequences
determine the amino acid sequence in proteins
population
all individuals of a species in a particular area
evolution
core theme of biology; the process of change that has transformed life on earth
charles darwin
compiled factual evidence for evolution and proposed that all organisms are descended from a common ancestor