Chapter 1 Flashcards
The Scientific Study of Life (60 cards)
Biology
The scientific study of life
-all forms of life, bacteria to fungi to humans
-also includes interactions between different organisms
-new discoveries every day
Cells
The fundamental unit of life
-all organisms are made of 1 or more cells
-cells are organized into tissues
Prokaryotic cell types
Domain Bacteria and domain archaea
-cells lack nuclei
-most are unicellular
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
-the molecule that carries genetic information
-also passed onto next generation
Protista
multiple lineages
-can be unicellular or multicellular
-can be autotrophs or heterotrophs
Ecosystem
The living and nonliving components of an area (ex. the Savanna)
-ecosystems are organized into a biosphere
Matter
All matter, living and nonliving, is composed of atoms
Atom
The smallest chemical unit of a type of pure substance (element) (ex. a carbon atom)
-atoms are organized into molecules
Molecule
A group of joined atoms (ex. DNA)
-molecules are organized into organelles
Organelle
A membrane-bounded structure that has a specific function within a cell (ex. chloroplast)
-organelles are organized into cells
-all life is composed of cells, although some cells don’t have organelles
Tissue
A collection of specialized cells that function in a coordinated fashion (ex. epidermis of a leaf)
-tissues are organized into organs
Organ
A structure consisting of tissues organized to interact and carry out specific functions (ex. leaf)
-organs are organized into organ systems
Organ system
Organs connected physically and chemically that function together (ex. the above ground part of a plant)
-organ systems are organized into individual organisms
Organism
A single living individual (ex. one acacia tree)
-some organisms are single-celled, like bacteria and amoebas. This means they are composed of just one cell
-other organisms are multicellular (composed of many cells) (ex. sea sponges, moss, mushroom)
-other organisms are composed of tissues (ex. jellyfish and certain worms)
-more complex organisms are composed of tissues, organs, and organ systems (ex. a fish and a tree)
-individual organisms are organized into populations
Population
A group of the same species or organism living in the same place and time (ex. multiple acacia trees)
-populations are organized into communities
Community
All populations that occupy the same region (ex. all populations in the Savanna)
-communities are organized into ecosystems
Biosphere
The global ecosystem
-parts of the planet and its atmosphere where life is possible
Emergent properties
Produces life’s complexities, interaction brain cells have the properties that brain cells itself lack (produces memory). The brain can only do those things when the cells interact with each other
-it arises at every level of biological organization
Primary producers
Also called Autotrophs
-extract energy and nutrients from the nonliving environment (ex. energy from sunlight)
mutation
Changes in an organisms DNA structure
Consumers
Also called heterotrophs
-obtain energy by eating other organisms (ex. eating a plant)
Decomposers
Also called heterotrophs
-consumers that obtain nutrients from dead organisms and organic waste (ex. mushroom obtains nutrients from a dead leaf)
-multicellular (mushrooms)
-unicellular (yeast)
Adaptation
An inherited characteristic or behavior that enables an organism to survive and reproduce successfully in its environment
Energy transfers
They are never 100% efficient, some energy is always lost in the form of heat to the surroundings
-no organism can use heat as an energy source, it represents a permanent loss from the cycle of life
