Chapter 1-2 Flashcards
What is biology?
The study of living things
List the four characteristics of living things.
- Ability to capture and use raw energy and materials (metabolism)
- Ability to sense and respond to the environment
- Ability to reproduce
- Ability to evolve
Why are viruses considered non-living?
They can’t replicate without a host
What are the levels of organization in nature starting from subatomic particles?
- Subatomic particles
- Atoms
- Molecules
- Organelles
- Cells
- Tissues
- Organs
- Organ Systems
- Multicellular Organisms
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Landscape
- Biosphere
What are producers, consumers, and decomposers?
- Producers (Autotrophs) – use sunlight to make their own food
- Consumers (Heterotrophs) – get their food by eating producers or other consumers
- Decomposers (Saprotrophs) – break down the tissues of dead producers and consumers
Who developed the binomial system of classification?
Carolus Linnaeus
What is the scientific name for humans?
Homo sapiens
List the eight categories of biological classification from broadest to most specific.
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
What is morphological classification?
Classification based on the number of toes/limbs and the structure of limbs
What is genetic classification?
Comparison of DNA and RNA sequences to reflect evolutionary history
What are the two main types of cells?
- Prokaryotic
- Eukaryotic
What is a prokaryotic cell?
A cell without a nucleus or internal organization
What is a eukaryotic cell?
A cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
How many domains of living things are there?
Three: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
What are the four kingdoms of Eukarya?
- Protista
- Fungi
- Animalia
- Plantae
Define evolution.
Genetic shift in a population through time
What is DNA?
The molecule that carries the blueprints for living things
What is a gene?
A segment of DNA that gives an organism a physical trait
What is inheritance?
Acquisition of traits through the transmission of DNA from parents to offspring
Define mutation.
A heritable change in DNA
What is variation in a population?
The range of traits in a population due to mutations and inheritance
What is an adaptive trait?
A trait that helps an individual survive and reproduce
What is natural selection?
Change in a population over many generations where the environment favors individuals with adaptive traits
What is sexual selection?
Traits favored because they help attract mates, even if they are detrimental to survival
