Chapter 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry Flashcards
(83 cards)
Characteristics of life:
- composed of cells.
- organized: uses smaller structures to make bigger structures
- respond to the change in environment
- Maintain homeostasis
- able to reproduce
- energy acquisition from environment
- contain genetic info (DNA)
- Ability to evolve/adapt
What is mass and weight and what is the difference between?
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and it is constant regardless of gravitational influences. (Measured in Kilograms, and grams)
weight is how much force gravity exerts on that object (varies with location) measured in pounds and newtons
What criteria must be met in order for an organism or creature to be considered alive:
Must exhibit all 8 properties of life.
Creatures who exhibit potential for life are not considered alive
Define the following terms:
Evolution:
DNA:
- changes to the DNA of a population over long periods of time.
- genetic material of life found in all living organisms.
Are viruses considered alive, why or why not?
No, because they don’t exhibit all the properties of life
List life’s organizational Hierarchy from smallest to largest:
- Atom
- Molecules
- Organelles
- Cells
- Tissues
- Organ
- Organ system
- Multicellular organism
9.Population - Community
- Ecosystem
- Biosphere
Define the following parts of the organizational hierarchy of life:
1. Atom:
2. Molecules:
3. Organelles:
4. Cells:
5. Tissues:
6. Organs:
- anything that takes up space and has mass
- a combination of atoms (water= 2 hydrogen atoms+ oxygen atom)
- specialized structures within cells (not considered alive)
- organelles coming together (unicellular)
- cells that are similar in structure and work together to perform a particular function
- a group of tissues performing a specific function.
Define the following parts of the organizational hierarchy of life:
7. Organ system
8. Multicellular organism
9. Population
10. Community
11. Ecosystem
12. Biosphere
- a group of organs working together to perform a specific function.
- an individual form of life composed of many cells
- Organisms of the same species living in the same area.
- multiple populations of different species living in the same area. (only living)
- living and non- living surroundings in the area.( mountains, etc.
- all of the different ecosystems on earth that support life
What is the biological term for living and nonliving things:
Biotic= living
Abiotic= non- living
Q: What is an atom?
A: An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains all of its properties and abilities.
Q: What is an element?
A: An element is a substance made up of only one type of atom.
Q: What is a molecule?
A: A molecule is made up of two or more atoms bonded together. The atoms can be the same (e.g., O₂) or different (e.g., H₂O).
Q: What is a compound?
A: A compound is a molecule made up of two or more different elements bonded together (e.g., H₂O, NaCl).
Q: Can a molecule be made up of the same element?
A: Yes, a molecule can be made up of the same element, like O₂ (oxygen molecule).
Q: What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
A: A molecule can be made of the same or different elements, while a compound is specifically made of different elements.
Q: Are all compounds molecules?
A: Yes, all compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds. Compounds must involve different elements, while molecules can consist of the same element.
What is an emergent property and when does it happen?
properties that arise upon combining smaller parts together. Only when smaller parts are combined does the emergent property arise.
What happens at each level of the hierarchy?
an emergent property arises
Explain the process of emergent properties?
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Define Adaptation:
process that enables organisms to improve survival and reproduction chances in their environments
What is Fitness in the biological sense:
an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce
What is natural selection/ survival of the fittest?
causes adaptation. is when the natural environment selects for organisms in a population that are more fit.
What are the two requirements for natural selection:
- genetic diversity within a population
- selective pressure for heritable traits affecting fitness.
What is one way in which evolution can occur?
through natural selection