Chapter 1 Evolutionary Foundations Flashcards
What is a theory?
A set of ideas proven to be correct to explain a phenomenon
What are the characteristics of a living organisms
Complex
Able to change in response to environment
Able to reproduce
Have the capacity to evolve
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Look up
What is the second law of thermodynamics?
Entropy will increase or stay the same
Define entropy
Amount of disorder in a system
What is a cell?
The simplest self replicating entity that can exist as an independent unit of life
What are three essential features of a cell?
Can store and transmit information
Has a plasma membrane
Can harness energy from the environment
What is a gene?
Region of DNA that encodes a functional RNA or protein product
What are the differences between a prokaryote and a eukaryote?
Prokaryote lacks a membrane bound nucleus
Eukaryote cell with a nucleus
How does a cell harness energy?
From the sun
Chemical compounds ATP and metabolism
Why aren’t viruses considered the smallest living organisms?
They cannot harness energy from their environment
Define evolution
Change of heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations
What is ecology?
Study of how organisms interact with one another and with their environment
What is a hypothesis?
Proposed explanation for a phenomenon
