Chapter 1: The Scientific Study of Life Flashcards
(37 cards)
What are the basic component’s of life?
The cell is the basic unit of life, every organism, or living individual consists of one or more cells.
What is biology?
Biology is the study of life.
What are the five qualities that constitute life?
- Organization
- Energy use
- Maintenance of internal consistency
- Reproduction, growth, and development
- Evolution
What is a Hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that explains one or more observations.
What is a theory?
A theory is an explanation for a natural phenomenon.
What are differences between a hypothesis and a theory?
- Theory is typically broader in scope than a hypothesis. A second difference between a hypothesis and a theory is acceptance.
- A hypothesis is tentative where as theories reflect broader agreement.
What is an experiment?
An experiment is a investigation under consoled conditions.
What is natural selection?
It is the enhanced reproductive success of certain individuals from a population based on inherited characteristics.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the process by which a cell or organism maintains this state of internal constancy, or equilibrium.
What is asexual reproduction?
In asexual reproduction genetic information comes from only one parent, and all offspring are virtually identical.
What is sexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction is genetic material from two parent individuals unites to form an offspring.
Explain the combination of characteristics which distinguish living from nonliving?
A rock crystal is highly organized, but it is not alive. A fork placed in a pot of boiling water absorbs heat energy and passes it, but it is not alive. A fire can reproduce and grow rapidly, but it lacks most of the other characteristics of life
What is adaptation?
Adaptation is an inherited characteristics or behavior that enables an organism to survive and reproduce successfully.
What is evolution?
Evolution is a change in the genetic makeup of a population over multiple generations.
What is a dependent variable?
A dependent variable (outcome of interest) is what the investigator manipulates to determine whether the independent variable influenced the phenomenon of interest.
What is a independent variable?
An independent variable (input of interest) is what the investigator manipulates to determine whether it influences the phenomenon of interest.
What is a standardized variable?
A standardized variable (input which can affect the dependent variable) is any variable intentionally held constant for all subjects in an experiment, including the control group.
What is a placebo?
A placebo is an inherit substances that resembles the treatment given to the experimental group.
What is a double-blind design?
A double-blind design is when neither the researcher nor the participants knew who received the vaccine or the placebo.
What is peer review?
Peer review is when scientist independently evaluate the vadility of the methods, data, and conclusion.
Why is biology a rapidly changing field?
Biology is a rapidly changing because technology has expanded our ability to make observations.
What is the purpose of a control in an experiment?
To have something to compare the experimental group with.
What are some limitations of science?
- Scientific inquiry is neither foolproof nor always easy to implement.
- Another limitation is that researchers may misinterpret observations or experimental results.
What are some strengths of science?
Science strength is openness to new information.