Characteristics of Life Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the definition of “complexity” in relation to life?
Complexity refers to precise spatial organization or cellular structure, meaning the organism is made up of cells.
What does it mean for an organism to have the ability to respond to the environment?
It means the organism can react to external stimuli, such as sweating when exposed to heat.
What is the ability to reproduce in living organisms?
The ability to reproduce independently, such as bacteria reproducing via binary fission.
What capacity do living organisms have in terms of evolution?
Living organisms have the capacity to evolve over generations.
What is a key characteristic of life related to genetics?
All living organisms contain genetic material.
What is the simplest self-reproducing unit of life?
The cell is the simplest self-reproducing entity that can exist as an independent unit of life.
What is the function of the cell in relation to genetic information?
The cell stores and transfers genetic information.
What is a key feature of a cell’s structure?
Cells are enclosed by a membrane that separates the interior from the external environment.
What process occurs within cells to obtain energy?
Cells undergo metabolism, which allows them to harness materials and energy from the environment.
What is evolution?
Evolution involves variation of a specific feature within a population, where certain variations have a selective advantage under specific pressures.
How does evolution lead to an increase in a feature?
A variation that has a selective advantage allows that feature to increase in frequency within the population, aiding survival and reproduction.
What are the 5 general charactersitics of life?
complexity, ability to respond to external stimuli, ability to reproduce, has the capacity to evolve, contains genetic material
