Exam 1 Flashcards
Define biology
The scientific study of life
What are the sub disciplines of biology
Zoology - study of animals
Microbiology- study of bacteria and viruses
Botany - study of plants
Mycology - study of fungi
Ecology - study of how organisms interact with environments
What is life’s hierarchy of organization
Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism Organ system Organs Tissue Cells Molecules Atoms
Define the biosphere
All living things on earth are within the biosphere
The biosphere consists of all environments on earth that support life
Includes land and water
Define the ecosystem
Encompass all living organisms and non living matter existing within a particular environment
Includes all components of the environment with which the living organisms interact like air soil sunlight and water
Define the community
These are the groups of organisms composed of a number of different species that live within an ecosystem
Define the population
These are all individuals of a particular species living within a particular area
Ex) all lady bugs in the park
Define the organism
This is the individual unit of the population
Ex) a lady bug from their population or a deer from their population ext
Define the organ systems
This is a group of several organs which work together to preform specific functions
Ex) nervous system
Define the organs
A structure comprised of tissue which together as a group works to preform specific functions
Ex) the heart
Define tissues
These are made of similar cell types and each tissue has a specific function
Each organ is made up of several different tissue types
Define the cells
These are membrane bound and the individual units of living matter
Ex) liver tissue is comprised of a liver cell called a hepatocyte
Define molecules
Made up of a cluster of atoms
Ex) DNA, protein, sugar molecules
Define atoms
These are the smallest unit of matter
Molecules are comprised of atoms
Ex) nitrogen atoms ext
Organisms and their environment
Living organisms interact with their environment
Organisms within an ecosystem interact with both the living and the non living components of their environment
What do producers do for their ecosystem
Provide food for the other organisms present
Define producers
Includes plants and other photosynthetic organisms
Can make their own food
Define consumers
They eat plants and other animals to obtain energy
Can not make their own food
Define decomposers
Breakdown wastes and dead organisms recycling nutrients so that they can be used for biosynthesis
Ex) fungi bacteria small animals in the soil
What are the two ways in which ecosystems can be characterized
1) recycling of chemical nutrients
2) energy flow
What is the recycling of chemical nutrients
The basic chemicals needed for life like carbon nitrogen oxygen ext flow from air and soil to plants animals and decomposers and then back to the air and soil
What is energy flow
Energy is constantly gained and lost from an ecosystem
Energy enters an ecosystem when light from the sun is absorbed by plants and other photosynthetic organisms
Energy exits the ecosystem as heat
Is the structure and function of a cell correlated
Yes they are an emergent property
What are cellular functions
Responding to environment changes
The ability to take in and use energy
Regulating their own internal environments
The ability to produce and maintain its complex organization
The ability to give rise to new cells -reproduction growth and repair