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Biology 115 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the basic unit of life?

A

A cell

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2
Q

What is the sum of all life on the planet?

A

The biosphere

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3
Q

Levels of biological organization: smallest to largest

A

Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem and Biosphere.

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4
Q

Smallest unit of an element composed of electrons, protons, and neutrons?

A

Atom

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5
Q

Union of 2 or more atoms of the same or different elements?

A

Molecule

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6
Q

A group of cells with a common structure and function?

A

Tissue

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7
Q

Composed of tissues functioning together for a specific task?

A

Organ

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8
Q

Composed of several organs working together?

A

Organ System

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9
Q

An individual; complex individuals contain organ systems?

A

Organism

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10
Q

Organisms of the same species in a particular area?

A

Population

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11
Q

Interacting populations in a particular area?

A

Community

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12
Q

A community plus the physical environment?

A

Ecosystem

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13
Q

Regions of the Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms?

A

Biosphere

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14
Q

What are the characteristics of living things? (6)

A
  1. Organized
  2. Acquire materials and energy
  3. Are homeostatic
  4. Respond to stimuli
  5. Reproduce and grow
  6. Have an evolutionary history
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15
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

The ability of a cell or an organism to maintain an internal environment that operates under specific conditions.

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16
Q

What is Evolution?

A

The process by which a population changes over time.

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17
Q

What is natural selection?

A

The strongest and most successful are most likely to survive.

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18
Q

What is adaption?

A

Generations that include more members with new variations from natural selection.

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19
Q

Did we evolve from apes?

A

No, humans did not evolve from apes; apes and humans share a common, apelike ancestor.

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20
Q

What is human culture and how do we develop it?

A

Culture involves human activities and products passed on from one generation to the next outside of biological inheritance.

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21
Q

What is the difference between an Objective observation and a Subjective observation?

A

An objective observation is supported by factual information. A subjective observation involves personal judgment.

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22
Q

What are the basic steps of the scientific method?

A

Observation, Hypothesis, Experiments and Conclusion.

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23
Q

What is Inductive reasoning?

A

When a person uses creative thinking to combine isolated facts into a cohesive whole.

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24
Q

How is a hypothesis made?

A

A hypothesis is based upon existing knowledge, more informed than a mere guess.

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25
What is the Experimental Design?
The manner in which a scientist intends to conduct an experiment.
26
What is the difference between test groups and control groups?
A test group is exposed to the experimental variable, a control group is not.
27
What is the experimental varaible?
The one thing that is deliberately changed between testing and control groups to test the hypothesis.
28
What is a controlled experiment?
A scientific test done under controlled conditions, meaning that just one (or a few) factors are changed at a time, while all others are kept constant.
29
What is a standardized variable?
Variables that remain the same throughout the experiment.
30
Difference between the independent variable and dependent variable?
Independent variable stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables. The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment
31
What is Anecdotal data?
Consists of testimonials by people rather than results from a controlled study; never considered reliable.
32
What is the Standard Error in a statistical test?
Tells us how uncertain a particular value is; how far off the average could be.
33
Define statistical significance
Scientists account for the probability value that results were due to chance, if the probability value is low (less that 5%) the results are statistically significant. Lower probability = less likely results are due to chance.
34
What are the main challenges facing science? (4)
Bioethics, human influence on ecosystems, emerging diseases, and climate change.
35
Define an Element
An element is one of the basic building blocks of matter; cannot be broken down by chemical means.
36
What 3 things make up an atom?
Protons, neutrons and electrons
37
What is the Atomic number?
Number of protons in the nucleus accounts for unique properties of this type of atom.
38
What is the mass number of an atom?
The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
39
What is an Isotope?
An atom with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
40
What is a molecule?
Atoms that are the same, bond to form a molecule.
41
What is a compound?
When 2 different types of atoms bond, they form a compound.
42
What are Ions?
Particles that carry either a positive or negative charge.
43
Atoms that have gained or lost electrons are known as what?
Ions
44
What happens in Ionic bonding?
Atoms give up or take on an electron(s) to achieve a stable valence shell.
45
What happens in Covalent bonding?
Atoms share electrons by overlapping valence shells.
46
What are Polar molecules?
Polar molecules have a slightly positively charged pole and a slightly negatively charged pole
47
What is the difference between Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic?
``` Hydrophilic = polar Hydrophobic = nonpolar (doesn't dissolve in water easily) ```
48
What is a hydrogen bond?
The attraction of a slightly positive, covalently bonded hydrogen to a slightly negative atom nearby; relatively weak, can be broken easily.
49
What are properties of water?
High heat capacity and evaporation, is a solvent, water molecules are cohesive and adhesive, frozen water is less dense than liquid.
50
What is a solvent?
Capable of dissolving a great number of substances
51
What is a solution?
A solution contains dissolved substances
52
What is a solute?
Substances that are/have dissolved
53
What is the pH scale used for?
Determines the acidity or basicity of a solution. Ranges from 0-14, pH of 7 = neutral state, below 7 = acidic solution, above 7 = basic.
54
Define Macromolecule
A molecule that contains many subunits
55
What are Carbohydrates/what do they do?
Function for quick and short-term energy storage. Ratio of Hydrogen atoms to Oxygen atoms is 2:1
56
What is a monosaccharide of a carbohydrate?
If a carbohydrate is made up of just 1 ring and its number of carbon atoms is low (5-7), it is called a simple sugar or monosaccharide.
57
What is the purpose of phospholipids?
Phospholipids form a membrane so the cell is separated from its environment and has inner compartments.
58
What do steroids do/function?
A large class of lipids, includes the sex hormones, function as a chemical messenger.
59
What does fat do for us?
Used for long-term energy storage, insulates, and forms protective cushion around major organs.
60
Define a fatty acid
A carbon-hydrogen chain that ends with COOH, contains 16-18 carbon atoms per molecule. Either saturated or unsaturated.
61
What are the 4 carbon rings?
All steroids' have a backbone of 4 fused carbon rings
62
What is good and bad cholesterol?
LDL = bad HDL = good Types of proteins (lipoproteins)
63
What are amino acids?
Subunits of protein, called the R group, bond of an amino group with an acid group.
64
How do proteins interact with cells?
Many proteins can move within the plasma membrane through a process called membrane diffusion.
65
What are enzymes in terms of protein?
All enzymes are a type of protein made from amino acids. Enzymes break molecules apart and put molecules together.
66
What are Nucleic acids and what do they do?
Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides, they store information, include instructions for life, and conduct chemical reactions.
67
Define a nucleotide
A molecular complex of 3 types of subunit molecules: phosphate, a pentose sugar and a nitrogen-containing base.
68
DNA and RNA
DNA: double stranded, genetic material RNA: single stranded, many cell functions, is the nucleic acid directly involved in protein synthesis.
69
What happens during a dehydration reaction?
A OH and H (the equivalent of a water molecule) are removed as the molecule forms.
70
What does ATP do/what happens?
Breaks P off to release energy | If phosphate is added to another molecule it gives the other molecule energy
71
What is the Cell Theory?
According to the cell theory, nothing smaller than a cell is considered to be alive. All living organisms are made of up cells and new cells only arise from preexisting cells.
72
Define hypertonic
Solutions that cause cells to shrink due to loss of water.
73
Define hypotonic
Solutions that cause cells to swell or burst due to an intake of water.
74
Solute, solvent and solutions
Solute is dissolved in a solvent, this creates a solution
75
What is produced in the nucleolus?
RNA
76
Tight and Gap Junctions
Tight junctions: plasma membrane proteins; zipperlike barrier Gap junctions: Communications portals between cells
77
What is Fermentation?
It is an anaerobic process, meaning it does not require oxygen.

Biology 115 (4 decks)

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