Lecture 2

Question 1

What are the 6 key characteristics of living organisms?

Answer 1

1. Order
2. Ability to reproduce
3. Ability to adapt/change to environment
4. Ability to process energy
5. Ability to grow and develop
6. Capacity to evolve

Question 2

What are primary producers? And where does what they do, happen?

Answer 2

They use the energy of the sun (electromagnetic radiation=light) to transform CO2 into sugar. This happens in the chloroplast of plant cells. This is called photosynthesis.

Question 3

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 3

Light(energy) + C02 + Water->Sugar

+ O2

Question 4

What are primary consumers? And where does what they do, happen?

Answer 4

They use the energy stored in plant sugar and release it into the environment. This happens in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. This is called cellular respiration.

Question 5

What is cellular respiration?

Answer 5

Sugar + O2-> Energy + C02 + Water

Question 6

What is the biological hierarchy?

Answer 6

Biosphere, Ecosystems, Communities, Populations, Organisms, Organs & Organ systems, Tissues, Cells Organelles and Molecules.

Question 7

What is the biosphere?

Answer 7

All life (on Earth) and places where life exists.

Question 8

What are ecosystems?

Answer 8

All living things in a specific area + non living things that these living things interacts with.

Question 9

What are communities?

Answer 9

All living organisms that live in a specific ecosystem.

Question 10

What are populations?

Answer 10

Individuals of a species living in a specific area at a specific time.

Question 11

What are organisms?

Answer 11

All living things

Question 12

What are organs?

Answer 12

It’s a body part that has a purpose/function

Question 13

What are organ systems?

Answer 13

Team of organs that work together to fulfill a bigger purpose (larger function)

Question 14

What are tissues?

Answer 14

Group of cells that work together to fulfill a specific purpose.

Question 15

What are cells?

Answer 15

“The Fundamental Unit of Life”. It is the simplest entity. It is self-replicating and can exist independently. It stores and transmits info.

Question 16

What are organelles?

Answer 16

They are components of a cell that each have a specific function.

Question 17

What are emergent properties?

Answer 17

It’s a property which a collection or complex system has, but which the individual members do not have. This is due to the arrangement and interactions of parts as it becomes more and more complex.

Question 18

What are 3 things any cell has?

Answer 18

1. A “stable blueprint”, (in molecular form) of which contains information.
2. A boundary that separates the interior of the cell from its exterior environment.
3. Ability to control and use materials/energy from its environment.

Question 19

What does DNA stand for? What shape is it? What does each strand contain? What does it do and what does it determine?

Answer 19

Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Its shape is that of a double helix. Each strand has a mix of 4 molecules that are connected end to end. It transmits and stores information which will determine the structure of the cell and metabolic activity.

Question 20

What is the membrane?

Answer 20

It defines cells and the spaces in a cell.

Question 21

What is the plasma membrane?

Answer 21

Its the second essential feature of all cells. This is what separates the living and non living things that are in and out of the cell.

Question 22

What is a cell wall?

Answer 22

It’s outside the cell membrane. It protects and supports the cell. It’s found in bacteria, archaea, plants and fungi (NOT animals).

Question 23

How to remember the classification of life?

Answer 23

Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti

Question 24

What is the classification of life?

Answer 24

Domain (general), Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species (specific)

Question 25

What are the 3 domains of life? And what do they classify as?

Answer 25

1. Bacteria=prokaryote 2. Archaea=prokaryote 3. Eukarya

Question 26

What are prokaryotes?

Answer 26

Very small. DNA is not separated from the rest of cell. No internal membranes or nucleus, but has a cell wall.

Question 27

Of the 3 domains of life; what is bacteria?

Answer 27

Most ancient organisms of Earth. They have peptidoglycan cell walls (made of protein and sugar).

Question 28

Of the 3 domains of life; what is archaea?

Answer 28

Structure/composition of their membranes and cell walls differ. They live in extreme environments.

Question 29

Of the 3 domains of life; what is archaea? What are methanogens?

Answer 29

They produce methane

Question 30

Of the 3 domains of life; what is archaea? What are halophiles?

Answer 30

They are salt tolerant

Question 31

Of the 3 domains of life; what is archaea? What are thermophiles?

Answer 31

high temperature

Question 32

Of the 3 domains of life; what is archaea? What are acidophiles?

Answer 32

Low pH

Question 33

What are Eukaryotes?

Answer 33

They are larger than prokaryotes. Internal membranes subdivide eukaryotes to form organelles. The largest organelle is the nucleus which contains DNA.

Question 34

What are plants?

Answer 34

They are autotrophs (they produce their own energy which is through photosynthesis). They are primary producers and are multicellular. Their cell walls are made up of cellulose.

Question 35

What are fungi?

Answer 35

They are heterotrophs (they absorb their food from their environment). They are decomposers. Some are unicellular and some are multicellular. Their cell walls are made up of chitin.

Question 36

What are animals?

Answer 36

They are heterotrophs (generally obtain food through ingestion, except for parasites). They are consumers, motile, multicellular and have NO cell walls.

Question 37

What are protists?

Answer 37

They are the organism that aren't classified under plants, fungi or animals. They have a nucleus. They are plant-like, animal-like or fungi-like.

Question 38

What is evolution?

Answer 38

It is caused and causes biodiversity. It's the change in the genetic composition of a population. Evolution occurs form generation to generation.

Question 39

What is natural selection?

Answer 39

It's a process of elimination and differential reproduction. Individuals within a population must be different for at lest one trait (must have a lot of variation). They must be genetically different. Variation must be heritable from DNA.

Question 40

What does it mean to be a "fitter" individual?

Answer 40

It's those that have certain traits that allow them to live longer, have more offspring and allow them to adapt to new environment easier. These traits are passed genetically.