Lectures 1 & 2

Question 1

What are the seven elements of a living thing?

Answer 1

1. Growth, Development and Reproduction
2. Metabolise
3. Respond
4. Cellular
5. Display Biological Organisation
6. Maintain Homeostasis
7. Adapt

Question 2

What is a cell?

Answer 2

The smallest unit of life, fundamental for all living things.

Question 3

What is an organelle?

Answer 3

A specialised structure within a cell, preforming specific functions.

Question 4

What is a macromolecule?

Answer 4

Large biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.

Question 5

What is a molecule?

Answer 5

A group of two or more atoms bonded together, either the same or different elements.

Question 6

What is an atom?

Answer 6

The smallest unit of an element, made of electrons, protons and neutrons.

Question 7

What is an organism?

Answer 7

A living individual that shows all characteristics of life (unicellular or multicellular).

Question 8

What is an organ system?

Answer 8

A group of organs working together for a specific function.

Question 9

What is an organ?

Answer 9

A structure made of two or more tissues working together for a task.

Question 10

What is tissue?

Answer 10

A group of similar cells with a shared function.

Question 11

What is the biosphere?

Answer 11

All regions of Earth where life exists (crust, water, atmosphere).

Question 12

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 12

A community of organisms interacting with their physical environment.

Question 13

What is a community?

Answer 13

A group of interacting populations in a specific area.

Question 14

What is a specie?

Answer 14

Populations of similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Question 15

What is a population?

Answer 15

All individuals of the same species in a specific area.

Question 16

What are the three elements of the Cell Theory?

Answer 16

1. all living organism are made of one or more cells
2. Cells are the basic units of life
3. Cells come only from pre-existing cells

Question 17

What is a prokaryote?

Answer 17

A single-celled organism without a distinct nucleus or specialised organelles.

Question 18

What is a eukaryote?

Answer 18

A single or multi-celled organism with specialised organelles and a nucleus containing DNA.

Question 19

What are the similarities between cells?

Answer 19

All cells contain a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, DNA and ribosomes.

Question 20

What are the differences in cells?

Answer 20

The shape, size, presence of membrane-bound organelles and the DNA’s location.

Question 21

What is a gene?

Answer 21

A segment of DNA that encodes a specific product or regulates other genes.

Question 22

What is a genome?

Answer 22

The complete DNA sequence of an organism.

Question 23

What is the structure of DNA?

Answer 23

The sugar phosphate backbone and the four nitrogenous bases (held together by hydrogen bonds).

Question 24

What is evolution?

Answer 24

The change in inherited characteristics in a population over generations.

Question 25

What is phylogeny?

Answer 25

The evolutionary relationships among species.

Question 26

What is taxonomy?

Answer 26

The science of classifying and naming living organisms.

Question 27

What is taxa?

Answer 27

Groups of organisms classified based on similarities.

Question 28

What is the order of the Classification Hierarchy?

Answer 28

Domain - Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species

Question 29

What are the two types of prokaryotes?

Answer 29

Bacteria and Archaea

Question 30

Describe Archaea.....

Answer 30

- are thought to be the oldest living organisms on Earth - more closely related to eukaryotes than to bacteria - unlike bacteria, archaea cannot form spores

Question 31

What are the two types of Archaea?

Answer 31

Extremophiles (thrive in extreme conditions) and Methanogens (produces methane gas as a byproduct)

Question 32

Describe Bacteria.....

Answer 32

- have three main shapes and a rigid cell wall - can be harmful (pathogenic) or beneficial

Question 33

What are the five types of Bacteria?

Answer 33

Proteobacteria (gram-negetive), Gram Positive (thick cell wall, retain purple stain), Spirochaetes (spiral shaped, gram-negative), Chlamydias (intracellular bacteria causing infections) and Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic bacteria that produces oxygen).

Question 34

What is Gram-Positive Bacteria?

Answer 34

Have a thick peptidoglycan wall and stain purple.

Question 35

What is Gram-Negative Bacteria?

Answer 35

Have a thin peptidoglycan wall and do not keep purple dye, often counterstain or appear pink.

Question 36

What is a Protist?

Answer 36

The most diverse eukaryotic kingdom; evolved from bacteria but are more complexed (not fungi, plants or animals).

Question 37

What does Paraphyletic mean?

Answer 37

A group with a singular ancestor, but excludes at least one descendant species from that ancestor.

Question 38

What is Flagella?

Answer 38

2 unequal anterior flagella at the reservoir.

Question 39

What are Contractile Vacuoles?

Answer 39

Removes excess water.

Question 40

What is a Stigma?

Answer 40

A light sensitive spot.

Question 41

What is Chloroplast?

Answer 41

Organelles for photosynthesis.

Question 42

What is Symbiosis?

Answer 42

Close relationships between two species, where at least one benefits.

Question 43

What is Mutualism?

Answer 43

A type of symbiosis where both species benefit.

Question 44

What is Commensalism?

Answer 44

A type of symbiosis where one species benefits and the other is not harmed.

Question 45

What is a Holdfast?

Answer 45

Anchors the algae to the surface.

Question 46

What is the Stripe?

Answer 46

Stalk-like or stem-like structure.

Question 47

What is a Blade?

Answer 47

Leaf-like part of the thallus.