Lesson 1

Question 1

When did life first emerge on Earth?

Answer 1

We have fossils that are 3.7 billion years old but life may have existed on Earth for 3.8-4.1 billion years.

Question 2

What is the term for the state of chemical balance that organisms have even when external factors are changed?

Answer 2

Homeostasis

Question 3

What is NASA’s definition of life?

Answer 3

“A self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian Evolution.”

Question 4

List the 7 main features of a living organism.

Answer 4

1) Regulation of inner systems despite outside change
2) Responses to environment
3) Reproduction
4) Growth and development based off of genetic code
5) Processing of energy
6) Organisation (cellular matrix that is ordered and functions)
7) Adaptions created through evolution

Question 5

How come viruses are not considered living things?

Answer 5

They don’t process energy, reproduce, grow or self-regulate.

Question 6

What do viruses do that is one of the features of living organisms?

Answer 6

Evolve

Question 7

What does a virus need to do first in order to be able to evolve?

Answer 7

Take over a host cell which is totally dependant on the chance of coming into contact with an appropriate one as viruses can’t direct themselves

Question 8

Have viruses been around for as long as bacteria?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What is a virus defined as?

Answer 9

a submicroscopic infectious agent

Question 10

What is the most numerous type of biological entity?

Answer 10

Viruses