sci_mod9 Flashcards
The smallest stable unit of matter in Creation
Atom
Two or more atoms linked together to make a substance with unique properties
Molecule
The process by which a plant uses the energy of sunlight and certain chemicals to produce its own food
Photosynthesis
The process by which a living organism takes energy from its surroundings and uses it to sustain itself, develop, and grow
Metabolism
Special structures or chemicals that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their surroundings
Receptors
The smallest unit of life in Creation
Cell
What are the four criteria for life?
- All life forms contain DNA.
- All life forms have a method by which they take energy from the surroundings and convert it into energy that helps them live.
- All life forms can sense changes in their surroundings and respond to those changes.
- All life forms reproduce.
What does DNA provide to a living organism?
DNA provides the information necessary to turn lifeless chemicals into a living organism.
Compared to other molecules, is DNA big or small?
It is big. In fact, DNA is one of the biggest molecules in Creation.
Does DNA store its information more efficiently or less efficiently than a computer?
DNA is significantly more efficient at information storage than the best computer human science can make.
DNA is made up of two basic parts: the backbone and the nucleotides. Which part stores the information?
The nucleotides store the information. Remember, the information of a living organism is stored as a sequence of nucleotides.
DNA is made up of two basic parts: the backbone and the nucleotides. Which part forms the double helix structure?
The backbone forms long ribbons that twist to make the double helix structure.
Which nucleotide will link to adenine? Which will link to cytosine?
Thymine links to adenine, and guanine links to cytosine.
One half of a portion of DNA has the following sequence: cytosine, guanine, adenine, guanine, thymine, thymine
What is the sequence of nucleotides on the other half of this portion?
The relationship in 7 allows you to determine the other half of the DNA, because only adenine and thymine can link up. Similarly, only cytosine and guanine can link up.
guanine, cytosine, thymine, cytosine, adenine, adenine
One half of a portion of DNA has the following sequence: thymine, guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine, guanine
What is the sequence of nucleotides on the other half of this portion?
The relationship in 7 allows you to determine the other half of the DNA, because only adenine and thymine can link up. Similarly, only cytosine and guanine can link up.
adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, adenine, cytosine
What is the name of the chemical that plants make for food?
Plants use photosynthesis to make their own food, glucose.
What is the name of the chemical that plants store their food as?
Plants store food as starch.
What is a biosphere?
A biosphere is a living system that is isolated from its surroundings but still continues to live and grow.
Metabolism requires food and something else. What is that something else?
Metabolism requires food and oxygen.
Metabolism produces energy and usually two other things. What are they?
Metabolism usually produces energy, carbon dioxide, and water.
An organism’s receptors no longer work. Which of the 4 criteria of life will the organism not be able to perform?
The organism will not be able to sense and respond to change.
Consider the difference between a shark and an anchovy. Both are fish. The first is a fierce hunter that rarely is eaten by any other animal. The second is a major source of food for many other fish in the sea. Which would you expect to have more babies: two shark parents or two anchovy parents?
The anchovy parents will have many more babies, because so many anchovies get eaten that many must be born to “replace” them.
Every once in a while, a female cat will be born sterile. This means that the cat cannot have kittens. Does this mean that the cat is not alive, since it cannot reproduce?
The cat is still alive, because its cells can reproduce.
Is the population of people on this earth becoming a problem?
No, it is not. The speed at which the human population is increasing has been slowing every year. Also, there is more food per person today than ever before. Finally, the cost of raw materials is lower than ever. Thus, there are no indicators which point to trouble.
