Science and Human Development Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is human development?
Development is an organised sequence of changes in cells, organs and the pattern of the organism as a result of gene expression.
- Indicates the changes that take place from fertilisation to death
- Also, repair process
Give 4 ways of Human “Knowing”
- Artistic expression (poetry, painting, writing, etc.)
-Mystical experience
-Intuitive arts (shamanic journeying, dreamwork, active imagination)
-Science and “scientific method”
What are the conditions for conducting scientific research?
- The instrument used (ex. mircoscope)
The ability to isolate a particular process or object to control variables (ex. cell cultures, which allow you to control the environment) - The theoretical “worldview(s)” in which we base our inquiry (ex. scientific disciplines and cultures)
Who is credited for research on early embryology?
Aristotle (284-322) wrote about human development in ‘On the Generation of Animals’
What were Aristotle’s belief in epigenesis?
- The chick embryo heart can be seen with the naked eye
-From observing the chick embryo, Aristotle thought that the heart formed first, followed by the other body parts from internal to external.
-Theory of Epigenesis: development occurs in a series of steps from simple to differentiated.
Who invented the compound microscope?
Robert Hooke (1635-1703)
Explain Robert Hooke’s “Cell”
-Hooke observed small “boxes” he linked to monk’s cells in a thin section of cork
-Thought these may contain fluids in a living sample
-Though they were exclusive to plants
Who developed the single lens microscope?
Antony can Leeuwenhoek (1690)
Explain the hypothesis of preformation
-First theorised by Nicholas Hartsoeker who developed the early single senses microscope and observed semen.
- In 1674 he was one of the first to seem sperm and hypothesised that tiny “homonculi” were fully-formed inside each sperm
- This is called “preformation” and is the opposite of “epigenesis”.
-With the development of better microscopes, this cell theory was proved to be wrong.
What are the characteristics of a living thing?(60
-Consist of one or more cells
-Take in and use energy and materials
-Sense and respond to changes in the environment
-Maintain homeostasis
-Reproduce and grow
-Have evolutionary history
What is photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis (plants and some bacteria) provide all energy to life, by harvesting the energy of sunlight and storing it in molecules
How is energy derived through photosynthesis?
Energy and materials are derived from breaking down other life forms (digestion of food)
What is a key factor in relation to photosynthesis? (location)
Necessary energy and materials must be transported to the correct locations (ex. Circulatory system, transport across cell membranes and movements within cells)
Why are materials and energy needed within the cell?
Materials and energy are needed for reassembly of molecular building blocks into needed biological macromolecules inside of cells
What is metabolism?
The chemical reaction within cells
Carbohydrate metabolism and lactose intolerance
(how do each process react in the body)
-carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars by enzymes in the small intestine
-Lactose is a carbohydrate made of one glucose molecule and one galactose molecule
- Where the enzyme (protein that speeds up
chemical reactions) lactase is present,
galactose and glucose are absorbed by the
small intestine, and used in the body’s cells
What is a funny term for lactose?
Lactose is a “homotetramer” meaning protein with 4 associated parts of the same kind
When does “lactose intolerance” occur?
Lactose intolerance occurs when an individual does not make the lactase needed to breakdown the lactose molecules in the intestine.
Explain the reaction to dairy products for someone who is lactose intolerant
Lactose is not absorbed, and moves on to the colon, where it is used by bacteria there (causing flatulence) and where it draws water into the colon (to flush it out, causing loose stools)
What is homeostasis? (give an example)
The ability of a living organism to maintain an internal environment that operates under specific conditions
Example: Human body temperature- between 36.5 degrees and 37.5 degrees
Ways to maintain homeostasis in the human body?
Response to external temperature, such as shivering and perspiring
Levels of Organisation
-Individuals are grouped into populations
-Populations of different organisms interact in communities
-Communities interact in ecosystems
-Biosphere: Most inclusive level of organisation; earth’s water, crust and atmosphere
Life’s Organisation
Nature is organized into eleven general levels – Atom
– Molecule: combination of atoms
– Cells: built from atoms and molecules * Organized into tissues
– Organs: made up of different kinds of tissues – Organ systems make up entire organisms
Flow of energy and materials
- Organisms must take in energy and materials
- Energy flows into the biosphere from the sun – Solar energy used by plants
– Fuel used for building tissues
– Other raw materials come from air, soil, and water - Producers: self-feeding organisms
