Topic 1.1: The Study of Life

Question 1

What are the 6 characteristics of life?

Answer 1

1) Organized
2) Requires materials and energy
3) Has the ability to reproduce and develop
4) Responds to its environment
5) Maintains an internal environment
6) Has the capacity to adapt to its environment

Question 2

What are the levels of biological organization?

Answer 2

Atom
Molecule
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organisms
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere

Question 3

Define “Atom”

Answer 3

Smallest unit of an element; composed of electrons, protons, and nuetrons

Question 4

Define “Molecule”

Answer 4

Union of two or more atoms of the same or different elements

Question 5

Define “Cell”

Answer 5

The structural and functional unit of all living organisms

Question 6

Define “Tissue”

Answer 6

A group of cells with a common structure and function

Question 7

Define “Organ”

Answer 7

Composed of tissues functioning together for a specific task

Question 8

Define “Organ System”

Answer 8

Several organs working together

Question 9

Define “Organism”

Answer 9

An individual; complex individuals contain organ systems

Question 10

Define “Species”

Answer 10

A group of similar, interbreeding organisms

Question 11

Define “Population”

Answer 11

Organism of the same species in a particular area

Question 12

Define “Community”

Answer 12

Interacting populations in a particular area

Question 13

Define “Ecosystem”

Answer 13

A community plus the physical environment

Question 14

Define “Biosphere”

Answer 14

Regions of the Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms

Question 15

Define “Taxonomy”

Answer 15

The discipline of identifying and grouping organisms according to certain rules (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Species)

Question 16

What are the 5 domains?

Answer 16

Archaea
Bacteria
Eukarya
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes

Question 17

What is the scientific method?

Answer 17

The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation.

Question 18

What is the process of the scientific method?

Answer 18

The basic process involves making an observation, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment and finally analyzing the results

Question 19

Define “Control group”

Answer 19

The control group comprises participants who do not receive the experimental treatment

Question 20

Define “Homeostasis”

Answer 20

Homeostasis is the state of steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions maintained by living systems (an equilibrium)

Question 21

Define “Hypothesis”

Answer 21

An educated guess

Question 22

Define “Scientific Theory”

Answer 22

A scientific theory is an explanation of an aspect of the natural world and universe that has been repeatedly tested and corroborated in accordance with the scientific method

Question 23

Define “Experimental Variable”

Answer 23

Factor of experiment being tested

Question 24

Define “Response Variable”

Answer 24

Result/Change that occurs due to the experimental variable

Question 25

Which of these is not a property of all living organisms? a) organization b) acquisition of materials and energy c) care for their offspring d) reproduction e) responding to the environment

Answer 25

c) care for their offspring

Question 26

Which of the following on this list represents the lowest level of biological organization? a) an organ b) a cell c) an organ system d) an organism

Answer 26

b) a cell

Question 27

The process of passing on genetic information between generations is called a) natural selection b) reproduction c) development d) metabolism

Answer 27

b) reproduction

Question 28

Which of the following includes prokaryotic organisms? a) protists b) fungi c) archaea d) plants

Answer 28

c) archaea

Question 29

The term "supergroup" is used in the classification of a)the archaeans b) the bacteria c) the eukaryotes d) all of the domains of life

Answer 29

c) the eukaryotes

Question 30

The process by which evolution occurs is called a) natural selection b) development c) reproduction d) taxonomy

Answer 30

a) natural selection

Question 31

After formulating a hypothesis, a scientist a) proves the hypothesis to be true or false b) test the hypothesis by experimentation c) decides how to best avoid having a control d) makes sure environmental conditions are just right e) formulates a scientific theory

Answer 31

b) test the hypothesis by experimentation

Question 32

Experiments examine the contribution of the ______________ to the observation a) responding variable b) control group c) standard deviation d) experimental variable

Answer 32

d) experimental variable

Question 33

Which of the following is not correctly linked? a) model: a representation of an object used in an experiment b) standard deviation: a form of statistical analysis c) principle: a theory that is not supported by experimental evidence d) data: the results of an experiment or observation

Answer 33

c) principle: a theory that is not supported by experimental evidence

Question 34

Which of the following applies scientific knowledge to the needs of society? a) evolution b) taxonomy c) systematics d) technology

Answer 34

d) technology

Question 35

Which of the following represents the permanent loss of a species? a) natural selection b) greenhouse effect c) extinction d) climate change

Answer 35

c) extinction

Question 36

H5N1 and SARS are examples of a) extinct species b) forms of greenhouse gasses c) endangered habitats d) emerging diseases

Answer 36

d) emerging diseases

Question 37

Thinking critically: You are a scientist working at a pharmaceutical company and have developed a new cancer medication that has the potential for use in humans. Outline a series of experiments, including the use of a model, to test whether the cancer medication works.

Answer 37

The medication should be studied in a model species. The experiment should have a control group (without treatment or with a placebo) and a treatment group. Both groups should have identical circumstances. The data will be collected and if the treatment group shows greater tumor reduction than the control group, the medication could be approved for trials on humans.

Question 38

Define "Archaea"

Answer 38

Archaea is a domain of single-celled organisms. These microorganisms lack cell nuclei and are therefore prokaryotes.

Question 39

Define "Bacteria"

Answer 39

a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease

Question 40

Define "Eukarya/Eukaryotes"

Answer 40

are organisms whose cells have a nucleus. All animals, plants, fungi, and many unicellular organisms, are Eukaryotes

Question 41

Define "Prokaryotes"

Answer 41

a microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include the bacteria and cyanobacteria.