Unifying themes of life Flashcards
To learn all of the unifying themese of life (40 cards)
States that all living organisms are composed of cells, and that cells are the basic unit of life.
Cell theory
All organisms, from the simplest bacteria to complex multicellular organisms, are made of?
Cells
Cells arise from __-_______ cells through the process of cell division.
pre-existing
What are the two main types of cells
prokaryotic (no nucleus, like bacteria) and eukaryotic (nucleus, like plant and animal cells).
carry out all necessary functions of life, such as metabolism and reproduction.
Cells
Organisms do not exist in isolation; they continuously interact with their environment.
Interaction with the Environment
It respond to physical factors (e.g., sunlight, water, temperature) and biological factors (e.g., predators, symbiotic relationships).
Organisms
These can influence an organism’s behavior, physiology, and survival.
interactions
The fundamental and the smallest unit of life
Cells
Over time, species undergo changes that allow them to survive and reproduce in specific environments.
Adaptation and Evolution
Is the change in the genetic composition of populations over generations, driven primarily by natural selection.
Evolution
Are traits that increase an organism’s fitness, or its ability to survive and reproduce.
Adaptation
Organisms with advantageous traits (adaptations) are more likely to survive and pass on these traits to offspring.
Natural selection
Random events can cause certain alleles to become more or less common in a population, particularly in small populations (e.g., founder effect, bottleneck effect).
Genetic Drift
Movement of individuals between populations introduces new genetic material, promoting genetic diversity.
Gene flow
Shows the progression of life forms over millions of years, such as the transition from fish to amphibians.
Fossils record
While life on Earth is incredibly diverse, all living organisms share a set of common features that reflect their evolutionary origin from a common ancestor.
Unity and Diversity of Life
Life is classified into three domains
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
New species arise when populations become genetically distinct from one another, often due to geographic isolation (e.g., the evolution of different species of cichlid fish in isolated African lakes).
Speciation
allows for the transfer of genetic material from one generation to the next, and this transmission of heritable information ensures the continuation and evolution of species.
Reproduction
Involves a single parent producing genetically identical offspring. This occurs through processes like binary fission in bacteria or budding in yeast.
Asexual Reproduction
Involves the combination of genetic material from two parents. This leads to genetic variation through meiosis, where gametes (sperm and egg) are produced with half the number of chromosomes.
Sexual Reproduction
stores and transmits genetic information. It is composed of nucleotides, which form genes that encode proteins.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
is the process by which organisms convert nutrients into energy, and regulation involves maintaining stable internal conditions (homeostasis) that are essential for survival.
Respiration