Chapter 1 Assesments

Packet Questions

1. List and describe 6 properties of life.

a. Made of Cells

i.

b. Reproduce

i.

c. Respond to Stimuli

i.

d. Homeostasis

i.

e. Metabolism

i.

f. Evolution

i.

2. Describe each of the levels of biological organization beginning at the biosphere and
ending at molecules.

a. Biosphere

b. Ecosystem

c. Community

d. Population

e. Organism

f. organ system

g. Organ
 h. Tissue

i. Cell

j. Organelle

k. Molecule

List and briefly describe the 6 themes of biology described in chapter 1.

l.

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” Explain what Theodosius
Dobzhansky meant using examples from your book.

m.

Compare and contrast discovery science and hypothesis-based science. What approach to
science and type of reasoning is common to each?

n.

Does the presence of coral snakes affect predation rates on their mimics, kingsnakes? Describe
the study and explain the results.

o.

Compare and contrast a scientific hypothesis and a scientific theory.

p.

Describe the relationship between science, technology and society?

Concept Check

● 1.1

1. For each biological level in Figure 1.4, write a sentence that includes the next
“lower” level. Example: “A community consists of populations of the various
species inhabiting a specific area.”

a.
 2. What theme or themes are exemplified by (a) the sharp spines of a porcupine, (b)
the cloning of a plant from a single cell, and (c) a hummingbird using sugar to
power it’s flight?

a.

3. For each theme discussed in this section, give an example not mentioned in the
book.

a.

● 1.2

1. How is a mailing address analogous to biology’s hierarchical taxonomic system?

a.

2. Explain why “editing” is an appropriate metaphor for how natural selection acts
on a population’s heritable variation.

a.

3. The three domains you learned about in Concept 1.2 can be represented in the tree
of life as the three main branches. On the eukaryotic branch, three of the
subbranches are the kingdoms Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia. What if fungi and
animals are more closely related to each other than either of these kingdoms is to
plants–as recent evidence strongly suggests? Draw a simple branching pattern that
symbolizes the proposed relationship between these three eukaryotic kingdoms.

a.

● 1.3

1. Contrast inductive reasoning with deductive reasoning.

a.

2. Why is natural selection called a theory?

a.
 3. Suppose you extended the snake mimicry experiment to an area of Virginia where
neither type of snake is known to live. What results would you predict at your
field site?

a.

While You Read

● Learning by Experience

1. Arrange the following terms to show the proper hierarchical organization of life:
biological community, cell, ecosystem, molecule, organ, organelle, organism,
organ system, population, species, tissue. What does it mean to say that life is
organized hierarchically?

2. Make a flowchart that diagrams the scientific method by using these terms:
experiments, hypotheses, observations, questions, theory. Briefly explain how the
method works.

3. Label the lines on the graph as representing a geometric progression and a line
representing an arithmetic progression, then explain the implications of the two
lines with regards to rates of increase. (One graph is fine)

4. Color the homologous bones in these vertebrate forelimbs the same color: e.g.,
color the upper arm bone (humerus) green in all five limbs, use yellow for the two
lower arm bones ( the radius and ulna), in all five limbs and use purple for all the
bones of the wrist and hand in all five limbs. Note: human anatomy is being used
as the reference point here, but there has been some fusion of bones in different
species.
 a.

5. Why is biology important?

● Exercising Your Knowledge

1. We seem to know intuitively if something qualifies as a living organism, but

defining life precisely can be difficult. Is there any one characteristic that defines
life? If not, what does?

2. What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Is either used
by scientists?

3. Can a scientific theory ever be proven to be 100% absolutely true? If so how? If

not, does that mean we shouldn’t trust scientific theories?

4. You are conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis that dairy cows give
more milk if they listen to classical music while being milked. You have 20 cows
listen to classical music during milking and then collect all their milk and measure
how much there is. What would you do for your control experiment?

5. What is the difference between basic and applied research? Which do you think is
more important?

6. How has molecular biology contributed to our current understanding of

evolution?

7. Explain the statement “species evolve, but selection acts on individuals”.

 8. Explain Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection in your own words.

9. It took Darwin many years to formulate his theory of evolution by natural

selection, and he used many different pieces of evidence and ideas of different
people in the process. Briefly describe the contribution made by each of the
following to Darwin’s thoughts: fossils, geographic distribution of species,
oceanic islands, Lyell, Malthus.

10. Biologists often talk about the seemingly contradictory unity and diversity of life.
What do you think they mean by that - What is uniform about life, what is
diverse?

After You Read

● Section 1

1. What are emergent properties? Give two examples.

2. Life is organized on many scales. From viewing Earth from space all the way to
the level of molecules. As you study, write in a brief definition of each level.

3. Our study of biology will be organized around recurring themes. Make a list of
the themes that are presented, and give an example that illustrates each theme.
Watch for these themes throughout your study this entire year. This will help you
see the big picture and organize your thinking.

4. As you read this section, you will be reminded of things you may have studied in
an earlier course. Since this material will be presented in detail in future chapters,
you will come back to these ideas, so don’t fret if some of the concepts presented
are unfamiliar. However, to guide your study, define each of the terms in bold as
you come to them.

● Section 2

5. What two main points were articulated in Darwin’s The Origin of Species?

6. What did Darwin propose as the mechanism of evolution? Summarize this

mechanism.

7. Study the Figure in your text, which shows an evolutionary “tree.” What is
indicated by each twig? What do the branch points represent? Where did
the“common ancestor” of the Galápagos finches originate?
● Section 3

8. What are the two main types of scientific inquiry? Give an example of each.

9. What is data?

10. Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative data. Which type would be
presented in a data chart and could be graphed? Which type is found in the field
sketches made by Jane Goodall?

11. In science, how do we define hypothesis?

12. A scientific hypothesis has two important qualities. The first is that it is testable.
What is the second?

13. Are scientific hypotheses proved? Explain your answer!

14. What is a controlled experiment?

15. What is a common misconception about the term “controlled experiment?”

16. Explain what is meant by a scientific theory by giving the three ways your text
separates a theory from a hypothesis or mere speculation.