Biology, Chapter 1

LIFEs HIERARCHY of ORGANIZATION Biosphere All the environments on earth that support life Ecosystem All of the organisms living in a particular area inclusive of the non-living things they interact with Community Entire array of organisms inhabiting a particular ecosystem Poupulation Individuals of the species living in an area. Organism Individual living thing Organ system Group of organs that works in a system to perform functions Organ An independent part of the organ system that performs functions Tissues Makes up an organ; made by groups of similar cells Cell Basic unit of life Separated from its environment by a membrane Molecule Cluster of atoms held together by chemical bonds Atom Smallest particle of ordinary matter DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) Found in the chromosome Genetic information responsible for heredity and programming the production of an organisms molecules. Unit/s of inheritance that transmit information from parents offspring Double helix-ed (two strands) The diversity of life results from differences in DNA structure A <> T nucleotides C <> G Gene discreet unit of the DNA RNA A <> U C <> G

PROPERTIES THAT ARE COMMON TO ALL ORGANISMS Order o all things exhibit complex organization e.g. structure and organization of bones in the body Regulation o mechanisms that maintain an organisms internal environment e.g.: regulation of blood flow Growth and Development o genes control the pattern of growth Energy Processing o organisms take in energy, transform it to perform activites Response to the Environment o responds to environmental stimuli e.g.: venus flytrap, perspiration of humas Reproduction o the ability to produce their own kind Evolutionary Adaptation Taxonomy The branch of biology that names and classifies species Charles Darwin Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection o presented evidence to support idea of evolution o species today are descendants of ancestral species Theory: descent with modification Natural Selection o The process of nature, acc. to Darwin, selects organisms Evolution o Core theme of biology o Explains the unity and diversity of life unity: vertical (hierarchal organization) diversity: horizontal (evolution of species) Genome full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism Science Derived from a Latin verb meaning to know the goal of science is to understand natural phenomena discoveries Technology applies scientific knowledge for some specific purpose inventions Science helps Technology, vice versa o Technological advances come from scientific research; research benefits from technology Discovery Science Data: verifiable observations and measurements Detailed dissection and description Uses inductive reasoning o Derives general principles from a large number of specific observations Hypothesis-based Science Seeks natural causes and explanations for observations o Hypothesis Proposed explanation for a set of observations Uses deductive reasoning o From general to specific o Logic used to come up with ways to test hypothesis Discovery Science vs. Hypothesis-based Science Ds: scientists observe and describe objects and phenomena HbS: proposes hypotheses, scientists make deductions, test predictions

Producers Plants and other photosynthetic organisms Consumers Organisms that eat plants and/or other animals Bacteria/Fungi Decompose wastes and remains of organisms; recyclers in the ecosystem Two things for ecosystem to be successful recycle chemicals necessary for life move energy through the ecosystem o energy enters as light; exits as heat CELLS basic unit/s of life enclosed by a membrane; regulates passage of materials between the cell and its surroundings o Eukaryotic has DNA has nucleus has organelles separated by membranes organelles are found in the cytoplasm e.g.: plants, animals, protists, fungi o Prokaryotic has DNA has nucleoid mostly unicellular e.g.: bacteria