Biology Basics: Characteristics of Life

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Questions and Answers

What best defines a scientific theory?

An explanation of a natural phenomenon supported by repeated observations. (correct)

A descriptive statement about a unique event.

A guess based on personal belief.

A law that must always be true regardless of evidence.

Why is it important to study science?

To ignore evidence and trust intuition.

To rely solely on traditional knowledge.

To memorize facts without understanding concepts.

To become more informed and responsible citizens. (correct)

What is the role of the scientific method?

It discourages experimentation in favor of theory.

It helps to formulate questions based on observations. (correct)

It provides a guaranteed way to prove hypotheses true.

It is a process for analyzing artistic expressions.

What characterizes a hypothesis in science?

It is a temporary and testable explanation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a process in the scientific method?

Formulating a research hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

What did Louis Pasteur's experiments primarily investigate?

The concept of spontaneous generation. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the consistency of experimental results in science?

The idea may be developed into a theory. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of using statistical procedures in hypothesis testing?

To assess the reliability of the results. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental unit of life?

Cells Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about metabolism is true?

Metabolism refers to all chemical reactions within living cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis?

The maintenance of a constant internal environment Signup and view all the answers

Which domain includes unicellular prokaryotic organisms that often live in extreme environments?

Domain Archaea Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics is NOT true of all living things?

They all have complex organ systems. Signup and view all the answers

What allows organisms to survive and reproduce in their environments?

Adaptive traits Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of living things concerning energy?

They use energy and raw materials for metabolism. Signup and view all the answers

In which kingdom would you classify organisms that are eukaryotic and primarily photosynthetic?

Plants Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why animals move?

To find food and shelter Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about plant movement is accurate?

Plants do not move but can bend toward light Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of life according to cell theory?

Cell Signup and view all the answers

What is the smallest unit of life?

Cell Signup and view all the answers

Which level is NOT included in the hierarchical organization of living systems?

Population density Signup and view all the answers

What does 'emergent property' refer to in living systems?

Characteristics that arise from component interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which level of biological organization includes multiple tissues working together?

Organ Signup and view all the answers

What term describes all individuals of the same species in a specific area?

Population Signup and view all the answers

At which level does a sea lion belong in the hierarchical structure of life?

Organism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of the cellular level in the hierarchical organization of life?

Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms encompasses a community and its physical environment?

Ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is an organelle?

A component within a cell that carries out specific functions Signup and view all the answers

How is the biosphere defined in relation to ecosystems?

It consists of all living organisms on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the correct progression of biological organization from smallest to largest?

Atom, Molecule, Organelle, Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere Signup and view all the answers

What does the biosphere refer to?

The part of the earth that supports life Signup and view all the answers

How many organs are required to form an organ system?

Two at least Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step of the scientific method?

Make careful observations and ask questions Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the experimental group from the control group in an experiment?

The presence of an independent variable Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if the results of an experiment do not support the hypothesis?

Revise the hypothesis and conduct new predictions Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall purpose of conducting multiple experiments over time?

To develop a theory that explains broader scientific concepts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the scientific method?

Develop a personal opinion Signup and view all the answers

What role do predictions play in the scientific method?

They provide a basis for formulating new hypotheses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes what should happen after reaching a conclusion?

Make new predictions and test them. Signup and view all the answers

How does statistical significance impact the control of the experiment?

It helps determine whether results are due to chance. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Basic Characteristics of All Living Things

All living things are composed of cells
- Cells are the smallest unit of life
- All cells arise from preexisting cells
Living things grow and are capable of reproduction
Living things use energy and raw materials to carry out metabolism
- Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions that occur within the cells of living things
Living things respond to their environment
- They also maintain homeostasis, which is a constant internal environment
Organisms have adaptive traits that allow them to survive and reproduce
- Populations evolve over time

Evolution: A Unifying Theme in Biology

There are three domains of life:
- Bacteria
- Archaea
- Eukarya
Eukarya is divided into 4 kingdoms:
- Protists
- Fungi
- Plants
- Animals

Levels of Biological Organization

Life is organized in a hierarchical manner, ranging in increasing complexity:
- From atoms to molecules to organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
- Each level has emergent properties, which cannot be deduced by looking at the parts themselves
Hierarchical organization is divided into three levels:
- Cellular level: composed of atoms, molecules, organelles, and cells
- Organismal level: composed of tissues, organs, and organ systems
- Populational level: composed of a population and a community

Scientific Method

Use the scientific method to understand the natural world
- Make observations to ask questions
- Formulate a testable hypothesis to explain the observations and answer questions
- Provide a prediction and an experiment with two groups (control and experimental) in order to determine whether the hypothesis is supported
- Reach a conclusion based on the results of the experiment, and review statistical significance
- Develop new questions and additional experiments to further refine the conclusions
- Over time, after many experiments have repeatedly confirmed related hypotheses, a theory may be developed that offers a broad-ranging explanation for some aspect of the physical universe
Key steps of scientific method:
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Prediction
- Experiment
- Results
- Conclusion
To determine whether the hypothesis is supported, experiments should include two groups:
- Control group: treated identically
- Experimental group: treated identically except for one independent variable
A theory is an explanation of a natural phenomenon that is supported by many observations and experiments
Example: The Theory of Gravity

Critical Thinking to Evaluate Scientific Claims

Be cautious and critical when reading or hearing about scientific claims
Scientific claims that are not supported by evidence or are controversial should be reviewed with skepticism
Consider the source of the information, whether it is credible and unbiased

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Description

Explore the essential characteristics that define all living things, including cellular composition, growth, metabolism, and response to the environment. This quiz also delves into the hierarchical organization of life and the evolutionary framework that connects various domains and kingdoms of life.