Biology: Characteristics of Life and Organization
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Questions and Answers

What is the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms?

  • Tissue
  • Cell (correct)
  • Organ
  • Organ System
  • Which biomolecule provides energy to living organisms?

  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Carbohydrates (correct)
  • Lipids
  • What is the term for the levels of organization in living organisms, ranging from the cell to the biosphere?

  • Enzymes
  • Biomolecules
  • Biological Levels of Organization (correct)
  • Characteristics of Life
  • What is the function of enzymes in chemical reactions?

    <p>To speed up reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the building blocks of carbohydrates?

    <p>Monosaccharides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the combination of cells that perform a specific function?

    <p>Tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the cell membrane?

    <p>To control what enters and leaves the cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the movement of water molecules from high to low concentration?

    <p>Osmosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process by which cells become specialized to perform specific functions?

    <p>Cellular differentiation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the study of single gene traits and how alleles interact?

    <p>Mendelian inheritance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the production of proteins involved in various cellular functions?

    <p>Protein synthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process by which bacteria and archaea are classified?

    <p>Domain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process of organisms colonizing a new area without soil?

    <p>Primary succession</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the relationship between organisms that benefits both species involved?

    <p>Mutualism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the base of food chains and food webs?

    <p>Producers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process by which energy is lost as heat or undigested as it flows through trophic levels?

    <p>Energy loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process involves the conversion of energy from light to ATP, whereas cellular respiration converts energy from ATP to what?

    <p>heat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between passive and active transport?

    <p>energy input</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In meiosis, what is the result of the PMAT stages occurring twice?

    <p>four haploid cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the study of inheritance patterns that do not follow Mendelian inheritance?

    <p>Non-Mendelian inheritance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of natural selection acting on random mutations?

    <p>a higher frequency of advantageous traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process by which bacteria break down organic matter?

    <p>decomposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the domain that includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists?

    <p>Eukarya</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process by which water molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration?

    <p>osmosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the relationship between organisms in which one species benefits and the other is harmed?

    <p>parasitism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process by which energy flows from one trophic level to the next?

    <p>food chain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between biological levels of organization and the characteristics of life?

    <p>The characteristics of life are emergent properties, meaning they arise from the interactions of components at each level of organization, not necessarily present at lower levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following biomolecules is NOT directly involved in providing structure to living organisms?

    <p>Nucleic acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A scientist studying the function of an enzyme discovers that the enzyme's activity is significantly reduced at a higher temperature. Which of the following best explains this observation?

    <p>The heat causes the enzyme to change shape, altering the active site and reducing its affinity for the substrate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the concept of an emergent property in the context of biological organization?

    <p>A group of muscle cells working together to contract a muscle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately reflects the challenges in defining the characteristics of life?

    <p>The characteristics of life are not always easy to distinguish from non-living entities, as there can be overlapping features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a biological level of organization that is NOT directly involved in the functioning of a single organism?

    <p>Ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the role of enzymes in speeding up chemical reactions?

    <p>Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for the reaction to start.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living organisms?

    <p>Movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A researcher is studying a newly discovered organism. She observes that the organism can grow, reproduce, and respond to stimuli, but it is not composed of cells. Based on this information, what can the researcher conclude about this organism?

    <p>It is an exception to the generally accepted definition of life and requires further investigation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between enzymes and their substrates?

    <p>Enzymes are specific to their substrates, meaning each enzyme can only act on a specific type of molecule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Characteristics of Life

    • Characteristics of life are difficult to define and have exceptions
    • Examples of characteristics of life: growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, etc.
    • Cellular organization: cells are the smallest living units, and all living things are made up of cells

    Biological Levels of Organization

    • Levels of organization: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
    • Cells combined to make tissues, tissues make organs, organs make organ systems, and so on

    Biomolecules

    • Four major macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
    • Building blocks: monosaccharides, fatty acids and glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides
    • Functions of biomolecules: provide energy, structure, and function to living organisms

    Enzymes

    • Most enzymes are made of proteins
    • Enzymes: speed up reactions, have active sites, and break down or build up substrates
    • Importance of enzymes: involved in digestion, break down of nutrients, etc.

    Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

    • Cellular respiration: breakdown of glucose to produce ATP
    • Photosynthesis: production of glucose using sunlight energy
    • Both processes involve the conversion of energy from one form to another

    Cell Membrane and Transport

    • Cell membrane: controls what enters and leaves the cell, made up of phospholipids
    • Passive transport: transport of molecules without energy input, includes diffusion and facilitated diffusion
    • Active transport: transport of molecules with energy input, against concentration gradient

    Osmosis

    • Osmosis: movement of water molecules from high to low concentration
    • Importance of osmosis: helps maintain cellular balance and prevent dehydration

    Cellular Division

    • Cell cycle: interphase (G1, S, G2) and M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis)
    • Mitosis: produces identical body cells, involves PMAT stages
    • Meiosis: produces gametes, involves PMAT stages twice and results in 4 haploid cells

    Genetics

    • Mendelian inheritance: study of single gene traits and how alleles interact
    • Punnett squares: used to predict genotypes and phenotypes of offspring
    • Non-Mendelian inheritance: sex-linked traits, multiple alleles, incomplete dominance, and codominance

    Protein Synthesis

    • Transcription: produces mRNA from DNA
    • Translation: produces polypeptide chain from mRNA
    • Importance of protein synthesis: produces proteins involved in various cellular functions### Evolution and Natural Selection
    • Evolution occurs through random mutations, and natural selection acts on these variations to favor individuals with traits that enhance their fitness
    • Fitness is determined by the number of offspring an individual produces, not by strength or longevity
    • Example: darker green frogs blend in better with their environment, are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their traits to their offspring
    • Natural selection leads to a higher frequency of advantageous traits in a population over time

    Bacteria and Viruses

    • Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes, can be autotrophs (make their own food) or heterotrophs (consume organic material)
    • Bacteria can be helpful (e.g., breaking down food, decomposing, making food, fixing nitrogen) or harmful (e.g., causing infections)
    • Viruses are not considered living organisms, lack cellular structure, and require a host to reproduce
    • Viruses have genetic material (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat (capsid)

    Classification of Living Organisms

    • All life can be organized into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
    • Taxonomy levels: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
    • Scientific names are used universally, often with Latin or Greek roots, and are more reliable than common names

    Plant Structure and Reproduction

    • Plants are autotrophs, making their own food through photosynthesis
    • Plant cells have chloroplasts to capture light energy
    • Plants need water, carbon dioxide, and light to undergo photosynthesis
    • Plants can reproduce asexually or sexually (e.g., in angiosperms, with male and female parts)
    • Pollination and fertilization occur through the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma, followed by fertilization of the egg and polar nuclei

    Energy Flow and Ecosystems

    • Producers (plants) are the base of food chains and food webs, providing energy for subsequent trophic levels
    • Energy is lost as heat or undigested as it flows through trophic levels
    • Ecosystems typically have multiple food chains and webs, with biodiversity contributing to sustainability

    Ecological Succession

    • Primary succession: the process of organisms colonizing a new area without soil, with pioneer species breaking down rock into soil
    • Secondary succession: the process of organisms colonizing an area with existing soil, often after an ecological disturbance
    • Succession leads to the formation of a climax community over time

    Cycling and Ecological Relationships

    • Carbon and nitrogen cycles are essential for life, with carbon being a building block and nitrogen being important for proteins and nucleic acids
    • Ecological relationships include predation, competition, commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism
    • Symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism, can be beneficial for both species involved

    Characteristics of Life

    • Characteristics of life are difficult to define and have exceptions
    • Growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, and cellular organization are examples of characteristics of life
    • Cellular organization is the concept that cells are the smallest living units, and all living things are made up of cells

    Biological Levels of Organization

    • There are nine levels of organization: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere
    • Cells combine to form tissues, tissues form organs, organs form organ systems, and so on

    Biomolecules

    • The four major macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
    • Building blocks of biomolecules include monosaccharides, fatty acids and glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides
    • Biomolecules provide energy, structure, and function to living organisms

    Enzymes

    • Most enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions
    • Enzymes have active sites and can break down or build up substrates
    • Enzymes are involved in digestion and the breakdown of nutrients

    Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

    • Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP
    • Photosynthesis is the process of producing glucose using sunlight energy
    • Both processes involve the conversion of energy from one form to another

    Cell Membrane and Transport

    • The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves the cell and is made up of phospholipids
    • Passive transport involves the transport of molecules without energy input and includes diffusion and facilitated diffusion
    • Active transport involves the transport of molecules with energy input against the concentration gradient

    Osmosis

    • Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from high to low concentration
    • Osmosis helps maintain cellular balance and prevents dehydration

    Cellular Division

    • The cell cycle consists of interphase (G1, S, G2) and M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis)
    • Mitosis produces identical body cells and involves the PMAT stages
    • Meiosis produces gametes and involves the PMAT stages twice, resulting in four haploid cells

    Genetics

    • Mendelian inheritance involves the study of single gene traits and how alleles interact
    • Punnett squares are used to predict genotypes and phenotypes of offspring
    • Non-Mendelian inheritance includes sex-linked traits, multiple alleles, incomplete dominance, and codominance

    Protein Synthesis

    • Transcription produces mRNA from DNA
    • Translation produces a polypeptide chain from mRNA
    • Protein synthesis produces proteins involved in various cellular functions

    Evolution and Natural Selection

    • Evolution occurs through random mutations, and natural selection acts on these variations to favor individuals with traits that enhance their fitness
    • Fitness is determined by the number of offspring an individual produces
    • Natural selection leads to a higher frequency of advantageous traits in a population over time

    Bacteria and Viruses

    • Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes that can be autotrophs or heterotrophs
    • Bacteria can be helpful or harmful
    • Viruses are not considered living organisms and lack cellular structure
    • Viruses have genetic material and a protein coat and require a host to reproduce

    Classification of Living Organisms

    • All life can be organized into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
    • Taxonomy levels include Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species
    • Scientific names are used universally and are more reliable than common names

    Plant Structure and Reproduction

    • Plants are autotrophs that make their own food through photosynthesis
    • Plant cells have chloroplasts to capture light energy
    • Plants need water, carbon dioxide, and light to undergo photosynthesis
    • Plants can reproduce asexually or sexually

    Energy Flow and Ecosystems

    • Producers (plants) are the base of food chains and food webs
    • Energy is lost as heat or undigested as it flows through trophic levels
    • Ecosystems typically have multiple food chains and webs, and biodiversity contributes to sustainability

    Ecological Succession

    • Primary succession is the process of organisms colonizing a new area without soil
    • Secondary succession is the process of organisms colonizing an area with existing soil
    • Succession leads to the formation of a climax community over time

    Cycling and Ecological Relationships

    • Carbon and nitrogen cycles are essential for life
    • Ecological relationships include predation, competition, commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism
    • Symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism, can be beneficial for both species involved

    Characteristics of Life

    • Characteristics of life are difficult to define and have exceptions
    • Growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, and cellular organization are examples of characteristics of life
    • Cellular organization is the concept that cells are the smallest living units, and all living things are made up of cells

    Biological Levels of Organization

    • There are nine levels of organization: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere
    • Cells combine to form tissues, tissues form organs, organs form organ systems, and so on

    Biomolecules

    • The four major macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
    • Building blocks of biomolecules include monosaccharides, fatty acids and glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides
    • Biomolecules provide energy, structure, and function to living organisms

    Enzymes

    • Most enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions
    • Enzymes have active sites and can break down or build up substrates
    • Enzymes are involved in digestion and the breakdown of nutrients

    Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

    • Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP
    • Photosynthesis is the process of producing glucose using sunlight energy
    • Both processes involve the conversion of energy from one form to another

    Cell Membrane and Transport

    • The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves the cell and is made up of phospholipids
    • Passive transport involves the transport of molecules without energy input and includes diffusion and facilitated diffusion
    • Active transport involves the transport of molecules with energy input against the concentration gradient

    Osmosis

    • Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from high to low concentration
    • Osmosis helps maintain cellular balance and prevents dehydration

    Cellular Division

    • The cell cycle consists of interphase (G1, S, G2) and M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis)
    • Mitosis produces identical body cells and involves the PMAT stages
    • Meiosis produces gametes and involves the PMAT stages twice, resulting in four haploid cells

    Genetics

    • Mendelian inheritance involves the study of single gene traits and how alleles interact
    • Punnett squares are used to predict genotypes and phenotypes of offspring
    • Non-Mendelian inheritance includes sex-linked traits, multiple alleles, incomplete dominance, and codominance

    Protein Synthesis

    • Transcription produces mRNA from DNA
    • Translation produces a polypeptide chain from mRNA
    • Protein synthesis produces proteins involved in various cellular functions

    Evolution and Natural Selection

    • Evolution occurs through random mutations, and natural selection acts on these variations to favor individuals with traits that enhance their fitness
    • Fitness is determined by the number of offspring an individual produces
    • Natural selection leads to a higher frequency of advantageous traits in a population over time

    Bacteria and Viruses

    • Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes that can be autotrophs or heterotrophs
    • Bacteria can be helpful or harmful
    • Viruses are not considered living organisms and lack cellular structure
    • Viruses have genetic material and a protein coat and require a host to reproduce

    Classification of Living Organisms

    • All life can be organized into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
    • Taxonomy levels include Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species
    • Scientific names are used universally and are more reliable than common names

    Plant Structure and Reproduction

    • Plants are autotrophs that make their own food through photosynthesis
    • Plant cells have chloroplasts to capture light energy
    • Plants need water, carbon dioxide, and light to undergo photosynthesis
    • Plants can reproduce asexually or sexually

    Energy Flow and Ecosystems

    • Producers (plants) are the base of food chains and food webs
    • Energy is lost as heat or undigested as it flows through trophic levels
    • Ecosystems typically have multiple food chains and webs, and biodiversity contributes to sustainability

    Ecological Succession

    • Primary succession is the process of organisms colonizing a new area without soil
    • Secondary succession is the process of organisms colonizing an area with existing soil
    • Succession leads to the formation of a climax community over time

    Cycling and Ecological Relationships

    • Carbon and nitrogen cycles are essential for life
    • Ecological relationships include predation, competition, commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism
    • Symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism, can be beneficial for both species involved

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    Explore the fundamental characteristics of life, including growth and response to stimuli, and learn about the different levels of biological organization from cells to ecosystems.

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