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Which of the following is NOT a property of life?
Microorganisms can reproduce their DNA to create offspring.
True
What is homeostasis?
Maintenance of internal conditions within a narrow range despite environmental changes.
Organisms grow and develop according to specific instructions in their ______.
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What distinguishes Eukaryotic cells from Prokaryotic cells?
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Which organism is used as an example of adaptation in the chapter?
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What is the smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms?
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Match the following levels of organization with their definitions:
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Study Notes
Biology Studies Life
- Biologists aim to understand the shared properties of living things, their functions, how they are organized, and how diversity arose and continues.
- There are eight key properties of life: order, sensitivity or response to environment, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation/homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution.
Order
- Living organisms are highly organized and have a coordinated structure.
- All living organisms consist of one or more cells.
Sensitivity to Environment
- Living organisms respond to their environment.
- Examples include plants bending towards light, climbing, and responding to touch, and bacteria exhibiting chemotaxis (movement in response to chemicals) and phototaxis (movement in response to light).
Reproduction
- Living organisms replicate their DNA to create offspring that share many of the same characteristics.
Adaptation
- Living organisms exhibit a "fit" to their environment, also known as adaptation.
- This is achieved through evolution by natural selection.
- An example is the heat-resistant Archaea bacteria.
Growth and Development
- Organisms grow and develop according to instructions encoded in their genes.
- They typically exhibit many of the same characteristics as their parents.
Regulation/Homeostasis
- Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
- It requires multiple regulatory mechanisms.
- Examples include humans regulating body temperature, freshwater fish balancing salt levels, and plants regulating water loss.
Energy Processing
- All organisms use energy for processes such as growth, movement, and reproduction.
- This energy can come from the sun (converted into chemical energy) or from food (chemical energy).
Evolution
- Evolution is a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time.
- It is driven by mutations and natural selection, allowing organisms to adapt to changing environments.
- An example is the Peppered Moth.
Levels of Organization
- Atom: Smallest fundamental unit.
- Molecule: Two or more atoms bonded by chemical bonds.
- Macromolecule Large molecules, e.g., DNA.
- Organelle: Specialized structure with a specialized function.
- Cell: Smallest fundamental unit of structure and function – the building block of life.
Levels of Organization: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
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Prokaryotic Cells:
- Single-celled organisms
- Lack organelles surrounded by a membrane
- Do NOT have a nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
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Eukaryotic Cells:
- Can be single-celled or multicellular.
- Have membrane-bound organelles.
- Have a nucleus with a nuclear membrane.
Levels of Organization (Continued)
- Cell: Smallest unit of life.
- Tissues: Similar cells carrying out similar functions.
- Organs: Collections of tissues carrying out similar functions.
- Organ System: A higher-order system of organs that work together for related functions.
- Organism: An individual living entity.
Higher Levels of Organization
- Population: All individuals within a species within an area.
- Community: The sum of all populations in an area.
- Ecosystem: All living and nonliving (abiotic) things within an area.
- Biosphere: Collection of ecosystems. Includes land, water, and portions of the atmosphere.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
- Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
- The mnemonic "Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup" can be used to remember these levels.
Species
- A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed with others of its kind and produce fertile offspring.
- For example, Panthera leo (Lion) represents the species.
Genus
- A genus is a broader category that includes several related species.
- For example, Panthera is the genus that includes the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key properties of life in biology. This quiz covers essential concepts such as organization, sensitivity to environment, reproduction, and adaptation. Discover how these properties define living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
