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Questions and Answers
What unifying theme in biology explains the unity and diversity of life?
What is the primary unit of structure and function in all organisms?
What scientific method do biologists use to form conclusions about the world around them?
What is the approximate age of life on Earth?
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What property of water allows ice to float above liquid water?
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What is the pH of pure water?
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Which element is common to all organic compounds except water?
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What is the simplest form of an organic molecule?
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What did the Miller-Urey experiment show in 1953?
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Which class of macromolecules includes steroids, phospholipids, and fats?
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What are the subunits or monomers of macromolecules?
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What can carbon form with up to four other atoms?
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Who improved the microscope and made significant discoveries in microbiology?
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Who outlined the principles of biological inheritance in the 19th century?
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Who discovered the double-helical structure of DNA?
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Who cracked the genetic code after understanding DNA's composition?
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Which pair independently developed the theory of natural selection?
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Who is known for introducing scientific names for species?
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Which ancient civilizations contributed to the roots of science and medicine?
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Who emphasized the central importance of the cell in the 19th century?
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Who led the Human Genome Project?
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Which scientists made significant discoveries about the composition of chromosomes and genes?
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Which elements account for 96% of the mass in all organisms?
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Who made significant contributions to ancient Greek natural philosophy?
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Study Notes
History and Chemical Basis of Biology
- Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia contributed to the roots of science and medicine around 3000 to 1200 BCE, shaping ancient Greek natural philosophy.
- Aristotle extensively contributed to the development of biological knowledge, exploring biological causation and diversity of life.
- Anton van Leeuwenhoek's improvement of the microscope led to the discovery of spermatozoa, bacteria, and microscopic life diversity.
- In the 19th century, biologists emphasized the central importance of the cell, leading to the acceptance of cell theory.
- Carl Linnaeus published a basic taxonomy for the natural world in 1735 and introduced scientific names for all his species.
- Jean-Baptiste Lamarck presented a coherent theory of evolution, while Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently developed the theory of natural selection.
- Gregor Mendel's work in 1865 outlined the principles of biological inheritance, which became significant in the early 20th century during the modern synthesis.
- Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase's experiments identified DNA as the component of chromosomes holding genes.
- James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double-helical structure of DNA in 1953, marking the transition to the era of molecular genetics.
- The genetic code was cracked by Har Gobind Khorana, Robert W. Holley, and Marshall Warren Nirenberg after DNA was understood to contain codons.
- The Human Genome Project was launched in 1990 to map the human genome, marking a significant milestone in the molecular domain of biology.
- All organisms are made up of chemical elements, with oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen accounting for 96% of the mass, and water being the most abundant molecule in every organism.
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Description
Explore the history and chemical basis of biology in this quiz. From ancient contributions to modern milestones, test your knowledge of key figures, discoveries, and fundamental principles that have shaped the field of biology.
