Exploring the Wonders of Biology: Characteristics of Life

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Questions and Answers

What is the fundamental unit of an organism?

System
Tissue
Cell (correct)
Organ

What is the primary function of energy in cells?

To synthesize nutrients
To maintain internal order
To catalyze chemical reactions (correct)
To regulate homeostasis

What is the term that describes all the chemical reactions that occur in a cell?

Metabolism (correct)
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Fermentation

What is the ultimate source of energy for nearly all life on the planet?

The sun (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of life that involves the ability to maintain a stable internal environment?

Regulation and homeostasis (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a discovery that led to the development of a cancer treatment?

Pacific yew tree (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary basis for grouping species in taxonomy?

Common ancestry (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which domain includes organisms that can be unicellular to multicellular and eukaryotic?

Eucarya (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the complete genetic makeup of an organism?

Genome (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of classification from most inclusive to least inclusive?

Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of binomial nomenclature?

To provide a universal and unique name for each species (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic that distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Presence of a nucleus (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a useful hypothesis?

It makes predictions that can be tested (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a hypothesis and a theory?

A hypothesis is based on a little evidence, while a theory is based on a lot of evidence (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a prediction that can be made from the theory of DNA as genetic material?

Certain type of mutations can affect the traits of organisms (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a theory?

It is a broad explanation of the natural world that is supported by a large body of evidence (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why can a theory never be proved true?

Because it is based on a limited amount of evidence (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of evidence that supports the theory of DNA as genetic material?

Thousands of living species have been found to use DNA as their genetic material (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the smallest unit of biological organization that biologists consider alive?

Cells (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of nerve tissue?

Conduction of nerve impulses and secretion of neurotransmitters (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is formed when many molecules bond together to form a polymer?

Macromolecules (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic that distinguishes true cells from other cellular structures?

Presence of genetic material in the form of DNA (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the level of organization that consists of a group of similar cells that associate with each other to carry out a specific set of functions?

Tissue (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an organ that consists of several types of tissues?

Heart (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the genome?

To store information that provides a blueprint to create the organism's characteristics (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the complete complement of proteins that a cell or organism can make?

Proteome (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific method used for?

To test scientific theories (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon based on previous observations or experimental studies (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the genome and the proteome?

The genome carries the information to make its proteome (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of different branches of biology?

To study life at different levels using a variety of tools (C) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Biology: The Study of Life

Biology is the study of life, leading to unforeseen discoveries, e.g., Pacific yew tree and cancer treatment, Crystal Jellyfish and GFP discovery, Arrowhead Viper and inhibitors of high blood pressure, Streptomyces griseus soil bacteria and streptomycin, and White willow tree and aspirin.

Characteristics of Life

Cells and organization: the simplest unit of an organism is the cell, and all living things can be called organisms.
Energy use and metabolism: energy is the capacity to do work, and cells use energy by catalyzing chemical reactions.
Response to environmental changes: living things respond to internal and external changes.
Regulation and homeostasis: living things maintain internal order and regulate their internal environment.
Growth and development: living things grow and develop.
Reproduction: living things reproduce.
Evolution: living things evolve over time.

Hypothesis and Theory

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon based on observations or experimental studies.
A theory is a broad explanation of some aspect of the natural world, substantiated by a large body of evidence.

Biological Organization

The levels of biological organization are: atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and organisms.
A cell is the smallest unit of biological organization that is considered alive.

Classification of Living Organisms

Taxonomy is the grouping of species based on common ancestry.
The three domains of life are: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eucarya.
The kingdoms of life are: Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Scientific Names and Genomes

Binomial nomenclature is used to identify species, with a genus and specific epithet.
A genome is the complete genetic makeup of an organism.
Genomics is the study of genomes, and proteomics is the study of proteomes.

Scientific Method and Biology

The scientific method involves observation, identification, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena.
Biology is a scientific discipline that uses the scientific method to study life.

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