Survey of Biology - Exam 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is an atom?

A basic unit of matter (correct)
A collection of ecosystems
The smallest unit of life
A type of macromolecule

What defines basic science?

Science focused only on living organisms
Science based on experimentation
Science that expands knowledge regardless of application (correct)
Science focused on short-term applications

What is biology?

The study of living organisms and their interactions.

What is the biosphere?

A collection of all ecosystems on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cell?

The smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living things. Signup and view all the answers

Define a community in biology.

A set of populations inhabiting a particular area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a control in an experiment?

A part of an experiment that does not change. Signup and view all the answers

What is descriptive science?

A form of science that aims to observe and explore. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecosystem?

All living things in a particular area along with nonliving parts. Signup and view all the answers

Define a eukaryote.

An organism with cells that have nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

What is evolution?

The process of gradual change in a population. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?

It can be disproven by experimental results. Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis?

The ability to maintain constant internal conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A suggested explanation for an event. Signup and view all the answers

What is hypothesis-based science?

Science that begins with a specific explanation that is tested. Signup and view all the answers

Define inductive reasoning.

Logical thinking that uses observations to arrive at general conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

What is life science?

A field of science that studies living things. Signup and view all the answers

What is a macromolecule?

A large molecule formed by the joining of smaller molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is a molecule?

A chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is natural science?

A field of science that studies the physical world. Signup and view all the answers

Define an organ.

A structure formed of tissues operating together. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organ system?

A higher level of organization of functionally related organs. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organelle?

A membrane-bound structure within a cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organism?

An individual living entity. Signup and view all the answers

Define a peer-reviewed article.

A scientific report reviewed by colleagues before publication. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phylogenetic tree?

A diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species. Signup and view all the answers

What is physical science?

A field of science studying nonliving matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is a population?

All individuals within a species living in a specific area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a prokaryote?

A unicellular organism lacking a nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

Define science.

Knowledge covering general truths tested by the scientific method. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scientific law?

A description of nature under specific conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific method?

A method of research with defined steps including experiments. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scientific theory?

A thoroughly tested explanation for observations. Signup and view all the answers

What is tissue?

A group of similar cells carrying out the same function. Signup and view all the answers

Define a variable in an experiment.

A part of an experiment that can vary. Signup and view all the answers

What is an acid?

A substance that donates hydrogen ions. Signup and view all the answers

What is adhesion?

The attraction between water molecules and different substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is an amino acid?

A monomer of protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is an anion?

A negative ion formed by gaining electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is atomic number?

The number of protons in an atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is a base?

A substance that absorbs hydrogen ions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a buffer?

A solution that resists changes in pH. Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbohydrate?

A biological macromolecule serving as energy sources. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cation?

A positive ion formed by losing electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is cellulose?

A polysaccharide forming plant cell walls. Signup and view all the answers

What is a chemical bond?

An interaction resulting in molecule formation. Signup and view all the answers

What is chitin?

A carbohydrate forming the outer skeleton of arthropods. Signup and view all the answers

Define cohesion.

The intermolecular forces between water molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is a covalent bond?

A strong bond between atoms where electrons are shared. Signup and view all the answers

What is denaturation?

The loss of shape in a protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is DNA?

A double-stranded polymer of nucleotides carrying hereditary information. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disaccharide?

Two sugar monomers linked together. Signup and view all the answers

What is an electron?

A negatively charged particle outside the nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What is an enzyme?

A catalyst in biochemical reactions. Signup and view all the answers

Define evaporation.

The release of water molecules to form vapor. Signup and view all the answers

What is fat?

A lipid molecule composed of three fatty acids and glycerol. Signup and view all the answers

What is glycogen?

A storage carbohydrate in animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hormone?

A chemical signaling molecule secreted by endocrine glands. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hydrogen bond?

A weak bond between partially charged atoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is hydrophilic?

Describes a substance that dissolves in water. Signup and view all the answers

What is hydrophobic?

Describes a substance that does not dissolve in water. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ion?

An atom or compound with unequal numbers of protons and electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ionic bond?

A bond forming between ions of opposite charges. Signup and view all the answers

What is an isotope?

Forms of an element with different numbers of neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What are lipids?

A class of macromolecules that are nonpolar and insoluble in water. Signup and view all the answers

What is litmus paper?

Filter paper used as a pH indicator. Signup and view all the answers

What is a monosaccharide?

A single unit or monomer of carbohydrates. Signup and view all the answers

What is matter?

Anything that has mass and occupies space. Signup and view all the answers

What is mass number?

The number of protons plus neutrons in an atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is a neutron?

A particle with no charge in the nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nonpolar covalent bond?

A covalent bond where electrons are shared equally. Signup and view all the answers

What is nucleic acid?

A macromolecule carrying genetic information. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nucleotide?

A monomer of nucleic acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nucleus in chemistry?

The dense center of an atom made of protons and neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the octet rule?

States that the outermost shell can hold eight electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is oil?

An unsaturated fat that is liquid at room temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What is the periodic table of elements?

An organizational chart of elements indicating their properties. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pH scale?

A scale measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phospholipid?

A major constituent of cell membranes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polar covalent bond?

A covalent bond where electrons are pulled toward one atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polypeptide?

A long chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polysaccharide?

A long chain of monosaccharides. Signup and view all the answers

What is a protein?

A biological macromolecule composed of amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is a proton?

A positively charged particle in the nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a radioactive isotope?

An isotope that emits particles or energy. Signup and view all the answers

What is RNA?

A single-stranded polymer of nucleotides involved in protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a saturated fatty acid?

A long-chain hydrocarbon with single covalent bonds. Signup and view all the answers

What is a solvent?

A substance capable of dissolving another substance. Signup and view all the answers

What is starch?

A storage carbohydrate in plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is a steroid?

A type of lipid composed of fused hydrocarbon rings. Signup and view all the answers

What is surface tension?

The cohesive force at the surface of a liquid. Signup and view all the answers

What is temperature?

A measure of molecular motion. Signup and view all the answers

What is trans-fat?

A form of unsaturated fat with specific hydrogen arrangements. Signup and view all the answers

What is triglyceride?

A fat molecule consisting of three fatty acids and glycerol. Signup and view all the answers

What is an unsaturated fatty acid?

A long-chain hydrocarbon with one or more double bonds. Signup and view all the answers

What is a van der Waals interaction?

A weak attraction between molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is active transport?

Transporting material that requires energy. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cell wall?

A rigid covering made of cellulose in plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is a central vacuole?

A large organelle in plant cells for storage and degradation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a chloroplast?

A plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Fundamental Concepts in Biology

Atom: Basic unit of matter, indivisible by normal chemical reactions.
Biology: The study of living organisms, their structure, function, growth, and interactions.
Cell: The smallest unit of life, fundamental to all living organisms.
Organism: An individual entity that exhibits the properties of life.

Levels of Biological Organization

Biosphere: All ecosystems on Earth, encompassing interactions among biotic and abiotic components.
Ecosystem: A community of living organisms and their environment functioning as a unit.
Community: Groups of interacting populations within a specific area.
Population: Individuals of the same species living in a certain area.

Scientific Principles and Method

Basic Science: Research aimed at increasing knowledge without immediate practical applications.
Descriptive Science: Involves observation and exploration to gather information.
Hypothesis: A testable prediction or explanation for an observed phenomenon.
Scientific Method: Defined steps including observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and analysis.

Experimental Design

Control: A constant element in an experiment for comparison.
Variable: Any factor that can change in an experiment, affecting results.

Genetics and Evolution

Evolution: The process through which species undergo gradual changes, leading to new species.
Phylogenetic Tree: A diagram illustrating evolutionary relationships among species.

Molecular Biology

Macromolecule: Large molecules (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids) composed of smaller units.
Nucleic Acid: Biopolymers (DNA and RNA) essential for genetic information transmission and protein synthesis.
Enzyme: Proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.

Chemical Foundations

Chemical Bond: Interactions between atoms that lead to molecule formation (ionic, covalent).
Ionic Bond: Formed through the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Covalent Bond: Strong bond formed by shared electron pairs between atoms.

Water and Solutions

Hydrophilic: Substances that dissolve in water.
Hydrophobic: Substances that do not dissolve in water.
pH Scale: Measures acidity or basicity of solutions, ranging from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).
Buffer: A solution resisting changes in pH by neutralizing added acids or bases.

Biological Molecules

Carbohydrates: Serve as energy sources and structural components; includes sugars and starches.
Lipids: Group of nonpolar molecules, important for energy storage and membrane structure.
Proteins: Composed of amino acids; perform numerous functions within organisms.
Fat: A lipid with three fatty acids and a glycerol backbone; solid at room temperature.

Cellular Structures

Organelle: Specialized structures within cells with specific functions (e.g., nucleus, mitochondria).
Chloroplast: Plant organelle where photosynthesis occurs.
Cell Wall: Rigid structure providing support and protection in plant cells.

Transport Mechanisms

Active Transport: Energy-requiring process to move substances across cell membranes.
Surface Tension: The cohesive nature of water molecules leading to a "skin" on the surface.

Miscellaneous

Mass Number: Total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
Isotope: Variants of elements differing in neutron number.
Radioactive Isotope: Unstable isotopes that emit radiation, transforming into stable elements.

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