Topic 1-study of life

• What is the definition of biology?


  Biology is the study of life.
• What does biology encompass regarding living organisms?


  It studies how living organisms work, function, and interact.
• What are the key areas of focus in biology?

  • Structure
  • Function
  • Growth
  • Origin
  • Evolution
  • Distribution
• What are some achievements of biology?


  Biology has developed medicines and medical treatments.
• How has biology contributed to global food demand?


  It helps predict the effects of changing environments on food supply.
• What are the four basic principles of modern biology?

  Cell theory, gene theory, homeostasis, and evolution.
• What does the cell theory state?


  Cells are the basic units of life and all cells arise from existing cells.
• What does gene theory explain?


  DNA codes for structures and functions of cells and is passed to offspring.
• What is homeostasis?


  It is the ability of organisms to maintain a constant internal environment.
• What does evolution refer to in biology?


  It is the change of inherited characteristics over time through natural selection.
• What does the phylogenetic tree illustrate?


  • Shows the evolutionary relationships among species
  • Time runs from the root to the branches
  • Most life’s diversity is microbial
• What is the definition of science?


  Science is a systematic and logical approach to discovering how things in the universe work.
• What does "scientia" mean?


  "Scientia" means knowledge based on demonstrable and reproducible data.
• What are the aims of science?


  To achieve measurable results through testing and analysis.
• What is the scientific method?


  The scientific method is a logical problem-solving approach that follows principles and procedures to gain knowledge.
• What are the steps of the scientific method?


  1. Begin with observations
  2. Ask questions
  3. Generate a hypothesis
  4. Perform experiments
  5. Analyze data and draw conclusions
• What is a hypothesis?


  A hypothesis is a testable prediction that can be supported or refuted by evidence.
• What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?


  A theory is a well-developed set of ideas that explains observed phenomena and can make predictions.
• What did Louis Pasteur's experiment demonstrate?


  Boiling kills all microbes, sterilizing the broth.
• Why aren't viruses considered living organisms?


  Viruses cannot independently carry out life processes like reproduction and metabolism.
• What are the levels of organization among living things?

  • Molecules
  • Macromolecules
  • Organelles
  • Cells
  • Organs
  • Organ systems
  • Organism
  • Population
  • Community
  • Ecosystem
  • Biosphere
• What is the chemical level of organization?


  It refers to the simplest building blocks: subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules.
• What is the smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism?


  A cell.
• What are emergent properties in biological organization?


  • New properties present at one level
  • Not seen in the previous level
  • Demonstrate how each level builds on the one below
• What is adaptation in biology?


  Adaptation is any structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and survive.
• What is energy in biological terms?


  Energy is the ability to cause change.
• What does the term environment refer to?


  The environment includes the surroundings to which an organism must adjust, such as air, water, and temperature.
• What is homeostasis?


  Homeostasis is an organism's ability to control its internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival.
• What are the properties of life?

  Living organisms are composed of cells, can grow and reproduce, and maintain internal balance.
• What is the basic goal of pure science?


  The goal of pure science is to understand how things work.
• What is applied science?


  Applied science uses scientific discoveries to solve practical problems.
• What are some examples of life sciences that are considered basic science?

  Cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and physiology.
• What is the significance of levels of organization in biology?


  Each level builds on the one below it and demonstrates new features.
• How do emergent properties relate to levels of organization?


  Emergent properties are new characteristics that arise at each level of organization, not present in the previous level.