AP Biology Chapter 1

• Biology= study of living organisms
• Subdisciplines of biology:

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology
  • Histology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Parasitology
  • Marine Biology
• Microbiology= study of microorganisms
• Ecology= study of interrelationships of organisms with each other and the environment
• Biotic= living
• Abiotic= not living
• Histology= study of the microscopic structure of animal and plant tissue
• Immunology= study of the immune system
• Genetics= study of heredity and transmission of characteristics
• Parasitology= study of parasites and diseases associated with them
• Marine Biology= study of living organisms and communities in oceans
• Characteristics of living organisms:

  1. Acquire energy (respire)
  2. Grow and develop
  3. Reproduce using DNA
  4. Respond to stimuli
  5. Maintain internal environments through homeostasis
  6. Complex and organized
  7. Have capacity to evolve
• Levels of organization (the hierarchy of bio):

  • atom
  • molecule
  • organelle
  • cell
  • tissue
  • organ
  • organ system
  • organism
  • population
  • community
  • ecosystem
  • biosphere
• atom= smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element
• molecule= two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
• organelle= any of several membrane-enclosed structures with specialized functions, suspended in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells
• cell= life's fundamental unit of structure and function, the smallest unit of organization that can perform all activities required for life
• tissue= an integrated group of cells with a common structure, function, or both
• organ= a specialized center of body function, composed of several different types of tissues
• organ system= group of organs that work together in performing vital body functions
• organism= an individual living thing, consisting of one or more cells
• population= group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring
• community= all organisms that inhabit a particular area; an assemblage of populations of different species living close enough for potential interaction
• ecosystem= all organisms in a given area and the abiotic factors they interact with; one or more communities and the physical environment around them
• biosphere= entire part of Earth inhabited by life, the sum of all ecosystems
• Cell theory= all living organisms are composed of cells
• Evolution= decent of modern organisms with modification of pre-existing organisms (**individuals don't**)
• Natural selection= mechanism for evolution; the process of unequal survival and reprodution due to genetic differences among individuals
• Adaptation= characteristic that allows organisms to survive and reproduce
• Evolution explains diversity today, and it occurs over long periods of time
• Taxonomy= science of naming and classifying
• Carl Linnaeus developed the system we use today- binomial nomenclature
• Binomial nomenclature= a two word system of naming
• System of classification: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species (King? pneumonic device?)
• Scientific method= squential set of steps followed during scientific investigations (used to systematically answer questions)
• Steps of the scienfic method: observe, question, hypothesize (and make predictions), experiment and collect data, accept/reject hypothesis, conclude
• Sharing results is critical to the scientific process; it allows others to verify the results and to build on them.
• Science is driven by competition
• Hypothesis= educated guess based on what you know (more you know = the more accurate the hypothesis)
• Prediction= statement that states specifically what must occur in a given experiment for the hypothesis to be true