Unit 1: Intro to Bio

• What are the 8 characteristics of life?

  1. Grows and develops
  2. Reproduces
  3. Adapts over time
  4. Maintains homeostasis
  5. Made of one or more cells
  6. Responds to stimuli
  7. Requires energy
  8. Displays organization
• What is the Endosymbiont Theory? 


  Proposed by Lynn Margulis, it is the explanation that smaller prokaryotes might have been engulfed by larger prokaryotes and eventually become organelles.
• In the Endosymbiont Theory, [] became [] and [] became []


  Prokaryotes became mitchondrias, cyanobacteria became chloroplasts
• Quantitative data vs. Qualitative data

  Quantitative data: Number-based, countable, measurable.

  Qualitative: Interpretation-based, descriptive, relating to language.
• What is a scientific theory?

  An explanation of a natural phenomenon supported by many observations and experiments over time.
• What is a scientific law?

  Describes relationships under certain conditions in nature; a statement of fact that concisely explains an action.
• What is scientific inquiry?

  Process of asking questions and gathering information from a variety of reliable sources.
• What is a hypothesis?

  A testable explanation of a situation ("If _, then _")
• What is a controlled setting?

  When all the variables are controlled except for one.
• Control Group vs. Experimental Group

  Control group; Used for comparison; does not have the factor being tested.

  Experimental Group: Exposed to the factor being tested.
• Independant Variable vs. Dependant Variable

  Independant Variable: Variable being controlled by the researchers (x-axis)

  Dependant Variable: Variable being studied by the researchers (y-axis)
• What are SI units?

  Universally agreed upon units of measurement - for consistency and ease with communication.
• What did Francesco Redi's experiment disprove?

  Spontaneous generation. When the flask of rotting meat was sealed, maggots did not appear on the meat. When it was open, they did.
• What did Louis Pasteur's experiment prove?

  Biogenesis. When the flask of broth remained upright, no microorganisms developed. When it was tilted to allow access, they did.
• What are the three origin of life theories?

  1. Primordial soup hypothesis
  2. Hydrothermal volcanic vents
  3. Panspermia
• What is a possible mechanism for the formation of proteins?

  Amino acids bound together by a clay particle.
• Many biologists consider RNA to have been life's first coding system. This is called the RNA World Hypothesis.
• Many scientists think that archae are the closest relatives of Earth's first cells.
• How did photosynthesizing prokaryotes contribute to the development of eukaryotes?

  Cyanobacteria eventually produced enough oxygen to form the ozone layer, which protected from harmful UV radiation and allowed eukaryotic cells to flourish.
• What are three pieces of evidence for the Endisymbiont theory?

  1. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA.
  2. Mitochondria and chloroplasts have ribosomes that closely resemble those in prokaryotic cells.
  3. Mitochondria and chloroplasts reproduce by fission, just like prokaryotic cells.
• What is a species?

  A group of organisms that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring.
• Is reproduction essential for survival?

  It is not essential for survival. It is essential for the continuation of the species.
• What is adaptation?

  Any inherited characteristics that results from changes to a species over time.
• What is the difference between scientific theory and scientific law?

  Theory explains relationships, law simply describes them.
• What is the first step to developing life?

  The development of simple organic molecules, such as proteins.