Bio Unit 1

• Science is a body of knowledge based on the study of the natural world.
• Scientific inquiry is both a creative process and a process rooted in unbiased observation and experimentation.
• When enough evidence supports an idea, scientists consider that idea a theory. Any theory must be supported by many observations and experiments. Ex Cell theory and the theory of evolution.
• A scientific law describes relationships under certain conditions in nature. Ex the law of gravity and the law of conservation of matter.
• Pseudoscience are those that try to imitate science, often driven by cultural or commercial goals.
• Biology is the study of life or living things. It is the study of the structure, function, growth, development, and evolution of organisms.
• Biologist are people who study biology and its applications to the world around us.
• All living things have certain characteristics and activities in common. We call these living organisms.
• All living things are made up of cells.
• Cells are the common unit of life.
• Single celled organisms are called unicellular.
• Organisms like humans are made up of millions of cells making us multicellular.
• A cell is a complex structure made up of many smaller parts.
• Cells are produced only by living-organisms and never by non-living material.
• All living things are highly organized at the molecular and cellular levels.
• Organisms take in substances form the environment and organize them in complex ways.
• Specific cell structures called organelles carry out functions.
• All living things use energy in a process called metabolism.
• Life is a state of constant chemical activity and therefore organisms need a constant supply of energy for growth and maintenance.
• The sun is a source of energy for almost all organisms because it supplies the energy from which plants make food.
• When living things take energy from food they release waste energy also known as heat.
• Autotrophs produce their own food within their bodies using sunlight, CO2, and wither in a process called photosynthesis.
• Heterotrophs cannot manufacture their own food. They must eat other organisms to stay alive.
• Metabolism is the chemical process of getting energy from food and using it to maintain the structure and function of the cell.
• All living things maintain homeostasis through adaptation.
• Homeostasis is the maintenance of stable, balanced conditions.
• An adaptation is a structure or behavior that allows survival in changing enviroments.
• Adaptations are passed form parent to offspring. Ex the spines on a cactus are leaves adapted for a dry environment.
• All living things grow and develop.
• Living and non-living things can grow, but only living things grow through cell division.
• In a single celled organisms, cell division results in more organisms.
• In a multicellular organisms growth is a result of cell division and cell enlargement.
• Development is the process by which an adult organism arises. It is the result of repeated cell division and differentiation.
• All organisms have a definite period of life called the life cycle. The length of these cycles varies with species and individuals. Life cycles are not found in non-living things.
• All species of organisms can reproduce.
• Reproduction is the the process by which organisms produce offspring that are like themselves.
• Organisms can reproduce asexually creating a exact duplicate of themselves.
• Organisms can reproduce sexually which creates variation in offspring.
• Reproduction is necessary for the survival of a species.
• Organisms respond to stimuli. Such as heat, touch, and light.