What are the seven characteristics that we can use to define life?
order,
reproduction, growth
and development,
energy processing,
regulation, response
to the environment,
and evolutionary
adaptation
Know the order of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere.
- An organism
- A population
- A community
- An ecosystem
- The biosphere
What is the first level of organization where the properties of life emerge?
the cell; meets the 7 conditions that define life.
What happens to matter (e.g., nutrients) in an ecosystem? What about energy?
In an ecosystem, matter cycles, while energy flows in a single direction; Matter is recycled through biogeochemical cycles (like the carbon and water cycles), moving between living and non-living parts of the ecosystem, while energy enters primarily as sunlight, is converted, transferred through organisms, and is eventually lost as heat.
What evidence do we have that shows that all life is unified?
All organisms share a few common features,
signs of unity in life’s vast diversity.
i) All are made of cells
ii) All have DNA (or RNA) as
their genetic blueprint
Evolution shows the unity and diversity of life.
What do we mean when we talk about the diversity of life?
biodiversity, the variety of all living things, their genes, and the ecosystems they form.
three main levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
How does the theory of evolution describe both the unity and diversity of life?
“Descent with modification”
Darwin made two key observations:
i) Individuals vary in traits and traits are passed
from parents to offspring.
ii) A population can produce more offspring than
the environment can support.
those with traits best suited to the environment
will be more likely to survive and reproduce.
Unequal reproductive success over many
generations = evolutionary adaptation
What is a hypothesis?
hypothesis is a testable explanation for a
set of observations based on available data.
What do we mean by a controlled experiment?
Experiments designed to test hypotheses.
experimental group should only have one.
thing (variable) different than the control group.
also randomized (to control
for potentially interfering variables) and
blinded (to avoid bias).
Was mimicry helpful to non-poisonous King snakes in an environment where there were no
poisonous coral snakes?
Mimicry was not helpful in area’s that lacked poisonous coral snakes.
