Chapter 1

Select all that apply Select all of the following that are characteristics of a scientific theory.

- can be used to make predictions - falsifiable - supported by a large body of evidence - encompass multiple hypotheses

Select all that apply Select all the types of data and characteristics that scientists can use to help compare evolutionary relationships between organisms.

- cellular attributes - biochemical aspects - genetic characteristics - anatomical features

Select all that apply Select all the questions that are difficult to answer using science.

- questions about the meaning of life - questions about morality

What is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)?

A molecule that encodes genetic instructions

What describes a community?

All the populations of different species that live in an area

What is the basic unit of life and consists of a membrane enclosing water, DNA, and other chemicals?

Cell

A living thing, or organism, exhibits certain properties of life and is composed of one or more ______, the basic units of life.

Cells

What biological level includes the living and nonliving components of a particular area?

Ecosystem

What uses evidence and experiments to test ideas and answer questions?

Scientific method

Evolution is

a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time.

The variable of an experiment is

a changeable element of an experiment.

Which of the following describes a control group?

a group that receives a placebo or no treatment

In the scientific method, what is a hypothesis?

a tentative explanation for an observation

Organisms seem so well-suited to their environments because they have inherited characteristics or behaviors, called ______, that enable them to successfully survive and reproduce.

adaptations

Particles that make up molecules are called

atoms.

The following lists the levels of biological organization in order from smallest to largest. Fill in the missing components: Atom, molecule, organelle, __________, tissue, __________, organ system

cell; organs

What is the term for all the populations of different species that occupy the same location at the same time?

community

An area of forest, including the organisms that occupy it and the nonliving components of its area, is an example of a(n)

ecosystem.

Which of the following produces traits that can be adaptations favored by natural selection?

genetic variability within a population

Using a process called ______, living organisms maintain a state of internal constancy or equilibrium, such as a constant range of temperatures, nutrients, or water.

homeostasis

An experiment collects data to support or reject a(n) ______, which is a tentative explanation of observations.

hypothesis

The presence or absence of a vaccine in the experiment shown comprises the ______ variable.

independent

It can be difficult to scientifically study events that occurred in the past and that left little evidence because

it can be hard to accurately re-create conditions from the past.

A leaf is composed of several tissues organized to work together and is a(n) ______ of a plant.

organ

Compartments within cells that carry out specific functions are called

organelles.

A(n) ______ is a living individual that consists of one or more cells.

organism

What term refers to members of the same species living in the same place at the same time?

population

Consider a species of frog that lives in many ponds throughout central California. A group of the frogs in one of the ponds, NOT including the other species of organisms living there, is an example of a(n)

population.

The number of individuals examined in an experiment is called the

sample size.

In science, whereas a hypothesis is a tentative explanation of an observation, a __________ is a broader, well-tested explanation for a natural phenomenon backed by many lines of evidence.

scientific theory

Natural __________ is a mechanism of evolution in which certain individuals from a population exhibit enhanced reproductive success based on inherited characteristics.

selection

An example of a practical application of scientific knowledge is

technology.

What statement describes a cell

the smallest unit that can be called life

All living organisms are organized into one of ______ domains.

three

Organs are made up of ______.

tissues

In an experiment, the response that an investigator measures and the treatment that an investigator manipulates are examples of

variables.

Select all that apply Select all of the following that are Domain names in the taxonomic hierarchy of life.

- Eukarya - Bacteria - Archaea

Rank the following levels of biological organization from smallest at the top to largest at the bottom.

Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ

What are the small chemical units that can combine to form molecules?

Atoms

What describes the state of internal constancy maintained by an organism?

Homeostasis

What is a group of joined atoms, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)?

Molecule

What is a structure consisting of tissues organized to interact and carry out specific functions?

Organ

What are membrane-bounded compartments within eukaryotic cells that carry out specialized functions?

Organelles

Match each category of organisms with their method of obtaining energy. Instructions

Primary Producer - Autotroph that obtains energy and nutrients from nonliving sources Consumer - Heterotroph that obtains energy and nutrients by eating other organisms Decomposer - Heterotroph that obtains energy and nutrients from wastes and dead organisms

What is the science of naming and classifying organisms?

Taxonomy

What is taxonomy?

The science of naming and classifying organisms

What term describes a comprehensive explanation for a natural phenomenon?

Theory

Inherited traits, characteristics, or behaviors that enable an organism to survive and reproduce successfully in its environment are called

adaptations.

In ______ reproduction, the offspring are mostly genetically identical (except for some mutations); in ______ reproduction, most of the offspring are genetically different (except for twins).

asexual; sexual

In _________ reproduction, genetic information comes from only one parent; whereas, in _________ reproduction, genetic information from two parents unites to form an offspring.

asexual; sexual

The cell's genetic instructions are encoded in a molecule called ______, and these instructions are used to produce proteins and allow the cell to carry out specialized functions.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The image shows the data from a study in which a vaccine or placebo was given to individuals, and the incidence of illness was measured. The incidence of illness observed is the ______.

dependent variable

A change in the genetic makeup of a population over multiple generations can also be referred to as

evolution.

Hypotheses are often tested with an investigation called a(n)

experiment.

Each type of organism is assigned a unique, two-part scientific name, which consists of the ______ of the organism.

genus and specific descriptor

Atoms can bond together to form

molecules.

When examining evolutionary relationships, taxonomists strive to classify organisms according to

shared common ancestors.

What is the basic unit of classification and is denoted by a unique two-part scientific name?

species

Advances in ______, such as DNA sequencers and radio-tracking devices, have enhanced biological discovery.

technology

A(n) ______ is an explanation for a natural phenomenon that has been well tested and ties together many hypotheses.

theory

Click and drag on elements in order Rank the following steps of the generalized scientific method in order from the first step at the top to the last step at the bottom.

1. Observe and ask questions about something in the natural world. 2. Create a hypothesis to explain your observations and make predictions. 3. Carry out experiment(s) to test the hypothesis and collect data. 4. Analyze your data and draw conclusions.

In general, what is true regarding sample size in scientific experiments?

The larger the sample size, the more credible the results.

Match each of the following characteristics with either theory or hypothesis.

Theory - a comprehensive, well-accepted explanation of a natural phenomenon Hypothesis - a tentative, narrow-in-scope explanation of a natural phenomenon

______ are groups of specialized cells that function together.

Tissues

The group in an experiment that is untreated and provides a basis for comparison is called the

control.

In the scientific method, a(n) ______ is an investigation carried out under controlled conditions to test a hypothesis.

experiment

Organisms that make their own food by obtaining energy and nutrients from nonliving sources are called

primary producers.

The scientific definition of theory is "a ______," whereas the nonscientific definition of theory is "a ______."

well-tested explanation; hunch or opinion