Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology

Explain why the conversation of biodiversity is important to human society

Biodiversity contributes to the health of ecosystems on which we depend for food, medicines, and raw materials. Ecosystems that are destroyed can no longer function well in water cycling, soil conservation, and chemical cycling.

Organs are composed of tissues, which are composed of cells. This is an example of which characteristic of life?

Living things have levels of hierarchical organization

The most important factor that determines where major ecosystems are located on the globe is

climate

All the organisms of various species living within a given area constitute a(n)

community.

H5N1 and SARS are examples of a. extinct species. b. endangered habitats. c. forms of greenhouse gases. d. emerging diseases.

d

Which of the following applies scientific knowledge to the needs of society? a. evolution b. systematics c. taxonomy d. technology

d

The term "biodiversity" refers to

d. the total number of species, variation of species, and the ecosystems in which they live.

A community of organisms along with their physical environment constitutes a(n)

ecosystem.

Which classification category includes the most species?

kingdom

A multicellular, photosynthetic organism with complex, specialized cells and tissues would most likely be assigned to

kingdom Plantae

Suggested evidence of natural selection at work in humans is the observation of

low hemoglobin levels despite high elevation in Tibetan populations over generations

Which sequence of classification categories is in the proper order from least to most inclusive?

species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain

Which statement regarding science technology is false? Select one: a. Science technology has brought about life-improving discoveries, such as antibiotics. b. Science technology helps us to understand the causes of cancer. c. Science technology is a basis for all ethical or moral decisions. d. Science technology may ease the feeding of the world population by producing new plant strains. e. Scientific experimentation may make use of a model instead of an actual subject.

. Science technology is a basis for all ethical or moral decisions.

The smallest unit that has all of the characteristics of life is the

. cell.

Explain why scientists assign species to a hierarchical classification system.

A hierarchical classification system allows increasing specificity about the organisms under study, which helps define their evolutionary relationships

Identify the role of the experimental variable in an experiment

An experimental variable is the one factor that is being tested in an experiment to determine what it contributes.

Describe the process by which a scientist may test a hypothesis about an observation

An observation is made and a hypothesis is constructed to possibly explain the observation. An experiment is designed to test the hypothesis, involving deductive reasoning and a prediction. The experiment is conducted, data collected and analyzed, and conclusions made about whether the hypothesis is supported by the data or not.

Which domains contain organisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus?

Archaea and Bacteria

Explain how adaptations relate to evolutionary change.

As an organism acquires an adaptation that makes it better able to live and reproduce, these traits are passed on to the next generation and the population evolves

What are the basic characteristics that define life?

Characteristics are: (1): organization; (2) ways to acquire materials and energy; (3) reproduction; (4) responses to stimuli; (5) homeostasis; (6) growth and development; (7) capacity for adaptation to their environment

List the common characteristics of all living organisms

Characteristics are: (1): organization; (2) ways to acquire materials and energy; (3) reproduction; (4) responses to stimuli; (5) homeostasis; (6) growth and development; (7) capacity for adaptation to their environment.

List the levels of taxonomic classification from most inclusive to least inclusive

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Recognize the main criteria for classification of organisms into domains and kingdoms

Domains are the largest, most inclusive classification category. The three domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. The first two are composed of species with prokaryotic cells (no membrane-bound nucleus), and the third has organisms with eukaryotic cells. Archaea can live in extreme aquatic environments, and Eukarya and Bacteria live almost everywhere else. Four kingdoms have been classified within the Eukarya: Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Summarize how emerging diseases and climate change have the potential for influencing the entire human population.

Emerging diseases appear in a population that has no immunity against them. Often, little is known about the causative agent and how to control it. Techniques for containing the emerging disease are often undeveloped. As Earth's climate warms, ecosystems are challenged by changes in water availability, temperature extremes, and altered habitats, all of which can reduce biodiversity.

What other environments do you think could be studied to look for examples of human adaptation?

Extremely cold or hot environments; environments with different lengths of sunlight; humid versus dry environments

What does it tell us if we discover life on one of these moons and it has characteristics similar to those of life on Earth? What if it is very different?

If life is similar, then the processes involved in living organisms is universal throughout the solar system. If life is different, then other processes must be considered.

Suppose that we find a form of life on another planet that has a different characteristic than those listed in this chapter. What would this tell us about life on our planet and the process of evolution?

If life on Earth is unique in its characteristics, then the processes by which life emerged and evolved by natural selection are not universal

Trace the organization of life from the cell to the biosphere

Levels of organization are: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

Nutrient molecules are used to build cellular structures or for energy. This best represents which characteristic of life?

Living things acquire materials and energy from the environment.

Explain how model organisms make the study of the dependent variable in an experiment easier.

Model organisms have been characterized and standardized. They are identical in their make up and physiology. When analyzing the data from an experiment testing an experimental variable in a model organism, one can be more confident that the dependent variable is related to the experimental variable rather than some other factor.

Explain how a new technology differs from a scientific discovery

New technology applies scientific knowledge to issues important to humans and can be used in investigations that lead to scientific discoveries.

In addition to hemoglobin levels, do you think that people at high elevations may exhibit other adaptations?

Perhaps they have larger lung capacities, faster heart rates, or an increased ability to deliver oxygen to the tissues.

Distinguish between the roles of the test group and the control group in an experiment

The control group in an experiment is included to determine if the experiment is sensitive to the effect of the variable of interest. The test group experiences the variable and the control group does not.

If a new anti-cancer drug is found to be effective in initial tests with mice, what might researchers conclude?

The drug is effective in the mouse model; it must still be tested in humans.

You are a scientist working at a pharmaceutical company and have developed a new cancer medication that has the potential for use in humans. Outline a series of experiments, including the use of a model, to test whether the cancer medication works.

The experimental chemical should be studied in a model species. The experiment should have both a control group (that receives no drug, or the inert ingredients used in the drug's formulation) and a treatment group (that receives the drug). Both groups should experience identical conditions and have the same type of cancer. Data is collected on tumor development in the treatment group relative to the control group. If the treatment group shows greater tumor reduction than the control group, the drug may then be approved for trials on humans.

Which statement concerning reproduction is false? Select one: a. Hereditary information is passed on to the next generation. b. Hereditary information is in the form of genes. c. The offspring of asexual organisms have the same genes as the single parent. d. The offspring of sexual organisms have roughly one half of the genes from each parent. e. The offspring of multicellular organisms tend to be identical to the parent.

The offspring of multicellular organisms tend to be identical to the parent

Which of the following is a potential consequence if people stop using technology in the agriculture industry? Select one: a. There could be a significant decrease in the amount of food produced. b. There would be a collapse of many of the terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. c. The extinction of the top level species that reside in the communities around the agricultural land. d. The amount of food produced would increase. e. None of these consequences will occur if people stop using technology in the agriculture industry.

There could be a significant decrease in the amount of food produced.

What evidence would you look for on one of these moons or Mars that would tell you that life may have existed on them in the past?

You would look for evidence of water and the chemicals that make up biomolecules

After formulating a hypothesis, a scientist a. proves the hypothesis to be true or false. b. tests the hypothesis. c. decides how to best avoid having a control. d. makes sure environmental conditions are just right. e. formulates a scientific theory.

a

Technology is the __________________________.

application of scientific knowledge for a practical purpose.

The three major domains of life are

archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes

The level of organization that includes cells of similar structure and function is a. an organ. b. a tissue. c. an organ system. d. an organism.

b

The process that involves passing on genetic information between generations is called a. natural selection. b. reproduction. c. development. d. metabolism.

b

Which of the following is not correctly linked? a. model: a representation of an object used in an experiment b. standard deviation: a form of statistical analysis c. principle: a theory that is not supported by experimental evidence d. data: the results of an experiment or observation

b

The layer where organisms can exist on the surface of the earth is the

biosphere.

The process by which evolution occurs is called a. natural selection. b. development. c. reproduction. d. taxonomy.

c

Which of the following includes prokaryotic organisms? a. protists b. fungi c. archaea d. plants

c

Which of the following represents the permanent loss of a species? a. natural selection b. extinction c. greenhouse effect d. climate change

c

Which of these is not a property of all living organisms? a. organization b. acquisition of materials and energy c. care for their offspring d. reproduction e. responding to the environment

c

Which sequence correctly lists the different levels of biological organization, from the smallest and simplest to the largest and most complex?

cells-tissues-organs-organ systems-organism

When comparing energy and chemicals in an ecosystem,

chemicals cycle over and over again but energy flows through once.

Ever since the antibiotic drug penicillin was discovered in 1928, the incidence of resistant bacteria has steadily increased as a direct result of

natural selection

A physician specializes in surgery involving the following group of organs: mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Overall, what is the highest level of organization that this physician is specialized in?

organ system

All the banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) in a pond would comprise a(n)

population.

An ecosystem generally requires solar energy, nutrients, decomposers, consumers and ____.

producers