learning outcome 1

List five common misconceptions about evolution and explain what is wrong with each one.

1) Misconception: Evolution is a theory about the origin of life. Correction: Evolution focuses on adaptation after life started. 2) Misconception: Evolution theory implies that evolution is driven by chance. Correction: While chance takes place in evolution, other factors such as natural selection affect evolution as well. 3) Misconception: Evolution results in progress as organisms are always improving through evolution. Correction: While it may give traits that help organisms survive, it is for only being good enough to survive. Other factors in the environment can make having the traits worse in certain situations. 4) Misconception: Individual organisms have the ability to evolve within a lifetime. Correction: It is populations that evolve, not individuals. Individual development can happen, but not individual evolution in genes. 5) Misconception: Evolution happens slowly. Correction: It usually happens slowly, but can also happen quickly.

List and explain the key overarching themes of biology.

1)Life is subject to chemical and physical laws 2)Structure determines function 3)Living systems transform energy and matter 4)Living systems depend on information transaction 5) Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life

Give a definition of life, i.e. describe the defining characteristics of all living organisms.

1)the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. 2) Cellular organization 2)Ordered complexity 3)Sensitivity 4)Growth development and reproduction 5)Energy utilization 7)Homeostasis 8)Evolutionary adaptation

Compound

A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler form.

Isotope

An atom with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons from the normal atom of the specific element.

Describe Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, including what it requires and how it works.

Darwin's theory of evolution states that organisms with genes that help them to better adapt to their surroundings have a much greater chance of reproducing and passing on their genes.

Define biological evolution and explain two examples (one human and one non-human) where it has been observed.

How organisms on Earth change or adapt through a period of time over generations in a population. Human Example - lactase gene (ability to ingest milk) is evolutionary trait early ancestors didn't have. Non human Example -Red fire ants are becoming Polygyne allowing more than one queen in a colony, which is more beneficial for them.

Give examples how isotopes can be used in biological research and medicine.

Radioactive isotopes can be used to treat certain types of diseases. For example chemotherapy.

Define science, describing how it works, what it is useful for, and how it is different from other ways of knowing and understanding the world around us.

Science is the knowledge and study of the world through experiments and observations. Science works through either observation, watching without tampering with variables, and experiments, which are tests with controlled variables. It is useful for understanding how the world works and functions. There are many branches of science to study. It is different as it has rules but doesn't at the same time. There are many laws of science that have been proved but some research still needs finished in certain ares to put these ideas and concepts togehter into a proven law/rule.

atomic structure

The atomic structure of an atom consists of its neutrons, electons and, protons.

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Mass

The sum of protons and neutrons in one atom of a specific element.

electrons

They are negatively charged subatomic particles. They are located in the electron cloud.

neutrons

They are neutrally charged subatomic particles. They are located with the protons in the nucleus of the atoms.

Protons

They are positively charged subatomic particle. They are located inside the nucleus of atoms.