LIFE 103 EXAM 1 CSU EXAMINATION TEST
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ cell theory. Answer: states that 1) all organisms are composed of cells,
2) cells are the smallest units of life, 3) new cells come from preexisting
cells via cell division
⩥ respiration. Answer: metabolic reactions that a cell uses to get energy
from food molecules and release waste products
⩥ metabolism. Answer: sum total of all chemical reactions that occur
within an organism; chemical reactions involved with the breakdown
and synthesis of cellular molecules
⩥ photosynthesis. Answer: process whereby light energy is captured by
plant, algal, or bacterial cells, and is used to synthesize organic
molecules from CO2 and H2O
⩥ homeostasis. Answer: process whereby living organisms regulate their
cells and bodies to maintain relatively stable internal conditions -
(regulate cellular metabolism so nutrient molecules are used at an
appropriate rate and new cellular components are synthesized when they
are needed)
,⩥ growth. Answer: increase in weight or size; production of more or
larger cells
⩥ development. Answer: series of changes in the state of an organism;
the underlying process that gives rise to the structure and function of the
organism; produces organisms with a defined set of characteristics;
developmental sequence is determined by genome
⩥ DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Answer: genetic material that provides
a blueprint for the organization, development, and function of living
things
⩥ 5 core concepts of biology. Answer: 1. systems (living systems are
interconnected and interacting)
2. pathways & transformations of energy/matter
3. information flow, exchange, & storage
4. evolution
5. structure & function
⩥ biology. Answer: scientific study of living organisms and how they
have evolved
,⩥ evolution. Answer: heritable change; phenomenon that populations of
organisms change from one generation to the next
⩥ evolution is not.... Answer: 1. progressive (there is no end point)
2. goal oriented
3. starting from scratch (it modifies preexisting structures)
⩥ unity. Answer: all organisms share certain basic properties in common
⩥ diversity. Answer: differences in form, shape, function, structure,
color, etc.
⩥ living and nonliving both.... Answer: 1. are comprised of the same
particles and chemical elements (C, H, O, P, N, S)
2. obey the same physical and chemical laws
⩥ What do we need for life?. Answer: 1. heredity materials (DNA,
RNA)
2. raw materials (building blocks to create organism out of)
3. energy inputs (to hold and maintain life)
⩥ binomial nomenclature. Answer: "two word names"; universal &
Latin-based; first word = genus, second word = specific epithet; always
underlined or italicized; system created by Carl Linnaeus
, ⩥ "Systema Naturae". Answer: created by Carolus Linnaeus; classified
organisms into nested hierarchies based on shared similarities
⩥ genus. Answer: first word in binomial nomenclature; may occur alone,
capitalized
⩥ specific epithet. Answer: second word in binomial nomenclature; must
be preceded by genus; lowercase
⩥ taxonomy. Answer: field of biology concerned with the theory,
practice, and rules of classifying living and extinct organisms and
viruses; species with a recent common ancestor are grouped together,
whereas species with a common ancestor in the very distant past are
placed in different groups
⩥ systematics. Answer: hierarchical levels (taxa) based on hypothesized
evolutionary relationships
⩥ levels listed most inclusive to least inclusive. Answer: domain,
supergroup, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
⩥ adaptation. Answer: any modification that makes an organism better
suited to its way of life
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ cell theory. Answer: states that 1) all organisms are composed of cells,
2) cells are the smallest units of life, 3) new cells come from preexisting
cells via cell division
⩥ respiration. Answer: metabolic reactions that a cell uses to get energy
from food molecules and release waste products
⩥ metabolism. Answer: sum total of all chemical reactions that occur
within an organism; chemical reactions involved with the breakdown
and synthesis of cellular molecules
⩥ photosynthesis. Answer: process whereby light energy is captured by
plant, algal, or bacterial cells, and is used to synthesize organic
molecules from CO2 and H2O
⩥ homeostasis. Answer: process whereby living organisms regulate their
cells and bodies to maintain relatively stable internal conditions -
(regulate cellular metabolism so nutrient molecules are used at an
appropriate rate and new cellular components are synthesized when they
are needed)
,⩥ growth. Answer: increase in weight or size; production of more or
larger cells
⩥ development. Answer: series of changes in the state of an organism;
the underlying process that gives rise to the structure and function of the
organism; produces organisms with a defined set of characteristics;
developmental sequence is determined by genome
⩥ DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Answer: genetic material that provides
a blueprint for the organization, development, and function of living
things
⩥ 5 core concepts of biology. Answer: 1. systems (living systems are
interconnected and interacting)
2. pathways & transformations of energy/matter
3. information flow, exchange, & storage
4. evolution
5. structure & function
⩥ biology. Answer: scientific study of living organisms and how they
have evolved
,⩥ evolution. Answer: heritable change; phenomenon that populations of
organisms change from one generation to the next
⩥ evolution is not.... Answer: 1. progressive (there is no end point)
2. goal oriented
3. starting from scratch (it modifies preexisting structures)
⩥ unity. Answer: all organisms share certain basic properties in common
⩥ diversity. Answer: differences in form, shape, function, structure,
color, etc.
⩥ living and nonliving both.... Answer: 1. are comprised of the same
particles and chemical elements (C, H, O, P, N, S)
2. obey the same physical and chemical laws
⩥ What do we need for life?. Answer: 1. heredity materials (DNA,
RNA)
2. raw materials (building blocks to create organism out of)
3. energy inputs (to hold and maintain life)
⩥ binomial nomenclature. Answer: "two word names"; universal &
Latin-based; first word = genus, second word = specific epithet; always
underlined or italicized; system created by Carl Linnaeus
, ⩥ "Systema Naturae". Answer: created by Carolus Linnaeus; classified
organisms into nested hierarchies based on shared similarities
⩥ genus. Answer: first word in binomial nomenclature; may occur alone,
capitalized
⩥ specific epithet. Answer: second word in binomial nomenclature; must
be preceded by genus; lowercase
⩥ taxonomy. Answer: field of biology concerned with the theory,
practice, and rules of classifying living and extinct organisms and
viruses; species with a recent common ancestor are grouped together,
whereas species with a common ancestor in the very distant past are
placed in different groups
⩥ systematics. Answer: hierarchical levels (taxa) based on hypothesized
evolutionary relationships
⩥ levels listed most inclusive to least inclusive. Answer: domain,
supergroup, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
⩥ adaptation. Answer: any modification that makes an organism better
suited to its way of life
