Biology 1406 Exam 1 (Chap. 1-4) Questions
With Complete Answers
Define the science of biology and give examples of different biological disciplines. -
ANSWER Biology is the scientific study of life
Zoology: study of animal behavior, Botany: Study of plants, Paleontology: study of life
that existed before
Name characteristics of life and explain why they are used together to distinguish living
organisms vs. non-living structures - ANSWER Order, Movement, Cellular structure,
DNA, Regulation, Growth and development, Energy utilization, Response to
environment, Reproduction, Evolution
Each living organism must possess each of these qualities otherwise it is non-living.
List all the levels of life organization - starting with atom and give an example -
ANSWER Atom - Carbon, Molecule - Glucose, Organelles - Golgi Body, Cells -
prokaryotic, tissue - muscle tissue, Organ - Heart, Organism - Sunflower, Population -
field of sunflowers, communities - A forest with animals and plants along with bacteria
and fungi, Ecosystem - mountain range with birds and rocks and goats, Biosphere -
Earth
Explain the energy cycle in nature. Where does all energy in living organisms originally
come from? - ANSWER
Give examples of consumers and producers in an ecosystem. Which are humans? -
ANSWER
, Distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Give examples of organisms that contain
each. - ANSWER Prokaryotic cells: typically smaller than eukaryotic cells, contain no
nucleus and no membrane-enclosed organelles; bacteria and archaea
Eukaryotic cells: larger than prokaryotic cells, contain DNA inside nucleus; plants and
animals
Which branch of biology names and classifies organisms? - ANSWER Taxonomy
List the kingdoms of organisms and briefly describe each. - ANSWER Domain: 3
systems-eukaryota, bacteria, and archaea
Kingdom: 6 systems-animalia, plantae, fungi, protista, archaea, bacteria
Phylum: Share a set of characteristics that distinguishes them from organisms in
another phylum
Class: common characteristics or attributes
Order: related organisms but smaller than class
Family: broken down further
Genus: organisms that have similar features and are related
Species: names after it's individual features and characteristics
Briefly explain the main postulates of the theory of evolution. - ANSWER Individuals in a
population vary in their heritable traits;
A population can produce far more offspring than can survive to produce offspring of
their own;
Species generally are suited to their environments
What was Darwin's contribution to the theory of evolution? - ANSWER Individuals with
inherited traits that are better suited to the local environment are more likely to survive
and reproduce than are less well-suited individuals
List the steps of "the scientific method" in proper order. - ANSWER Observation
Question
Hypothesis
(Prediction)
Experiment
Analyze results/data
Why do we need a control group in a properly designed experiment? - ANSWER To
serve as a basis of comparison with the experimental group
Define chemical element; give examples. - ANSWER A substance that cannot be
broken down any further; Carbon, Oxygen, Gold, Zinc, Uranium
Name 4 most common elements of living organisms; what percentage of the cell is
composed of them? - ANSWER Oxygen- 60%
Carbon- 20%
Hydrogen- 10%
With Complete Answers
Define the science of biology and give examples of different biological disciplines. -
ANSWER Biology is the scientific study of life
Zoology: study of animal behavior, Botany: Study of plants, Paleontology: study of life
that existed before
Name characteristics of life and explain why they are used together to distinguish living
organisms vs. non-living structures - ANSWER Order, Movement, Cellular structure,
DNA, Regulation, Growth and development, Energy utilization, Response to
environment, Reproduction, Evolution
Each living organism must possess each of these qualities otherwise it is non-living.
List all the levels of life organization - starting with atom and give an example -
ANSWER Atom - Carbon, Molecule - Glucose, Organelles - Golgi Body, Cells -
prokaryotic, tissue - muscle tissue, Organ - Heart, Organism - Sunflower, Population -
field of sunflowers, communities - A forest with animals and plants along with bacteria
and fungi, Ecosystem - mountain range with birds and rocks and goats, Biosphere -
Earth
Explain the energy cycle in nature. Where does all energy in living organisms originally
come from? - ANSWER
Give examples of consumers and producers in an ecosystem. Which are humans? -
ANSWER
, Distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Give examples of organisms that contain
each. - ANSWER Prokaryotic cells: typically smaller than eukaryotic cells, contain no
nucleus and no membrane-enclosed organelles; bacteria and archaea
Eukaryotic cells: larger than prokaryotic cells, contain DNA inside nucleus; plants and
animals
Which branch of biology names and classifies organisms? - ANSWER Taxonomy
List the kingdoms of organisms and briefly describe each. - ANSWER Domain: 3
systems-eukaryota, bacteria, and archaea
Kingdom: 6 systems-animalia, plantae, fungi, protista, archaea, bacteria
Phylum: Share a set of characteristics that distinguishes them from organisms in
another phylum
Class: common characteristics or attributes
Order: related organisms but smaller than class
Family: broken down further
Genus: organisms that have similar features and are related
Species: names after it's individual features and characteristics
Briefly explain the main postulates of the theory of evolution. - ANSWER Individuals in a
population vary in their heritable traits;
A population can produce far more offspring than can survive to produce offspring of
their own;
Species generally are suited to their environments
What was Darwin's contribution to the theory of evolution? - ANSWER Individuals with
inherited traits that are better suited to the local environment are more likely to survive
and reproduce than are less well-suited individuals
List the steps of "the scientific method" in proper order. - ANSWER Observation
Question
Hypothesis
(Prediction)
Experiment
Analyze results/data
Why do we need a control group in a properly designed experiment? - ANSWER To
serve as a basis of comparison with the experimental group
Define chemical element; give examples. - ANSWER A substance that cannot be
broken down any further; Carbon, Oxygen, Gold, Zinc, Uranium
Name 4 most common elements of living organisms; what percentage of the cell is
composed of them? - ANSWER Oxygen- 60%
Carbon- 20%
Hydrogen- 10%
