TAMU BIO 111 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Natural Science - Answer -· the field of science related to the physical world and its
phenomena and processes.
Physical Science - Answer -astronomy, chemistry, physics
Life Science - Answer -Biology
Basic Science - Answer -Science done to gain knowledge, regardless of the
application. "knowledge for knowledge"
Applied Science - Answer -Science applied to the real world. The problem is defined by
the researcher
Inductive Reasoning - Answer -Describes through careful observation and analysis of
data. Scientist derive generalizations based on a large number of observations.
Deductive reasoning - Answer -ask specific questions usually involving proposing and
testing hypothetical explanations aka hypothesis.
Hypothesis - Answer -must be testable, falsifiable and include a control group.
Scientific Method - Answer -o Make observations
o Develop a hypothesis
o Design an experiment
o Collect data
o Analyze data; do the results support the hypothesis
o Refine and repeat the experiment if necessary
Communicate your results
independent variable - Answer -The experimental factor that is manipulated; the
variable whose effect is being studied.
dependent variable - Answer -represents the output or outcome resulting from the
altering of the independent variable.
Scientific Theory - Answer -hypothesis that has not been disproven after many years of
rigorous testing
cell theory - Answer -o All living organisms are made of one or more cells besides
viruses (they aren't REALLY alive)
o Chemical reactions that are necessary for life take place within cells
o All cells arise from pre-existing cells, they don't just appear randomly
o Cells contain hereditary information in the form of DNA
, emergent properties - Answer -· life's fundamental characteristic is having a high
degree of order
o Biological organization is based on a hierarchy of structural levels; the lowest is atoms
that build to complex biological molecules, molecules arrange to create structures and
organelles which make cells
Key Functions of Life - Answer -o Order
o Sensitivity or response to stimuli
o Reproduction
o Growth and development
o Regulation
o Homeostasis
o Energy processing
o Evolution
Taxonomy - Answer -The scientific study of how living things are classified and named
Phylogeny - Answer -Evolutionary history of a species or group of species.
What did an organism evolve from?
What species is an organism most closely related to.
All Life Shares - Answer -o The same genetic material (RNA, DNA)
o Nearly universal genetic code
o The same basic process of gene expression
o The same molecular building blocks
o The presence of ribosomes
Evolution - Answer -the change in populations throughout earths history.
Darwin - Answer -Developed the theory of evolution, added natural selection.
Wallace - Answer -Sent a letter to Darwin with similar ideas.
relative fitness - Answer -the survival and/or reproductive rate of a genotype (or
phenotype) relative to the maximum survival and/or reproductive rate of other
genotypes in the population.
Common elements of life - Answer -o Carbon
o Oxygen
o Hydrogen
o Nitrogen
Atoms - Answer -· the smallest unit of matter that still retains he properties of an
element
Natural Science - Answer -· the field of science related to the physical world and its
phenomena and processes.
Physical Science - Answer -astronomy, chemistry, physics
Life Science - Answer -Biology
Basic Science - Answer -Science done to gain knowledge, regardless of the
application. "knowledge for knowledge"
Applied Science - Answer -Science applied to the real world. The problem is defined by
the researcher
Inductive Reasoning - Answer -Describes through careful observation and analysis of
data. Scientist derive generalizations based on a large number of observations.
Deductive reasoning - Answer -ask specific questions usually involving proposing and
testing hypothetical explanations aka hypothesis.
Hypothesis - Answer -must be testable, falsifiable and include a control group.
Scientific Method - Answer -o Make observations
o Develop a hypothesis
o Design an experiment
o Collect data
o Analyze data; do the results support the hypothesis
o Refine and repeat the experiment if necessary
Communicate your results
independent variable - Answer -The experimental factor that is manipulated; the
variable whose effect is being studied.
dependent variable - Answer -represents the output or outcome resulting from the
altering of the independent variable.
Scientific Theory - Answer -hypothesis that has not been disproven after many years of
rigorous testing
cell theory - Answer -o All living organisms are made of one or more cells besides
viruses (they aren't REALLY alive)
o Chemical reactions that are necessary for life take place within cells
o All cells arise from pre-existing cells, they don't just appear randomly
o Cells contain hereditary information in the form of DNA
, emergent properties - Answer -· life's fundamental characteristic is having a high
degree of order
o Biological organization is based on a hierarchy of structural levels; the lowest is atoms
that build to complex biological molecules, molecules arrange to create structures and
organelles which make cells
Key Functions of Life - Answer -o Order
o Sensitivity or response to stimuli
o Reproduction
o Growth and development
o Regulation
o Homeostasis
o Energy processing
o Evolution
Taxonomy - Answer -The scientific study of how living things are classified and named
Phylogeny - Answer -Evolutionary history of a species or group of species.
What did an organism evolve from?
What species is an organism most closely related to.
All Life Shares - Answer -o The same genetic material (RNA, DNA)
o Nearly universal genetic code
o The same basic process of gene expression
o The same molecular building blocks
o The presence of ribosomes
Evolution - Answer -the change in populations throughout earths history.
Darwin - Answer -Developed the theory of evolution, added natural selection.
Wallace - Answer -Sent a letter to Darwin with similar ideas.
relative fitness - Answer -the survival and/or reproductive rate of a genotype (or
phenotype) relative to the maximum survival and/or reproductive rate of other
genotypes in the population.
Common elements of life - Answer -o Carbon
o Oxygen
o Hydrogen
o Nitrogen
Atoms - Answer -· the smallest unit of matter that still retains he properties of an
element
