General biologyLesson 1 of 2 in the course Introduction to Biology

Biology Foundations: Life, Organization, Classification, Specialties, and Ethics

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 2 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Biology is the science of life, but defining life is more challenging than it first appears. In this lesson, you will explore the shared characteristics biologists use to describe living things and consider why viruses raise difficult questions.

Biologists identify eight characteristics that, taken together, help describe living organisms: order, response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation or homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution. No single characteristic alone is a complete test for life; the combination is more informative.

All flashcards

What are the eight characteristics commonly associated with life?
Order, response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution.
What is homeostasis?
The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment.
What is an adaptation?
An inherited feature that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
What does molecular biology study?
Molecular processes involving substances such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.
What is bioethics?
The examination of ethical questions and responsibilities in biology and medicine.

Quiz questions

  1. Which taxonomic rank is the broadest?Answer: Domain
  2. Which feature distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?Answer: A membrane-bound nucleus
  3. Which format follows binomial nomenclature for a scientific species name?Answer: Italicized genus with a capital first letter, followed by a lowercase species name
  4. In a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch point, or node, represent?Answer: A common ancestor and a point where lineages diverged
  5. Which question is central to ethical analysis of a biological technology?Answer: Who may benefit or be harmed, and what safeguards are needed?

Based on Concepts of Biology by Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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