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Organization of Living Things, Nature of Science

Properties of Life  

  • cellular organization - containing 1 or more cells, w/ basic life activities in each cell; cells are separated by a membrane
  • order - many different types of cells, each w/ molecular structures
  • sensitivity - response to a stimulus (change in the environment)
  • growth, development, reproduction - ability to grow/reproduce, pass down hereditary material
  • energy utilization - taking in energy to do work
  • evolutionary adaptation - long-term response to things that affect survival
  • homeostasis - maintaining constant internal conditions

hierarchical organization - each level builds on the level below it in biology  

  • cellular level - atoms >> molecules >> macromolecules >> organelles >> cell
  • organismal level - tissue >> organ >> organ system >> organism
  • population level - population (group of same species living in one place) >> species (group of organisms able to interbreed) >> biological community >> ecosystem

emergent properties - results from how cells interact and work  

  • cannot be determined just be looking at the cells
  • many creatures have the same type of cells, but appear/work differently

deductive reasoning - uses general principles/rules to predict specific results  

  • reasoning used in mathematics/philosophy
  • used to test validity of general ideas

inductive reasoning - uses specific observations to make general principles/rules  

  • leads to generalizations that can be tested
  • modern science uses specific observations to make general models, which are later tested

scientific investigations - all begins w/ series of observations  

  • hypothesis - suggested explanation that accounts for the observations; can be modified or replaced
  • experiment - test of a hypothesis
  • variable - factor possibly affecting the experiment
  • control experiment - test where the variable is left unchanged
  • differences in results between experiments are due to the variable change
  • inconsistent results can lead to the hypothesis being rejected
  • theory - either an explanation for natural phenomenon, or brings together many concepts once thought to be unrelated
  • basic research - done just to expand knowledge
  • applied research - done as part of some industry or job
  • peer review - evaluation of any experiment to see if it's accurate
Subject: 
Biology
Subject X2: 
Biology

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