BIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE

What Are The Characteristics Of Life?

A. The Word Biology Means the Study of Life

B. Living things contain certain characteristics that define life
1. The cell is the basic unit of life.
a. Organisms are either unicellular or multicellular.
2. Organisms Acquire and Use Materials and Energy
a. Organisms need materials and energy for survival
b. Organisms are continuously exchanging materials and energy with their nonliving
surroundings
c. Certain organisms conduct photosynthesis to produce food for them, which can also be
used by other organisms such as fungi and animals
3. Organisms Actively Maintain Organized Complexity (homeostasis)
a. Organisms must use energy to continuously to maintain themselves
b. An example of this is the maintenance of body temperature
A. All
4.
5.
6.

organisms
Organisms Perceive and Respond to Stimuli
Organisms Grow
Organisms Reproduce
a. Giving rise to offspring of the same type
b. Offspring inherit the instructions for maintaining life from their parents
7. Genetic instructions are carried in the DNA
8. Capacity to Evolve

How Do Scientists Study Life?

A. Life Can Be Studied at Different Levels
1. All matter consists of elements
a. Atoms are the smallest particles of elements
2. Atoms combine to make molecules
3. Molecules form the building blocks of cells
4. Cells of similar types may combine to form tissues
5. Tissues make up organs, which make up organ systems, which are found in multicellular
organisms
6. Organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are known as a species.
7. All the members of a species living in a defined location are a population; whereas a
community collection of all the different populations that live in a defined area.
8. The addition of the abiotic (non-living) surroundings to the community results in the
ecosystem.
9. All ecosystems together make-up the biosphere. Yevidence Hypothesis!!!!!!!!!

What Is Science?
A. Biologists Test Hypotheses Using Controlled Experiments
1. Variables are factors that may affect the outcome of an experiment
2. Controls are control variables so that they remain constant

Continue to next page for key terms.

Key Terms
Experiment:
Designed to support or refute the hypothesis
Biology:
The study of life
Biosphere:
All life on Earth
Cell:
The basic building block of life
Cell theory:
Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living organism
Community:
A group of different species in a common location
Conclusion:
States whether the hypothesis is valid or not
Control:
The parts of the experiment that are treated the same
Ecosystem:
Interacting organisms and their physical environment
DNA:
The carrier of genetic information
Organ:
A part in your body with a vital function
Photosynthesis:
When plants use sunlight to make foods from carbon dioxide and water
6CO2 + 6H20 sun C6H1206 + 602
Molecule:
A group of atoms bonded together
Eukaryotic:
Has a clearly defined nucleus
Organelle:
Specialized structures within a living cell

Organ system:
A group of organs that work together to perform one task
Natural selection:
Organisms better adapted to their environment survive and produce more offspring
Nucleus:
The central region of a cell for activity and growth
Observation:
To observe a phenomenon
Variable:
A factor that changes
Gene:
What makes you have your physical characteristics from your parents
Hypothesis:
A proposed explanation based on limited evidence
Prediction:
The expected outcome of testing a hypothesis
Prokaryotic:
Single-celled organism
Question:
Form a question about the phenomenon
Scientific Method:
Observation
Question
Hypothesis
Prediction
Experiment
Conclusion
Scientific theory:
A well put together explanation of some aspect of the natural world
Species:
A group of organisms that can reproduce and share the same basic characteristics
Element:
Made up of atoms with the same number of protons
Tissue:
Any material in which plants or animals are made of

YOURE D-O-N-E DONE!