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General Biology Key Concepts

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Termini in questo insieme (29)

  • What are the main themes of biology?
    Organization, information, energy and matter, interaction, and evolution are the main themes of biology.
  • Define reductionism in biology.
    Reductionism is the approach of studying complex systems by breaking them down into simpler components.
  • What are emergent properties?
    Emergent properties are new properties that arise at each level of biological organization that are not present at the simpler levels.
  • What is systems biology?
    Systems biology is the study of interactions among components of biological systems to understand how they function as a whole.
  • What is the scientific method?
    The scientific method is a process involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion to test ideas.
  • Difference between inductive and deductive reasoning.
    Inductive reasoning derives generalizations from specific observations; deductive reasoning uses general principles to predict specific results.
  • Define hypothesis and theory in biology.
    A hypothesis is a testable explanation; a theory is a well-supported, broad explanation of natural phenomena.
  • What is an atom?
    An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.
  • What subatomic particles make up an atom?
    Electrons, protons, and neutrons are the subatomic particles of an atom.
  • Define atomic number and atomic mass.
    Atomic number is the number of protons; atomic mass is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
  • What is an isotope?
    An isotope is an atom of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
  • Difference between molecule and compound.
    A molecule consists of two or more atoms bonded together; a compound is a molecule with at least two different elements.
  • What are valence electrons?
    Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
  • Describe covalent bonds.
    Covalent bonds involve sharing of electron pairs between atoms; can be single, double, triple, polar, or non-polar.
  • What is electronegativity?
    Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.
  • Define ion, cation, and anion.
    An ion is an atom with a charge; cation is positively charged; anion is negatively charged.
  • What is an ionic bond?
    An ionic bond is formed by the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
  • Difference between intramolecular and intermolecular bonds.
    Intramolecular bonds hold atoms together within a molecule; intermolecular bonds occur between molecules.
  • What is a hydrogen bond?
    A hydrogen bond is a weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.
  • Define chemical reaction, reactants, and products.
    A chemical reaction rearranges atoms; reactants are starting substances; products are substances formed.
  • What is chemical equilibrium?
    Chemical equilibrium occurs when the forward and reverse reaction rates are equal, stabilizing concentrations.
  • Explain cohesion and adhesion in water.
    Cohesion is water molecules sticking to each other; adhesion is water molecules sticking to other surfaces.
  • Define kinetic energy and temperature.
    Kinetic energy is energy of motion; temperature measures the average kinetic energy of molecules.
  • What is specific heat?
    Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C.
  • Define solvent, solute, and aqueous solution.
    A solvent dissolves substances; a solute is dissolved; an aqueous solution has water as the solvent.
  • What is pH scale?
    The pH scale measures acidity or basicity of a solution from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).
  • What is a buffer?
    A buffer minimizes changes in pH by accepting or donating hydrogen ions.
  • Define macromolecule, polymer, and monomer.
    Macromolecules are large molecules; polymers are chains of monomers; monomers are single building blocks.
  • What is dehydration and hydrolysis reaction?
    Dehydration reaction links monomers by removing water; hydrolysis breaks polymers by adding water.