AP Bio HW #1 Chapter 1

Due 140905
AP Bio Period: 3 Name: Joseph Nguyen
Date Completed: 9/3/14

Answer all questions (15 points) and draw 3 concept maps (15 points)
Type all answers use Font (Times New Roman) size 12 and use MS WORD. Retain electronic
files. Print a hardcopy and turn in by the due date.
Each assignment limited to 20-50 words essay and a bullet-point outline.
For Diagrams (Concept Map), hand-drawn and/or scan into WORD file.


1. Briefly describe the unifying themes that characterize the biological sciences.
-The cell
-Emergent Properties
-Evolution
-scientific inquiry
-structure and function
-energy and life
Cells are the basic unit of structure and function. Emergent properties are a
result of interaction of parts. Evolution is the core theme of biology. Evolution is
the idea that organisms today are modified descendants of common ancestors.
Another theme is that all organisms perform work, which requires energy.
2. Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biological organization.













3. Describe the two major dynamic processes of any ecosystem.
-transfer of energy/matter
-transformation of energy/matter
When organisms work, energy flows through an ecosystem usually in the form of
light entering and exiting as heat. Energy and matter are transformed in the
ecosystem. Chemicals that plants absorb from the air/ soil are recycled into
animals that eat the plant and recycled into the environment. Energy/matter is
transfer back into the ecosystem.
4. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
-membrane nucleus
-protects DNA
Prokaryotic cells do not have a membrane nucleus to separate the DNA.
Eukaryotic cells have a membrane that encloses the DNA.
5. Describe the basic structure and function of DNA.
-genes
-chromosomes
-genetic material
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, contains hundreds or thousands of genes.
Chromosomes contain genetic material in the form of DNA. DNA is replicated
and transmitted from parents to offspring. They are the unit of inheritance.
6. Describe the dilemma of reductionism.
-reducing complex systems
-incomplete view
Reductionism is the approach or reducing complex systems to simpler
components that are more manageable to study, however it provides a necessarily
incomplete view of life on Earth.
7. Explain the importance of regulatory mechanisms in living things. Distinguish
between positive and negative feedback.
-product, output
-end product
-slows
-speeds up
Regulatory mechanisms are important in living things because they make sure the
chemical processes in cells are accelerated. In negative feedback, the mass of the
end product slows and stops the process. The positive feedback is opposite and
speeds up the end product.
8. Distinguish among the three domains of life. List and distinguish among the three
kingdoms of multicellular, eukaryotic life.
-bacteria
-archaea
-eukarya
-plantae
-fungi
-animalia
The three largest domains of life are the domain bacteria, domain archaea, and
domain eukarya. The three kingdoms of domain eukarya are the kingdom plantae,
kingdom fungi, and kingdom animalia.
9. Explain the phrase lifes dual nature of unity and diversity. And define what is a
living thing.
-ancestor
There is unity in species that descended from a common ancestor. But there is
diversity as organisms evolved from their common ancestors.
10. Describe the observations and inferences that led Charles Darwin to his theory of
evolution by natural selection.
-succession of ancestors
-vary in traits
-overpopulation
-suited to their environment
Darwin observed that individuals in a population vary in their traits, many passed
on from parent. Second, a population has the ability to overpopulate so
competition is unavoidable. Third, species are generally well adapted to their
environments.
11. Explain why diagrams of evolutionary relationships have a treelike form.
-more descendant species
Diagrams of evolutionary relationships have a treelike form because there are
more descendant species every generation and, very much like a family tree, it
branches out largely.
12. Distinguish between discovery science and hypothesis-based science. Explain
why both types of exploration contribute to our understanding of nature.
-discover nature
-explaining nature
-both testable
Discovery science is about finding more about nature, where hypothesis-based
science is about explaining nature. Both types of exploration contribute because
they are both testable.
13. Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning.
-large number of observations
-general to specific
In inductive reason, generalizations come from a large number of observations,
where in deductive reasoning; it is generalized from general to specifics.
14. Explain why hypotheses must be testable and falsifiable but are not provable;
and give the everyday meaning of the term theory and its meaning to scientists.
-cannot be proven
-survive falsifying tests
-untested idea
-supported by evidence
Hypotheses can be tested many times but cannot ever be proven. It can be put
through tests that could falsify it, and gain more support. Theories are untested
ideas, but in science terms, a theory explains an observation and is supported by
lots of evidence.
15. Describe what is meant by a controlled experiment.
-unchanged variable
In a controlled experiment there is one unchanged variable so that scientists can
compare different tests on that variable.

Draw 3 concept maps with the following word bank and provide corresponding titles,
levels of linkage (as many levels as possible)
Use the words only once. Use all of the words.

archaea
bacteria
bioinformatics
biology
biosphere
cell
community
consumer
controlled experiment
data
deductive reasoning
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
discovery science
domain Archaea
domain Bacteria
domain Eukarya
ecosystem
emergent properties
eukaryotic cell
gene
genome
hypothesis
inductive reasoning
inquiry
kingdom Animalia
kingdom Fungi
kingdom Plantae
model
molecule
negative feedback
organ
organ system
organelle
organism
population
positive feedback
producer
prokaryotic cell
reductionism
system
systems biology
technology
theory
tissue