Bio Notes
Bio Notes 9/5/2012 * Biology- Study of living things * Characteristics of living organisms * Consist of one or more cells * Unicellular- one cell able to carry out life ex. Bacteria * Multicellular- Many cells, specialized cells * Observations with microscopes lead to Cell Theory, Robert Hook * All cells come from preexisting cells * All cells are similar in chemical composition * Chemical reactions occur within cells * Genetic Information is replicated and passed on during cell division * Contains Genetic Information * DNA * Information molecule passed on during cell division * Composed of nucleotides * Genetic Code * Genes- specific segment of DNA molecule * Contains information to make proteins * Proteins- control chemical reactions * Structure in cell organisms * Uses genetic information to reproduce * Uses genetic information for growth and development * Can extract energy from environment and uses it for biological work * Can convert molecules obtained from environment into new biological molecules * Can respond to environmental changes * Can regulate their internal environment * Homeostasis- maintains stable internal conditions * Are genetically related and have evolved * Evolutionary adaptation * Populations of organisms change * Occurs over many generations * Promotes survival and reproductive success * Evolution accounts for life’s unity and diversity * Charles Darwin “Origin of species” * Natural selection leads to adaptations * Population of organisms * Hereditary variation * Overpopulation and competition