Module 1 Summary

1. Four characteristics of life: a. All life forms contain [blank_start]deoxyribonucleic acid[blank_end], which is called [blank_start]DNA[blank_end] b. All life forms have a method by which they [blank_start]extract energy[blank_end] from the surroundings and convert it into [blank_start]energy that sustains them[blank_end]. c. All life forms [blank_start]can sense changes[blank_end] in their surroundings and [blank_start]respond[blank_end] to those changes. d. All life forms [blank_start]reproduce[blank_end].

2. DNA provides the [blank_start]information[blank_end] necessary to take a bunch of lifeless chemicals and turn them into an [blank_start]ordered living system[blank_end].

3. [blank_start]Metabolism[blank_end] can be split into two categories: (1) [blank_start]anabolism[blank_end], which involves using energy and simple chemical building blocks to produce large chemicals and structures and (2) [blank_start]catabolism[blank_end], which involves breaking down chemicals to produce energy and simple chemical building blocks.

4. The vast majority of energy that sustains life comes from [blank_start]the sun[blank_end]. [blank_start]Producers[blank_end] use that energy to make food for themselves via a process called [blank_start]photosynthesis[blank_end]. Consumers get energy from the producers by [blank_start]eating them[blank_end]. Consumers can be split into three categories: [blank_start]herbivores[blank_end] (which eat only plants), [blank_start]carnivores[blank_end] (which eat only non plants), and [blank_start]omnivores[blank_end] (which eat plants and non plants). The energy of dead producers and consumers is recycled back into creation by [blank_start]decomposers[blank_end].

Producers are often called [blank_start]autotrophs[blank_end], the Greek roots of which literally mean "self-feeder". Consumers and decomposers are often called [blank_start]heterotrophs[blank_end], which literally means "other-feeder".

6. Living organisms are equipped with structures called [blank_start]receptors[blank_end], which receive information about their surroundings. God's creation is always [blank_start]changing[blank_end], which is why these structures are necessary for survival.

In asexual reproduction, the characteristics and traits inherited by the offspring are, under normal circumstances, [blank_start]identical[blank_end] to the parent. In sexual reproduction, under normal circumstances, the offspring's traits and characteristics are some [blank_start]mixture[blank_end] of each parent's traits and characteristics. When [blank_start]mutations[blank_end] occur, the offspring can possess traits that are incredibly different from those of the parent or parents.

8. In the scientific method, the scientist starts by [blank_start]observing[blank_end] the world around him. He then forms a [blank_start]hypothesis[blank_end] to explain some aspect of how the world functions. He then [blank_start]collects data[blank_end] in an attempt to test his [blank_start]hypothesis[blank_end]. If a large amount of [blank_start]data[blank_end] confirms the [blank_start]hypothesis[blank_end], it becomes a [blank_start]theory[blank_end], which is tested with even more [blank_start]data[blank_end]. If it continues to be confirmed over several generations, it might become a [blank_start]scientific law[blank_end].

9. Scientists once believed that life could spring from nonliving things. This was called [blank_start]spontaneous[blank_end] [blank_start]generation[blank_end], and it was refuted in the mid 1800s by [blank_start]Louis[blank_end] [blank_start]Pasteur[blank_end]. The story of how the scientific community believed in it for so long demonstrates that science has [blank_start]limitations[blank_end].

10. The newest version of spontaneous generation is called [blank_start]abiogenesis[blank_end], and it claims that long ago, very simple life forms [blank_start]spontaneously[blank_end] appeared through [blank_start]chemical[blank_end] [blank_start]reactions[blank_end].

11. The groups used in our classification scheme, from largest to smallest are: [blank_start]kingdom[blank_end], [blank_start]phylum[blank_end], [blank_start]class[blank_end], [blank_start]order[blank_end], [blank_start]family[blank_end], [blank_start]genus[blank_end], and [blank_start]species[blank_end].

12. The five kingdoms we use in the course are: [blank_start]Monera[blank_end], [blank_start]Protista[blank_end], [blank_start]Fungi[blank_end], [blank_start]Plantae[blank_end], and [blank_start]Animalia[blank_end].

13. A cell with no membrane-bounded organelles is [blank_start]prokaryotic[blank_end], while one with membrane-bounded organelles is a [blank_start]eukaryotic[blank_end] cell. Members of kingdom Monera are composed of [blank_start]prokaryotic[blank_end] cells.

14. A unit of one or more populations of individuals that can reproduce under normal conditions, produce fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other such units is called a [blank_start]species[blank_end].

15. A series of questions that is designed to classify organisms is called a biological [blank_start]key[blank_end].

16. When we call wolves "Canis lupus," we are using [blank_start]binomial[blank_end] [blank_start]nomenclature[blank_end].

17. In the three domain system of classification, the three basic groups are [blank_start]Archaea[blank_end], [blank_start]Bacteria[blank_end], and [blank_start]Eukarya[blank_end]. Members of kingdom Monera are placed in either [blank_start]Archaea[blank_end] or [blank_start]Bacteria[blank_end], and all of the other kingdoms are placed in [blank_start]Eukarya[blank_end].

18. A creationist taxonomy scheme that attempts to classify organisms based on the kind of organisms that God made during creation is called [blank_start]baraminology[blank_end].

19. Multicellular autotrophs are typically placed in the kingdom [blank_start]Plantae[blank_end].

20. Single-celled creatures made of eukaryotic cells are placed in kingdom [blank_start]Protista[blank_end].

21. Multicellular consumers are typically placed in kingdom [blank_start]Animalia[blank_end].

22. Decomposers made of eukaryotic cells are mostly found in kingdom [blank_start]Fungi[blank_end].

Organisms made of prokaryotic cells are found in kingdom [blank_start]Monera[blank_end].