Chapter 1: Exploring Life
AP Biology
Stoneleigh-Burnham School
a journey into the living world!

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Judith S. de Nuño
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Chapter Objectives

1. Describe the unifying themes of biology
2. Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels in biology
3. Explain how the properties of life emerge from complex organization
4. Describe seven emergent properties associated with life
5. Distinguish between holism and reductionism
6. Explain how techological breakthroughs contributed to the formulation of the cell theory
7. Distinuguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
8. Explain the phrase: "form fits function."
9. List the kingdoms of life and and distinguish among them
10. Describe how Darwin's ideas contributed to the conceptual framework of biology
11. Describe scientific methods and processes
12. Describe the characteristics of scientific hypotheses
13. Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning
14. Explain the interdependence of science and technology

Chapter Terms:

  • emergent property
  • population
  • community
  • ecosystem
  • biome
  • biogenesis
  • holism
  • reductionism
  • prokaryotic
  • eukaryotic
  • taxonomy
  • evolution
  • natural selection
  • scientific method
  • inductive reasoning
  • deductive reasoning
  • hypothesis
  • law
  • theory
  • fact
  • assumption
  • control group
  • variable
  • experimental group

Chapter Outline Framework

A. Life's Hierarchical Order

1. Living world as a hierarchy
2. Emergent properties of levels of biological organization
3. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function
4. Continuity of life based on heritable information in the form of DNA
5. Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization
6. Organisms are open systmes that interact continuously with their environment
7. Regulatory mechanisms ensure a dynamic balance in living systems

B. Evolution, Unity, Diversity

1. Diversity and unity are the dual faces of life on earth
2. Evolution is the core theme of biology

C. Science as a process

1. Testable hypotheses are the halmarks of the scientific process
2. Science and technology are functions of society
3. Biology is a multidisciplinary adventure

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