Biology Chapter 1 Homework
Content
Hannah Witting
AP Biology
19 Aug 2015
Chapter 1 homework
Homework – Chapter 1
1. Many people talk about their boat as if it was alive, giving it a name and
regularly talking to it (usually as a “she”). Discuss what characteristics of Life DO
apply to a boat and which characteristics of Life DO NOT apply.
The characteristics of life that apply to a boat include pattern/order and energy
processing. The boat exhibits pattern/order in its construction and architectural plan,
being highly organized in a structure that works to suit the function of the boat, water
travel. The boat processes energy in the form of gasoline order to perform its function
and to preform work. The characteristics of life that do not apply to a boat include
reproduction, possession of nucleic acids, evolutionary adaption, growth and
development, response to environment, regulation, and death. The boat is unable to
reproduce and has no nucleic acid to carry on its genetic information, largely because it
has none. This also means that the boat has no evolutionary adaptation, since this requires
the passing on of genetic information. The boat is unable to grow and develop on its own,
due to the fact that it has no cells that can grow in size/complexity. Life grows by internal
changes, which is not true of the boat, which can grow only if a person builds an
extension. The boat has no response to environment, as it does not independently react to
the changes in stimuli such as the weather or organisms around it, and while it is true that
the boat has certain regulation processes built into its system, used to control its inner
workings from the temperature of the cabin to the levels of chemicals used to run the
engine and motor, this cannot count as a characteristic of life due to the fact that it must
be organized by humans and is not internally controlled. Finally, the boat will not
experience death, and will continue to function properly forever as long as it is properly
maintained.
2. The Transformer movie series introduced us to the ideas of two intelligent races
of robots, the Autobots and Decepticons. Discuss if these robots should be
considered “life forms” and justify your answer.
These robots should not be considered life forms because they do not have the cell
as the basic unit of life, the ability to reproduce, or the possession nucleic acids.
Furthermore, the robots do not undergo the processes of evolutionary adaption, growth
and development, or natural death, which is brought on by a lack of energy. All of the
listed traits are characteristics/properties of life that an organism must have to be
considered “living”. Since the robots do not have all these qualifications, they cannot be
considered life forms.
3. If Science is a Process, discuss if the content and concepts you learn in AP Biology
will stay the same for your entire adult career.
If Science is to be described as a process, this would mean that all the information
known is subject to review, questioning, and re-experimentation at any time. It also
means that there is a possibility that new information can be discovered. Therefore, it is
quite possible that some current results may be found to be unsupportive of any newly
discovered information, which would require additional questioning and experimentation,
which could yield different or new results than the previous experiments. This means that
all scientific knowledge is subject to change. In light of this process, it is very possible
that the content and concepts we learn now in AP Biology might change at some point in
our lives due to a misconception in experimentation or a discovery of new information.
4. A typical bacteria cell has about 3000 genes in its DNA while a human
cell has about 25,000 genes. About 1,000 of these genes are present in both types
of cells. Based on your understanding of evolution, discuss why such different
organisms could have this same subset of genes.
The evolutionary process is mostly concerned with passing on advantageous
adaptations through reproduction. Due to the large number of shared genes, it is possible
that human cells are somehow connected in an evolutionary sense, perhaps through a
common ancestor, with bacterial cells. If human cells and bacterial cells are indeed
related through a common ancestor, and if the shared genes which are present in both
types of cells code for a beneficial survival trait, then it makes sense that these genes
would have been passed on by their common ancestor, since evolution is meant to pass
on traits that enable organisms to survive.
5. It is common to hear on many TV shows that someone has a “theory” about how
a crime was committed and who was responsible. Discuss if this is a “Theory” or a
“theory”.
The type of “theory” discussed in this case is a theory. This is due to the fact that
this “theory” is largely not testable and perhaps not supported by evidence, at least not to
the standard of a Theory, whose support comes from an abundance of varied
experimental evidence. This “theory” serves more a hypothesis, which differs from a
Theory, whose scope is much broader and supplies a comprehensive explanation.
6. Imagine that Dr. Smith has created a new kind of African violet (Yes, he has done
this frequently). Describe what criteria this plant must have to be a “success” in
terms of Evolution by Natural Section if Dr. Smith were to release this plant back
into the Wilds of Kenya or Tanzania where African violets originated.
In order to be considered a success in terms of Evolution by Natural selection, this
new African violet would have to be able to survive and reproduce. To clarify, the plants
genetics and traits must enable it to survive and prosper so that it may reproduce, which
would allow the plant to leave progeny behind, which would pass on its advantageous
genes and subsequent traits to the next generation. This passing on of beneficial
adaptations that enable an organism to better survive is a key theme of Evolution by
Natural selection.
7. Discuss what characteristics “Science” uses to investigate the universe that are
unique from other ways of “knowing”.
Science has several unique characteristics that it uses to investigate the universe.
These investigative techniques included observation, questioning, hypothesizing, and
repeated experimentation. One of the most important aspects of scientific research is that
one may never assume anything, and all evidence and reasoning must be explicitly
supported through observation or shown in an experiment. Additionally, science never
“proves” nor “disproves” anything, but merely supports a hypothesis, meaning its
conclusions are subject to continual testing and change, unlike traditional “knowing,”
where a conclusion might go unchallenged at its conception. Furthermore, science does
not partake in inferences or biases, which can differ from other ways of knowing where
opinions might affect what is “known.”
AP Biology
19 Aug 2015
Chapter 1 homework
Homework – Chapter 1
1. Many people talk about their boat as if it was alive, giving it a name and
regularly talking to it (usually as a “she”). Discuss what characteristics of Life DO
apply to a boat and which characteristics of Life DO NOT apply.
The characteristics of life that apply to a boat include pattern/order and energy
processing. The boat exhibits pattern/order in its construction and architectural plan,
being highly organized in a structure that works to suit the function of the boat, water
travel. The boat processes energy in the form of gasoline order to perform its function
and to preform work. The characteristics of life that do not apply to a boat include
reproduction, possession of nucleic acids, evolutionary adaption, growth and
development, response to environment, regulation, and death. The boat is unable to
reproduce and has no nucleic acid to carry on its genetic information, largely because it
has none. This also means that the boat has no evolutionary adaptation, since this requires
the passing on of genetic information. The boat is unable to grow and develop on its own,
due to the fact that it has no cells that can grow in size/complexity. Life grows by internal
changes, which is not true of the boat, which can grow only if a person builds an
extension. The boat has no response to environment, as it does not independently react to
the changes in stimuli such as the weather or organisms around it, and while it is true that
the boat has certain regulation processes built into its system, used to control its inner
workings from the temperature of the cabin to the levels of chemicals used to run the
engine and motor, this cannot count as a characteristic of life due to the fact that it must
be organized by humans and is not internally controlled. Finally, the boat will not
experience death, and will continue to function properly forever as long as it is properly
maintained.
2. The Transformer movie series introduced us to the ideas of two intelligent races
of robots, the Autobots and Decepticons. Discuss if these robots should be
considered “life forms” and justify your answer.
These robots should not be considered life forms because they do not have the cell
as the basic unit of life, the ability to reproduce, or the possession nucleic acids.
Furthermore, the robots do not undergo the processes of evolutionary adaption, growth
and development, or natural death, which is brought on by a lack of energy. All of the
listed traits are characteristics/properties of life that an organism must have to be
considered “living”. Since the robots do not have all these qualifications, they cannot be
considered life forms.
3. If Science is a Process, discuss if the content and concepts you learn in AP Biology
will stay the same for your entire adult career.
If Science is to be described as a process, this would mean that all the information
known is subject to review, questioning, and re-experimentation at any time. It also
means that there is a possibility that new information can be discovered. Therefore, it is
quite possible that some current results may be found to be unsupportive of any newly
discovered information, which would require additional questioning and experimentation,
which could yield different or new results than the previous experiments. This means that
all scientific knowledge is subject to change. In light of this process, it is very possible
that the content and concepts we learn now in AP Biology might change at some point in
our lives due to a misconception in experimentation or a discovery of new information.
4. A typical bacteria cell has about 3000 genes in its DNA while a human
cell has about 25,000 genes. About 1,000 of these genes are present in both types
of cells. Based on your understanding of evolution, discuss why such different
organisms could have this same subset of genes.
The evolutionary process is mostly concerned with passing on advantageous
adaptations through reproduction. Due to the large number of shared genes, it is possible
that human cells are somehow connected in an evolutionary sense, perhaps through a
common ancestor, with bacterial cells. If human cells and bacterial cells are indeed
related through a common ancestor, and if the shared genes which are present in both
types of cells code for a beneficial survival trait, then it makes sense that these genes
would have been passed on by their common ancestor, since evolution is meant to pass
on traits that enable organisms to survive.
5. It is common to hear on many TV shows that someone has a “theory” about how
a crime was committed and who was responsible. Discuss if this is a “Theory” or a
“theory”.
The type of “theory” discussed in this case is a theory. This is due to the fact that
this “theory” is largely not testable and perhaps not supported by evidence, at least not to
the standard of a Theory, whose support comes from an abundance of varied
experimental evidence. This “theory” serves more a hypothesis, which differs from a
Theory, whose scope is much broader and supplies a comprehensive explanation.
6. Imagine that Dr. Smith has created a new kind of African violet (Yes, he has done
this frequently). Describe what criteria this plant must have to be a “success” in
terms of Evolution by Natural Section if Dr. Smith were to release this plant back
into the Wilds of Kenya or Tanzania where African violets originated.
In order to be considered a success in terms of Evolution by Natural selection, this
new African violet would have to be able to survive and reproduce. To clarify, the plants
genetics and traits must enable it to survive and prosper so that it may reproduce, which
would allow the plant to leave progeny behind, which would pass on its advantageous
genes and subsequent traits to the next generation. This passing on of beneficial
adaptations that enable an organism to better survive is a key theme of Evolution by
Natural selection.
7. Discuss what characteristics “Science” uses to investigate the universe that are
unique from other ways of “knowing”.
Science has several unique characteristics that it uses to investigate the universe.
These investigative techniques included observation, questioning, hypothesizing, and
repeated experimentation. One of the most important aspects of scientific research is that
one may never assume anything, and all evidence and reasoning must be explicitly
supported through observation or shown in an experiment. Additionally, science never
“proves” nor “disproves” anything, but merely supports a hypothesis, meaning its
conclusions are subject to continual testing and change, unlike traditional “knowing,”
where a conclusion might go unchallenged at its conception. Furthermore, science does
not partake in inferences or biases, which can differ from other ways of knowing where
opinions might affect what is “known.”
