Question

Learning Objective Week 1 Chapter 1 1. Define Biology 2. What are characteristics that we must see in order to say that something is alive in Biological terms? 3. Explain Biological Organization and the different levels in organization. What does is mean when we talk about emergent properties? 4. Explain Feedback regulation. What is the difference between positive and negative feedback? 5. Describe the different Kingdoms and Domains in Biology 6. Explain what is involved in the Scientific Method

Answer 1

1. Study of all types of living organisms present in the world, including their different complex physical, anatomical or behavioural characteristics, is known as Biology.

2. In order to consider something alive, it should - i) possess cellular structure, ii) reproduce, iii) respond to stimuli, iv) grow, v) generally capable of movement.

3. Different levels of biological organization refer to the stages through which a unicellular structure gradually becomes multicellular and sustains as a complex structure in its environment and surroundings. The different levels include - cell, tissue, organ, system, individual, population, community, ecology etc.

When we talk about emergent properties, it means the properties required to grow up as a complex system rather than its individual components.

4. Feedback regulation can be defined as the regulation of a metabolic or physiological system by its own components through stimulation or inhibition of other downstream or upstream components in the pathway.

In case of positive feedback, the rate of a pathway gets stimulated by any intermediate product or enzyme, whereas in negative feedback the rate gets reduced by some inhibitory action of intermediate proteins.