Biology Open Ended Questions

Consider the many characteristics of living organisms. In what ways do living organisms differ from non-living things?

• Living organisms can reproduce, grow, and respond to stimuli.

• Living organisms are made of non-organic materials.

• Living organisms do not require energy.

• Living organisms remain unchanged over time.

What is the goal of the reductionist approach in biology?

• To understand complex systems by studying their individual components

• To focus on the interactions between different biological systems

• To study the ecological impact of biological processes

• To explore the evolutionary history of organisms

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Think of examples of emergent properties in biology. What does “emergent” mean?

• A property that arises from the interaction of simpler elements

• A property that is inherent in individual elements

• A property that is predictable from individual elements

• A property that is static and unchanging

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What is the goal of the systems biology approach?

• To understand the interactions within biological systems

• To focus on individual components of biological systems

• To ignore the complexity of biological systems

• To study only the genetic aspects of organisms

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How are structure and function related in biology?

• Structure and function are unrelated in biology.

• Structure determines function in biological systems.

• Function determines structure in biological systems.

• Structure and function are the same in biology.

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DNA is an example of the unity of living organisms because:

• It is found in all living organisms.

• It varies greatly between different species.

• It is only present in complex organisms.

• It is unique to each individual organism.

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Are you an autotroph or a heterotroph?

• Autotroph

• Heterotroph

In what ways does an organism interact with other organisms and its environment?

• Through competition and cooperation

• By ignoring other organisms

• Only through predation

• By living in isolation

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What are examples of interaction within an organism?

• Cell communication

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Digestion

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What does it mean for a gene to be “expressed”?

• A gene is expressed when it is replicated.

• A gene is expressed when it is transcribed into RNA.

• A gene is expressed when it is mutated.

• A gene is expressed when it is deleted.

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