BIOLOGY 1M03 Chapter 1: BIO 1M03 - chap 1.docx
7 Mar 2012
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Bio 1m03 - chapter 1: biology and the tree of life. Cell theory and natural selection both arose in the mid-1800s. Cell theory: all organisms are made of cells and all cells come from preexisting cells. Natural selection: bacteria, mushrooms, humans and birds are all part of a family tree. A cell: highly organized compartment bound by a thin plasma membrane and contains concentrated chemicals in aqueous solution. A theory has two parts: 1. a pattern is observed 2. a mechanism responsible for said pattern. Cell theory pattern = observed cells that seem to make up every living organism. Mechanism = all cells arise from pre-existing cells. Cell theory disproved hypothesis of spontaneous generation which stated that cells could arise spontaneously from nonliving material. ***if spontaneous generation is true: cells will exist in both flasks, if all-cells-from-cells is true, cells will only be in straight neck flask. all-cells-from-cells wins.
