# Trivia deck — copy to SD card as /setup/trivia_biology.txt # Any file named trivia*.txt is offered in the deck menu (long-press BOOT). TITLE: BIOLOGY / LIFE SCIENCE Q: What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms? A: The cell Q: What organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell"? A: The mitochondrion Q: What organelle contains a cell's genetic material? A: The nucleus Q: What is the term for the process by which cells release energy from glucose using oxygen? A: Cellular respiration Q: What is the chemical equation summary of photosynthesis (inputs)? A: Carbon dioxide + water + light energy Q: What pigment in plants absorbs light for photosynthesis? A: Chlorophyll Q: What organelle in plant cells carries out photosynthesis? A: The chloroplast Q: What rigid structure surrounds plant cells but not animal cells? A: The cell wall Q: What is the main component of plant cell walls? A: Cellulose Q: What is the term for organisms made up of only one cell? A: Unicellular organisms Q: What is the term for cells without a nucleus, like bacteria? A: Prokaryotic cells Q: What is the term for cells with a true nucleus, like in animals and plants? A: Eukaryotic cells Q: What molecule carries genetic instructions in living organisms? A: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) Q: What shape does a DNA molecule form? A: A double helix Q: What are the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA? A: Adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine Q: In DNA base pairing, adenine pairs with which base? A: Thymine Q: In DNA base pairing, guanine pairs with which base? A: Cytosine Q: What molecule is similar to DNA but used to carry instructions for protein synthesis, and uses uracil instead of thymine? A: RNA (ribonucleic acid) Q: What is the process of copying DNA into RNA called? A: Transcription Q: What is the process of building proteins from RNA called? A: Translation Q: What cellular structures are responsible for protein synthesis? A: Ribosomes Q: What is a gene? A: A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or trait Q: What is the complete set of an organism's genetic material called? A: Its genome Q: Who is credited, along with James Watson, for discovering the structure of DNA in 1953? A: Francis Crick Q: Whose X-ray diffraction images were critical to the discovery of DNA's structure, though she received less recognition at the time? A: Rosalind Franklin Q: What is the term for an organism's observable physical traits? A: Phenotype Q: What is the term for an organism's genetic makeup? A: Genotype Q: Who is considered the father of modern genetics, known for his pea plant experiments? A: Gregor Mendel Q: What term describes a version of a gene, such as one for brown eyes versus blue eyes? A: Allele Q: What term describes an organism with two identical alleles for a trait? A: Homozygous Q: What term describes an organism with two different alleles for a trait? A: Heterozygous Q: What is the term for a trait that masks another trait when both alleles are present? A: Dominant Q: What is the term for a trait that is masked unless two copies are present? A: Recessive Q: What is the process of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells, used for growth and repair? A: Mitosis Q: What is the process of cell division that produces four genetically distinct sex cells (gametes)? A: Meiosis Q: How many chromosomes do typical human body cells contain? A: 46 (23 pairs) Q: How many chromosomes are in a human sperm or egg cell? A: 23 Q: What sex chromosomes determine a genetic male in humans? A: XY Q: What sex chromosomes determine a genetic female in humans? A: XX Q: What is the term for a random change in a DNA sequence? A: A mutation Q: Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, published in "On the Origin of Species" (1859)? A: Charles Darwin Q: What is "natural selection" in simple terms? A: The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce Q: What term describes organisms descending from a common ancestor over time, branching into different species? A: Speciation / evolution Q: What is the term for structures in different species that share a common evolutionary origin, like a human arm and a bat wing? A: Homologous structures Q: What is the basic taxonomic ranking system, from broadest to most specific (name the top 3)? A: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum (continuing to Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species) Q: What two-part naming system is used to classify species, e.g. Homo sapiens? A: Binomial nomenclature Q: Who developed the binomial nomenclature system still used today? A: Carl Linnaeus Q: What are the three domains of life? A: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya Q: What kingdom do mushrooms and molds belong to? A: Fungi Q: What is the basic unit of classification just above species? A: Genus Q: What is an ecosystem? A: A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment Q: What term describes all the populations of different species living in the same area? A: A community Q: What term describes a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area? A: A population Q: What is the role of producers in a food chain? A: They make their own food, usually via photosynthesis (e.g., plants) Q: What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem? A: Breaking down dead organisms and recycling nutrients Q: What term describes an organism that eats only plants? A: Herbivore Q: What term describes an organism that eats only meat? A: Carnivore Q: What term describes an organism that eats both plants and meat? A: Omnivore Q: What is a "food web"? A: A network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem Q: What gas do animals exhale as a byproduct of respiration? A: Carbon dioxide Q: What gas do animals primarily need to inhale for respiration? A: Oxygen Q: What is the term for the cycling of carbon between the atmosphere, organisms, and the earth? A: The carbon cycle Q: What is the term for the process by which water moves through the environment (evaporation, condensation, precipitation)? A: The water cycle Q: What is biodiversity? A: The variety of life in a given ecosystem or on Earth as a whole Q: What term describes a species at risk of extinction? A: Endangered species Q: What is a "keystone species"? A: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance Q: What is symbiosis? A: A close, long-term biological interaction between two different species Q: What term describes a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit? A: Mutualism Q: What term describes a symbiotic relationship where one benefits and the other is harmed? A: Parasitism Q: What term describes a symbiotic relationship where one benefits and the other is unaffected? A: Commensalism Q: What is homeostasis? A: The maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism Q: What organ system regulates body temperature, water balance, and waste removal in humans, including the kidneys? A: The excretory/urinary system Q: What is the primary function of the circulatory system? A: Transporting blood, nutrients, oxygen, and waste throughout the body Q: How many chambers does the human heart have? A: Four Q: What are the names of the human heart's four chambers? A: Left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle Q: What type of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart? A: Arteries Q: What type of blood vessel carries blood back to the heart? A: Veins Q: What are the smallest blood vessels, where gas/nutrient exchange occurs? A: Capillaries Q: What is the primary function of red blood cells? A: Carrying oxygen throughout the body Q: What protein in red blood cells binds to oxygen? A: Hemoglobin Q: What is the primary function of white blood cells? A: Fighting infection (immune defense) Q: What is the function of platelets in blood? A: Blood clotting Q: What organ is primarily responsible for filtering blood and producing urine? A: The kidneys Q: What organ is the primary site of digestion and nutrient absorption, after initial processing in the stomach? A: The small intestine Q: What organ produces bile to help digest fats? A: The liver Q: What organ stores bile produced by the liver? A: The gallbladder Q: What organ produces insulin to regulate blood sugar? A: The pancreas Q: What hormone does the pancreas release to lower blood sugar? A: Insulin Q: What disease results from the body's inability to properly regulate blood sugar? A: Diabetes Q: What organ system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves? A: The nervous system Q: What is the basic functional cell of the nervous system? A: A neuron Q: What is the gap between two neurons where signals are transmitted called? A: A synapse Q: What chemicals carry signals across a synapse? A: Neurotransmitters Q: What part of the brain is primarily responsible for coordinating balance and muscle control? A: The cerebellum Q: What part of the brain handles most higher-order thinking, like reasoning and language? A: The cerebrum (cerebral cortex) Q: What part of the brain regulates basic life functions like heart rate and breathing? A: The brainstem (medulla oblongata) Q: What organ system is made of bones and provides structure and protection? A: The skeletal system Q: How many bones are in the adult human body? A: 206 Q: What organ system works with the skeletal system to enable movement? A: The muscular system Q: What is the largest organ in the human body? A: The skin Q: What are the primary functions of skin? A: Protection, temperature regulation, and sensation Q: What organ system, including lungs, is responsible for gas exchange? A: The respiratory system Q: What is the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs? A: Alveoli Q: What muscle is primarily responsible for breathing, located below the lungs? A: The diaphragm Q: What glands and organs make up the endocrine system, broadly? A: Hormone-producing glands like the pancreas, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland Q: What gland is often called the "master gland" because it regulates other endocrine glands? A: The pituitary gland Q: What system defends the body against pathogens like bacteria and viruses? A: The immune system Q: What white blood cells produce antibodies? A: B cells (B lymphocytes) Q: What is a "pathogen"? A: A microorganism or agent that causes disease Q: What is the difference between a bacterium and a virus, broadly? A: Bacteria are living single-celled organisms; viruses are non-living particles that require a host cell to replicate Q: What is a vaccine designed to do? A: Train the immune system to recognize and fight a specific pathogen Q: Who developed the first vaccine, for smallpox, in 1796? A: Edward Jenner Q: Who developed the rabies vaccine and pioneered germ theory work, also known for pasteurization? A: Louis Pasteur Q: What is "germ theory"? A: The theory that many diseases are caused by microorganisms Q: What scientist is credited with identifying bacteria as a cause of specific diseases, establishing "Koch's postulates"? A: Robert Koch Q: What is an antibiotic used to treat? A: Bacterial infections (not viral infections) Q: Who discovered penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic, in 1928? A: Alexander Fleming Q: What is the term for bacteria that have evolved resistance to antibiotics? A: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria Q: What is a virus's basic structure, in simple terms? A: Genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat Q: What is the term for an organism that carries and transmits a pathogen, like a mosquito carrying malaria? A: A vector Q: What is photosynthesis's main product that organisms use for energy? A: Glucose (sugar) Q: What is the term for an organism's process of breaking down glucose without oxygen, common in muscle cells during intense exercise? A: Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) Q: What byproduct builds up in muscles during anaerobic respiration, contributing to fatigue? A: Lactic acid Q: What is the term for the process by which plants lose water vapor through their leaves? A: Transpiration Q: What plant structures take in water and minerals from soil? A: Roots Q: What plant tissue transports water upward from roots to leaves? A: Xylem Q: What plant tissue transports sugars produced by photosynthesis to other parts of the plant? A: Phloem Q: What is the term for a plant's reproductive structure that often contains pollen and ovules? A: A flower Q: What is pollination? A: The transfer of pollen from male to female parts of flowers, enabling fertilization Q: What term describes seeds developing from a fertilized ovule, often enclosed in fruit? A: Seed/fruit formation Q: What is "germination"? A: The process of a seed beginning to grow into a new plant Q: What process do some animals undergo involving dramatic body changes, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly? A: Metamorphosis Q: What term describes animals that maintain a constant internal body temperature, like mammals and birds? A: Endotherms (warm-blooded) Q: What term describes animals whose body temperature varies with their environment, like reptiles? A: Ectotherms (cold-blooded) Q: What are the five main classes of vertebrates? A: Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals Q: What defines a mammal, distinguishing it from other vertebrates? A: Mammals have hair/fur, are warm-blooded, and (mostly) give live birth and produce milk Q: What is unique about monotremes, a small group of mammals like the platypus? A: They lay eggs instead of giving live birth Q: What term describes animals without a backbone, like insects and worms? A: Invertebrates Q: What is the largest group of animals on Earth by number of species? A: Insects (arthropods more broadly) Q: What is an exoskeleton? A: A hard external skeleton, as found in insects and crustaceans Q: What process do insects like butterflies undergo, with four distinct stages? A: Complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) Q: What is the term for the study of living organisms? A: Biology Q: What is the term for the study of heredity and genes? A: Genetics Q: What is the term for the study of microorganisms? A: Microbiology Q: What is the term for the study of the structure of organisms? A: Anatomy Q: What is the term for the study of the function of living organisms and their parts? A: Physiology Q: What is the term for the study of interactions between organisms and their environment? A: Ecology Q: What is the term for the study of animals? A: Zoology Q: What is the term for the study of plants? A: Botany Q: What is the term for the study of fossils and ancient life? A: Paleontology Q: What is the scientific method's general first step, before forming a hypothesis? A: Making an observation / asking a question Q: What is a hypothesis? A: A testable, educated guess or proposed explanation Q: What is the term for a well-substantiated explanation of natural phenomena, supported by extensive evidence? A: A scientific theory Q: What is a control group used for in an experiment? A: A baseline for comparison that isn't exposed to the variable being tested Q: What is an independent variable in an experiment? A: The factor that is deliberately changed by the researcher Q: What is a dependent variable in an experiment? A: The factor that is measured/observed as a result Q: What is the term for energy flow being lost as heat at each step of a food chain, limiting chain length? A: The 10% rule / energy loss in trophic levels Q: What level of a food chain do producers occupy? A: The first trophic level Q: What is "biomagnification"? A: The increasing concentration of substances (like toxins) in organisms higher up a food chain Q: What term describes species introduced to an ecosystem where they are not native, often causing harm? A: Invasive species Q: What is "natural selection's" key requirement — variation, heredity, and what third factor? A: Differential survival/reproduction (selection pressure) Q: What is "genetic drift"? A: Random changes in allele frequencies in a population over generations Q: What is a "Punnett square" used for? A: Predicting the probability of offspring genotypes from a genetic cross Q: What is the term for an organism's complete set of chromosomes? A: Karyotype Q: What condition results from an extra copy of chromosome 21 in humans? A: Down syndrome Q: What is stem cell research broadly focused on? A: Using cells capable of developing into many different cell types for therapy and research Q: What is CRISPR primarily known for, in modern biology? A: Gene editing — precisely modifying DNA sequences Q: What is the term for organisms whose genetic material has been altered using biotechnology? A: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Q: What is "biotechnology," broadly defined? A: Using living organisms or systems to develop products and technologies