Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Biology test
biology test 1_ chapter 1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biology | The branch of science that is concerned with the study of life and living organisms. |
| atom | Smallest particle of an element that displays the properties of the element. |
| molecule | Union of two or more atoms of the same element; also, the smallest part of a compound that retains the properties of the compound. |
| Cell | The smallest unit of life that displays all the properties of life; composed of cytoplasm surrounded by a plasma membrane |
| multicellular | Organism composed of many cells; usually has organized tissues, organs, and organ systems. |
| tissue | Group of similar cells combined to perform a common function. |
| organ | Combination of two or more different tissues performing a common function. |
| organ system | Group of related organs working together; examples are the digestive and endocrine systems. |
| organism | An individual; complex indivduals contain organ systems. |
| population | Group of organisms of the same species occupying a certain area and sharing a common gene pool. |
| community | Assemblage of species interacting with one another within the same environment. |
| ecosystem | Biological community together with the associated abiotic environment; characterized by a flow of energy and a cycling of inorganic nutrients. |
| biosphere | Zone of air, land, and water at the surface of the Earth in which living organisms are found. |
| energy | Capacity to do work and bring about change; occurs in a variety of forms. |
| metabolism | The sum of the chemical reactions that occur in a cell. |
| photosynthesis | Process, usually occurring within chloroplasts, that uses solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrate. |
| homeostasis | Maintenance of normal internal conditions in a cell or an organism by means of self-regulating mechanisms. |
| reproduce | To produce a new individual of the same kind. |
| development | Process of regulated growth and differentiation of cells and tissues. |
| gene | Unit of heredity existing as alleles on the chromosomes; in diploid organisms, typically two alleles are inherited—one from each parent. |
| DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | Nucleic acid polymer produced from covalent bonding of nucleotide monomers that contain the sugar deoxyribose; the genetic material of nearly all organisms. |
| mutations | Any change made in the nucleotide sequence of DNA; source of new variation for a species. |
| adaptation | Species modification in structure, function, or behavior that makes a species more suitable to its environment. |
| evolution | Genetic change in a species over time, resulting in the development of genetic and phenotypic differences that are the basis of natural selection; descent of organisms from a common ancestor. |
| natural selection | Mechanism of evolutionary change caused by environmental selection of organisms most fit to reproduce; results in adaptation to the environment. |
| taxonomy | Branch of biology concerned with identifying, describing, and naming organisms |
| systematics | Study of the diversity of life for the purpose of understanding the evolutionary relationships between species. |
| species | Group of similarly constructed organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring; organisms that share a common gene pool; the taxon at the lowest level of classification. |
| genus | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; contains those species that are most closely related through evolution. |
| family | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon located above the genus level. |
| order | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon located above the family level. |
| class | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above the order level. |
| phylum | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon located above the class level. |
| kingdom | One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above phylum. |
| domain Bacteria | One of the three domains of life; contains prokaryotic cells that differ from archaea because they have their own unique genetic, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. |
| domain Archaea | One of the three domains of life; contains prokaryotic cells that often live in extreme habitats and have unique genetic, biochemical, and physiological characteristics; its members are sometimes referred to as |
| domain Eukarya | One of the three domains of life, consisting of organisms with eukaryotic cells; includes protists, fungi, plants, and animals. |
| prokaryote | Organism that lacks the membrane-bound nucleus and the membranous organelles typical of eukaryotes. |
| eukaryotic cell (eukaryote) | Type of cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and membranous organelles; found in organisms within the domain Eukarya. |
| Protists | The group of eukaryotic organisms that are not a plant, fungus, or animal. Protists are generally a microscopic complex single cell; they evolved before other types of eukaryotes in the history of Earth. |
| plants | Multicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes that increasingly became adapted to live on land. |
| fungus (pl., fungi) | Eukaryotic saprotrophic decomposer; the body is made up of filaments called hyphae that form a mass called a mycelium. |
| animals | Multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryote that undergoes development to achieve its final form. In general, animals are mobile organisms, characterized by the presence of muscular and nervous tissue. |
| binomial nomenclature | Scientific name of an organism, the first part of which designates the genus and the second part of which designates the specific epithet. |
| scientific method | Process by which scientists formulate a hypothesis, gather data by observation and experimentation, and come to a conclusion. |
| observation | Initial step in the scientific method that often involves the recording of data from an experiment or natural event. |
| inductive reasoning | Using specific observations and the process of logic and reasoning to arrive at general scientific principles. |
| hypothesis | Supposition established by reasoning after consideration of available evidence; it can be tested by obtaining more data, often by experimentation. |
| experiment | A test of a hypothesis that examines the influence of a single variable. Often involves both control and test groups. |
| deductive reasoning | The use of general principles to predict specific outcomes. Often uses “if … then” statements. |
| prediction | Step of the scientific process that follows the formulation of a hypothesis and assists in creating the experimental design. |
| experimental design | Methodology by which an experiment will seek to support the hypothesis. |
| experimental variable | Factor of the experiment being tested. |
| responding variable | Result or change that occurs when an experimental variable is utilized in an experiment. |
| control | Sample that goes through all the steps of an experiment but does not contain the variable being tested; a standard against which the results of an experiment are checked. |
| model | Simulation of a process that aids conceptual understanding until the process can be studied firsthand; a hypothesis that describes how a particular process could be carried out. |
| data (sing., datum) | Facts or information collected through observation and/or experimentation. |
| principle | Theory that is generally accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists; also called a law. |
| law | Universal principle that describes the basic functions of the natural world. |
| technology | Application of scientific knowledge for a practical purpose. |
| biodiversity | Total number of species, the variability of their genes, and the communities in which they live. |
| extinction | Total disappearance of a species or higher group. |
| climate change | Recent changes in the Earth’s climate; evidence suggests that this is primarily due to human influence, including the increased release of greenhouse gases. |
| global warming | Predicted increase in the Earth’s temperature due to human activities that promote the greenhouse effect. |
Created by:
Haleyannestes
Popular Biology sets