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Chapter 8 Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| autotroph | An organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food. |
| heterotroph | An organism that cannot make its own food and gets food by consuming other living things. |
| cell | The basic unit of structure and function in living things. |
| classification | The process of grouping things based on their similarities. |
| development | The process of change that occurs during an organism’s life to produce a more complex organism. |
| binomial nomenclature | The classification system in which each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name indicating its genus and species. |
| genus | A classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species. |
| species | A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce. |
| kingdom | The first and largest category used to classify organisms. |
| organism | A living thing. |
| homeostasis | The condition in which an organism’s internal environment is kept stable in spite of changes in the external environment. |
| response | An action or change in behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus. |
| stimulus | Any change or signal in the environment that can make an organism react in some way. |
| taxonomy | The scientific study of how living things are classified. |