Term | Definition |
Abiotic Factor | A factor in an ecosystem that is non-living |
Asexual Reproduction | reproduction by 1 organism |
Autotroph | Organism that makes its own food through photosynthesis |
Animalia | The kingdom for all animals |
Allele | Form of a gene |
Adaptation | Genetic change to help an organism survive in an environment |
Adrenal Gland | one of the two endocrine glands located above each kidney |
Antibody | a protein made by B cells that binds to a specific antigen |
Benthic Zone | The Region of the ocean along the sea floor |
binary fission | THe process in which a parent cell makes a copy of its genetic material and then divides into two cells with identical genetic material |
Biome | A group of similair ecosystems that are charectized by climate,precipitation, and the tpes of organisms that live there. |
10% rule | 10% of original energy goes to next tropic level |
acquired trait | traits that are not inherited from parents but are like adaptations |
active immunity | the immunity that results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to the presence of antigens |
adaptation | A change in an animals behavior to survive |
alveoli | tiny air sacs of the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged |
archaebacteria | unicellular prokaryotes that reproduce asexually. a modern taxonomic system made up of prokaryotes that differ from other Ps in the makeup of their cell walls + genetics |
artery | carrys blood away from heart |
atrium | the upper chamber of the heart |
bias | prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another |
binomial nomenclature | the system of nomenclature in which 2 terms are used to denotate a species of a living organism the first one indicating the genus + the second for specific animal |
biodiversity | the number and variety of organisms in a given area during a specific period of time |
biosphere | the part of earth where life exists |
biotic factor | Living factor in an ecosystem |
bladder | sac holding urine |
body fossil | bone of body fossilized |
bone | Structure in body holding body stable, makes blood |
brain | the mass of nerve tissue that is the main control center of the nervous system |
brainstem | stem going to spinal cord from brain |
bronichole | smaller tubes coming out of each bronchus branch |
bronchus | one of the two tubes that connect the lungs with the trachea |
budding | type of reproduction of bacteria |
capillary | a tiny blood vessel that allows an exchange between blood and cells in tissue |
carbohydrate | molecules made of sugar |
carbon cycle | the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back |
cardiac muscle | involuntary muscle found only in the heart |
carnivore | animal that eats meat |
carrying capacity | the largest population that an environment can support at any given time |
cartilage | flexible tissue |
cell | basic unit of all living things |
cell cycle | cycle of cells living and dying |
cell membrane | soft outer 'shell' of cell, porous |
cell theory | all organisms are made up of one or more cells'; basic unit of life; all cells come from existing cells |
cell wall | wall that protects cell |
cellular respiration | the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food |
central nervous system | the brain and the spinal cord; its main function is to control the flow of information in the body |
chemical digestion | large molecules broken down into nutrients |
chloroplast | an organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs |
chromosome | in a eukaryotic cell, one of the structures in the nucleus that are made up of DNA and protein; in a prokaryotic cell, the main ring of DNA |
circulatory | the system that circulates blood + lymph throuhg the body |
class | level of classification |
classification | the division of organisms into groups, or classes, based on specific characteristics |
cloning | Making a genetically identical organism |
codominance | a condition in which both alleles of a gene pair in a hetero zygote are fully expressed with neither on bieng dominant |
commensalism | a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected |
community | all of the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other |
competition | struggle to get resources |
conclusion | the end or finish of something; a judgement or decision based on reasoning |
cytoplasm | what the organelles float around in the cell |
coniferous forest | cone, needle like leaves, evergreen producing trees are conifers |
control group | Factor in an experiment that is a test with a controlled experiment. |
controlled group | something that is used as a constant and unchanging standard of comparison in scientific experimentation |
cytoskeloton | the cytoplasmic network of protein filaments that plays an essential role in cell movement, shape, + division |
controlled experiment | an experiment that tests only one factor at a time by using a comparison of a control group with an experiment group |
consumer | an organism that consumes another |
dominant trait | the trait observed in the first generation when parents that have different traits are bred |
decidous | shedding its leaves annually |
dentrification | the loss or removal of nitrogen or nitrogen compounds |
development | the process of changing or being changed |
DNA replication | the process of making an identical copy at a section of duplex DNA using existing DNA as a template for the synthesis of new DNA strands |
DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid. a molecule that is present in all living cells and contains info for cells ( RECIPE FOR ALL LIVING THINGS !!! ) |
Digestive system | the organs thta break down food so that it can be used by the body |
Diaphragm | a dome shaped muscle that is attached to the lower ribs + that functions as the main muscle in respiration. |
Diffusion | the movement of particles from higher to lower density |
Desert | A region that has little or no plant life, long periods w/out rain, extreme temperatures; usually found in hot climates |
Dependent Variable | variable that depends on independent variable |
Decomposer | organisms that decompose deceased organisms, recycles nutrients |
Data | a piece of information acquired through observation or experimentation |
Excretory system | gets rid of solid waste from body |
Environment | the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives in or operates |
Enzyme | breaks some nutrients into smaller particles that the body can use |
experimental Group | a group of subjects who are exposed to the variable under study |
Endoplasmic Reticulum | system of membranes that are found in a cell's cytoplasm + assists in the production, processing+ transport of proteins + in the production of liquids |
Egg | female sex cell |
ecosystem | a community of organisms + their abiotic,+ their nonliving environment |
ecology | the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another + with their enviorment |
Esophagus | a long straight tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach |
energy pyramid | a triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy which results as energy passes through the food chain |
Extinction | the death of every member in a species |
evolution | the process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise |
eukaryote | an organism made up of cells that have a nucleus enclosed by a menbrane |
eubacteria | MODERN BACTERIA !! |
Estuary | an area where salt water and fresh water meet from rivers and seas. LOTS OF LIFE |
Fallopian tube | where fertilization occurs |
fertilization | the joining of an egg and sperm |
family | order of classification AFTER ORDER and BEFORE GENUS |
field study | research project carried out in the field |
Freshwater biome | No salt water, streams and rivers |
Fungi | kingdom made up of non green eukaryote organisms. they have means of movement reproduce by using spores + get food by breaking down things |
function | a special or proper activity of an organ or part |
fossil | the trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock |
food web | a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem |
Food chain | the path way of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms |
Genetic engineering | a technology in which the genome of a living cell is modified for medical or industrial use |
grassland | a region that is dominated by grasses that has few woody shrubs + trees, that has fertile soils + that relieves moderate amounts amounts of seasonal rainfall |
genetic disorder | abnormal conditions that are caused by mutations, or DNA changes in genes or chromosomes |
Genetics | the study of heredity and genes |
genus | the first part of the scinetific name of an animal |
Geologic era | A major division of geologic time |
Golgi apparatus | the organelle that packages and distributes proteins |
growth | the process in increasing in physical size |
graduated cylinder | a tool used to measure the volume of liquids |
genotype | the entire genetic makeup of an organism; also the combination of genes for 1 or more specific traits |
Gene | one set of instructions for an inherited trait |
heredity | the passing of traits from parents to offspring |
hybridization | the process of combing 2 complimentary single stranded DNA or RNA molecules + allowing them them to form a single double stranded molecule through base pairing |
hybrid | the offspring of 2 plants or animals of different species or varieties |
homologous structures | something scientists look at while trying to see how close 2 organisms are |
habitat | the natural home or environment of an animal,plant, or other organism |
heart | an organ made of cardiac tissue, 4 chambers, pumps blood |
hypothesis | a testable idea or explanation that leads to a scientific investigation |
host | an organism from which a parasite takes food or shelter |
hormone | a substance that is made in one cellular tissue + that causes a change in another cell tissue in a different part of the body |
heterozygous | describes an individual that has 2 different alleles for a trait |
homozygous | identical alleles for the trait |
heterotroph | organism that has to catch its own food |
herbivore | organism that only eats plants |
invertabrae | an animal that does not have a backbone |
integumentary system | the organ system that forms a protective covering on the outside of the body |
immune system | the cells + tissues that recognize + attack foreign substances in the body |
inherited trait | the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism |
infrence | a conclusion based on basis of evidence and reasoning |
incomplete dominance | a genetic situation in which one allele does not completely dominate another allele+ therefore results in a new phenotype |
inbreeding | the process of crossing 2 organisms with similar or alike alleles |
impulses | the electrical neurons send out |
independent variable | in an experiment, the factor that is deliberately manipulated |
intertidal zone | sea grasses,periwinkle snails, + herons are common in an intertidal zone. sea stars + enenomes often live on rocky shores |