Term | Definition |
scientific method | process of making observations, asking questions, proposing explanations (hypothesis), designing experiments, predicting results, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting you results, and drawing conclusions |
hypothesis | a possible explanation of the observation or a possible answer to the question |
endosymbiont | species that lives harmoniously inside another organism |
controlled experiment | designed to produce results that allow you to either retain or reject the hypothesis |
experimental group | one factor (the independent variable) is altered in some manner |
independent variable | the variable or factor that the investigator changes (or manipulates) during the experiment in hopes of affecting the dependent variable |
dependent variable | what the investigator measures as the outcome of a change in the independent variable |
control group | the test is performed under the same conditions as in the experimental group except that no change is made to the independent variable |
controlled variables | variables that are held constant |
behavior | a response (movement or activity) of an organism to an internal or external stimulus |
orientation | type of behavior pattern in which an organism turns its body or moves either toward or away from a certain stimulus in the environment |
kinesis | a simple type of orientation behavior in which an animal changes its rate of locomotion in response to a stimulus |
slow down, speed up | animals often ________________ locomotion in response to stimuli that are indicative of a favorable environment and ___________________ locomotion in response to stimuli that are indicative of an unfavorable environment |
anthropomorphic | to attribute human feelings and emotions to other organisms |
necromones | chemicals (fatty acids such as oleic acid or linoleic acid) that are released from dismembered or dead animals (perhaps killed by a predator) |