Term | Definition |
Evolution | The change in the genetic composition of a population over time. |
Eukaryotic Cell | A type of cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. |
Prokaryotic Cell | A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. |
Consumer | An organism that feeds on producers, other consumers, or nonliving organic material. |
Producer | An organism that produces organic compounds from CO2 by harnessing light energy, or by oxidizing inorganic chemicals. |
Natural Selection | A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits. |
Inquiry | The search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions. |
Deductive Reasoning | A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise. |
Inductive Reasoning | A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations. |
Independent Variable | A variable whose value is manipulated or changed during an experiment or other test to reveal possible effects on another variable. |
Dependent Variable | A variable whose value is measured during an experiment or other test to see whether it is influenced by changes in another variable. |
Variable | A factor that varies in an experiment or other test. |
Theory | An explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence. |
Technology | The application of scientific knowledge for a specific purpose, often involving industry or commerce but also including uses in basic research. |