Multicellular
Consisting of many cells
Unicellular
Made of a single cell
Reproduction
the process of producing offspring
Metabolism
All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism
cell division
The reproduction of cells
Abiotic
Non-living
Biotic
living things
independent variable
variable that is manipulated
dependent variable
The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.
control group
the group that does not receive the experimental treatment.
Adaptation
A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce
prokaryotic cell
cell that does not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryotic cells
Contain a nucleus and other organelles that are bound by membranes.
DNA
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Enzymes
Proteins that speed up chemical reactions
Photosynthesis
Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy.
cellular respiration
the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food
Phototaxis
movement in response to light
Eyespot
Group of cells that can detect changes in the amount of light in the environment
Cillia
hair like projections of a cell that move in wave like motion
Flagella
A long, whip-like filament that helps in cell motility. Many bacteria are flagellated, and sperm are flagellated.
energy pyramid
A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
primary producers
the first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms
Autotroph
An organism that makes its own food
Heterotroph
An organism that cannot make its own food.
competition
the struggle among producers for the dollars of consumers
symboisis
relationship in which two species live close together
Mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Commensalism
one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitism
One organism benefits and the other is harmed
water cycle
The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
carbon cycle
The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
nitrogen cycle
The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere
nitrogen fixation
Process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Biomagnification
accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain
cell wall
A rigid layer of nonliving material that surrounds the cells of plants and some other organisms.
plasma membrane
A selectively-permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of the cells
Chloroplast
An organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs
Mitochondrion
Cell organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use
vacuole
A sac inside a cell that acts as a storage area
Ribosome
Makes proteins
Golgi body
A structure in a cell that receives proteins and other newly formed materials from the endoplasmic reticulum, packages them, and distributes them to other parts of the cell.
Nucleus
Control center of the cell
Nucleolus
Found inside the nucleus and produces ribosomes
passive transport
the movement of substances across a cell membrane without the use of energy by the cell
Osmosis
Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
Diffusion
The process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time
facilitated diffusion
Movement of specific molecules across cell membranes through protein channels
active transport
the movement of materials through a cell membrane using energy
hormone
Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
fluid mosaic model
model that describes the arrangement and movement of the molecules that make up a cell membrane
negative feedback
A primary mechanism of homeostasis, whereby a change in a physiological variable that is being monitored triggers a response that counteracts the initial fluctuation.
positive feedback
Feedback that tends to magnify a process or increase its output.
Bioenergetics
the study of how energy flows through living organisms
Reactants
A starting material in a chemical reaction
Products
The elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction.
Cloroplast
Turns plants green and helps with photosynthesis
Enzymes
Catalysts for chemical reactions in living things
pigment
light-absorbing molecule used by plants to gather the sun's energy
Clorophyll
A green material that plants use for photosynthesis
activation energy
Energy needed to get a reaction started
vascular tissue
specialized tissue in plants that carries water and nutrients
Xylem
vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant
Stomata
Small openings on the underside of a leaf through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move
Transporation
the process by which water evaporates from a plant's leaves
cellular respiration
the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food
arobic respiration
Releasing energy with the use of oxygen
anerobic respiration
Respiration that does not require oxygen
Fermentation
Process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen
Mitochondria
Powerhouse of the cell
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
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