Ch. 1: The Science of Biology

science

organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world

inference

logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

hypothesis

possible explanation for observations or for a question that can be tested

control group

part of an experiment that is not changed so that it can be compared to the experimental group

controlled experiment

an experiment that tests the effect of one variable

independent variable

factor in an experiment that is changed

dependent variable

factor in an experiment that is observed or measured as it responds to the independent variable

data

detailed records of experimental observations

theory

well-tested explanation that explains observations and hypotheses

bias

personal point of view that is not scientific

biology

study of life

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents

stimulus

signal to which an organism responds

sexual reproduction

cells from two parents combine to form the first cell of a new organism

asexual reproduction

single organism produces offspring identical to itself

homeostasis

maintenance of a stable internal environment

metabolism

chemical reactions in which a living thing breaks down or builds up materials

biosphere

part of Earth that can sustain life

experimental group

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

observation

The act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.