biology
the study of life
organization
the high degree of order within an organism's internal and external parts and in its interactions with the living world
cell
in biology, the smallest unit that can perform all life processes; _______ are covered by a membrane and contain DNA and cytoplasm
unicellular
describes an organism that consists of a single cell
multicellular
describes a tissue, organ, or organism that is made of many cells
organ
a collection of tissues that carry out a specialized function of the body
tissue
a collection of specialized cells and cell products that perform a specific function
organelle
one of the small bodies that are found in the cytoplasm of a cell and that are specialized to perform a specific function
biological molecule
chemical compound that provides physical structure and brings about movement, energy use, and other cellular functions
homeostasis
the steady-state physiological condition of the body
metabolism
the sum of all chemical processes that occur in an organism
cell division
the formation of two cells from one existing cell
development
the gene-directed process by which an organism matures
reproduction
the process of producing offspring
gene
a short segment of DNA that contains the instructions for a single trait
domain
in a modern taxonomic system, the broadest category; the category that contains kingdoms
kingdom
in a tradtitional taxonomic system, the highest taxonomic category, which conatins a group of similar phyla
ecology
the study of the interactions between organisms and the other living and nonliving components of their environment
ecosystem
a community of organisms and their abiotic environment
evolution
a heritable change in the characteristics within a population from one generation to the next; the development of new types of organisms from pre-existing types of organisms over time
natural selection
the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted individuals do; a theory to explain the mechanism of evolution
adaptation
the process of becoming adapted to an environment; an
scientific method
the series of steps followed to solve problems, including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions
observation
the process of obtaining information by using the senses; the information obtained by using the senses
hypothesis
in science, an idea or explanation that is based on observations and that can be tested
prediction
a statement made in advance that expresses the results that will be obatined from testing a hypothesis if the hypothesis is supported; the expected outcome if a hypothesis is accurate
experiment
a procedure that is carried out under controlled conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a fact, theory or general truth
control group
in an experiment, a group that serves as a standard of comparison with another group to which the control gorup is identical except for one factor
experimental group
in an experiment, a group that is identical to a control group except for one factor and that is compared with the control group
independent variable
in an experiment, the factor that is deliberately manipulated
theory
an explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning; that is supported by a large quantity of evidence; and that does not conflict with any existing experimental results or observations
peer review- collaboration
the process in which experts in a given field examine the results and conclusions of a scientist's study before that study is accepted for publication