Biology Section 1.1

Biology

science of life; examines how living things interact, how systems function, and how they function at a molecular level.

Organism

anything that has or once had all the characteristics of life

Organization

orderly structure shown by living things

Growth

process that results in mass being added to an organism; may include formation of new cells and new structures

development

changes an organism undergoes in its lifetime before reaching its adult form

Reproduction

the production of offspring

Species

group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Stimulus

any change in an organism's internal or external environment that causes the organism to react

Response

organism's reaction to a stimulus

Homeostasis

regulation of an organism's internal environment to maintain conditions needed for life

Adaptation

inherited characteristics of a species that develops over time in response to an environmental factor, enabling the species to survive