Science
Organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.
Observation
Process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.
Inference
A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience.
Hypothesis
Possible explanation for a set of observations or possible answer to a scientific question.
Controlled Experiment
Experiment in which only one variable is changed.
Independent Variable
Factor in a controlled experiment that is deliberately changed; also called manipulated variable.
Dependent Variable
Variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable; also called the responding variable.
Control Group
Group in an experiment that is expose to the same conditions as the experimental group except for on independent variable.
Data
Evidence; information gathered from observations.
Theory
Well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses, and enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations.
Bias
Particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific.
Biology
Scientific study of life.
DNA
Genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents.
Stimulus
Signal to which an organism responds.
Sexual Reproduction
Type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism.
Asexual Reproduction
Process of reproduction involving a single parent that results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.
Homeostasis
Relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain.
Metabolism
The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials.
Biosphere
Part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere.
Unicellular
Another term for Single celled organisms