cell
The basic unit of structure and function in living things
organism
living thing
unicellular
Made of one cell
multicellular
Consisting of many cells
stimulus
Any change or signal in the environment that can make an organism react in someway
response
an action or change in behavior based on stimulus
development
is the process of change that occurs during an organisms life to produce a more complex organism
metabolism
the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials
asexual reproduction
A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that is identical to the parent
sexual reproduction
A reproductive process that involves two parents that combines their genetic material to produce a new organism which differs from both parents
spontaneous generation
the mistaken idea that living things could come from non living things
controlled experiment
An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time
autotrophs
An organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food
heterotrophs
An organism that cannot make its own food and get food by consuming other living things
homeostasis
The condition in which an organism's internal environment is kept stable in spite of changes in the external environment
Classification
the process of grouping things based on their similarities
taxonomy
The scientific study of how living things are classified
binomial nomenclature
The classification system in which each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name indicating its genus and species
genus
a classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species.
species
a group of similar organism that can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce
Prokaryotes
unicellular organism whose cells lack a nucleus and some other cell structures
nucleus
In cells, a large oval organelle that contains the cells genetic material in the form of DNA and controls many of the cells activities
eukaryotes
Organism whose cells contain a nucleus
evolution
Change over time; the process by which modern organisms how descended from ancient organisms
shared derived characteristic
a characteristic or trait, such as fur, that the common ancestor of a group had and passed on to its descendants
convergent evolution
the process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar characteristics
virus
a tiny, nonliving particle that enters and then reproduces inside a living cell
parasite
an organism that benefits by living with, on, or in a host in a parasitism interaction
Branching tree diagram
A diagram that shows probable evolutionary relationships among organisms and the order in which specific characteristics may have evolved
Host
An organism that a parasite lives with, in, or on, and provides a source of energy or suitable environment for the parasite to live
Vaccine
A substance used in a vaccination that consists of pathogens that have been weakened or killed but can still trigger the body to produce chemicals that destroy the pathogens
Bacteria
Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes
Cytoplasm
The thick fluid region of a cell located inside the cell membrane (in prokaryotes) or between the cell membrane and nucleus (in eukaryotes)
Ribosome
A small grain-shaped organelle in the cytoplasm of a cell that produces proteins
Flagellum
A long, whiplike structure that helps a cell to move
Cellular respiration
The process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen
Binary fission
A form of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides, forming two identical cells
Conjugation
A form of sexual reproduction in which a unicellular organisms transfers some of its genetic material to another unicellular organism
Endospore
A structure produced by prokaryotes, such as bacteria, and unfavorable conditions; a thick wall encloses the DNA and some of the cytoplasm
Pasteurization
A process of heating food to a temperature that is high enough to kill most harmful bacteria without changing the taste of the food
Decomposer
An organism that gets energy by breaking down waste and dead organisms, and returns raw materials to the soil and water
Protist
A eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal, plant, or fungus
Protozoan
A unicellular, animal-like protist
Pseudopod
A "false foot" or temporary bulge of cytoplasm used for feeding and movement in some protozoana
Contractile vacuole
The cell structure that collects extra water from the cytoplasm and then expels it from the cell
Cilia
Tiny, hair-like projections on the outside of cells that move in a wavelike manner
Algae
Plantlike protists
Pigment
1. A colored chemical compound that absorbs light 2. A colored substance used to color other materials
Spore
In bacteria, protests, and fungi, a thick-walled, tiny cell capable of surviving unfavorable conditions and then growing into a new organism
Fungus
A eukaryotic organism that has cell walls, uses spores to reproduce, and is a heterotroph that feeds by absorbing its food
Hyphae
The branching, threadlike tubes that make up the bodies of multicellular fungi
Fruiting body
The reproductive structure of a fungus that contains many hyphae and produces spores
Budding
A form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism grows out of the body of a parent
Lichen
The combination of a fungus and either an alga or an autotrophic bacterium that live together in a relationship that benefits both organisms