Biology 111 - Chapter 1

Front 1

adaptation

Back 1

Organism's modification in structure, function, or behavior that better suits the environment.

Front 2

animal

Back 2

Multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryote characterized by the presence of muscular and nervous tissue and undergoing development to achieve its final form.

Front 3

binomial nomenclature

Back 3

Scientific name of an organism, the first part of which designates the genus and the second part of which designates the specific epithet.

Front 4

biodiversity

Back 4

Total number of species, the variability of their genes, and the communities in which they live.

Front 5

biology

Back 5

Scientific study of life.

Front 6

biosphere

Back 6

Zone of air, land, and water at the surface of the Earth in which living organisms are found.

Front 7

cell

Back 7

Smallest unit that displays the properties of life; composed of organelle-containing cytoplasm surrounded by a plasma membrane.

Front 8

class

Back 8

One of the categories of subgroups used by taxonomists to group species; class within a phylum or division.

Front 9

community

Back 9

Assemblage of species interacting with one another within the same environment.

Front 10

Conclusion

Back 10

Statement made following an experiment as to whether or not the results support the hypothesis.

Front 11

control

Back 11

Sample that goes through all the steps of an experiment but does not contain the variable being tested; a standard against which the results of an experiment are checked.

Front 12

data

Back 12

Facts or information collected through observation and/or experimentation.

Front 13

deductive reasoning

Back 13

Process of logic and reasoning, using "if . . . then" statements.

Front 14

domain

Back 14

Largest of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the three domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Front 15

domain Archaea

Back 15

One of the three domains of life; contains prokaryotic cells that often live in extreme habitats and have unique genetic, biochemical, and physiological characteristics; its members are sometimes referred to as archaea.

Front 16

domain Bacteria

Back 16

One of the three domains of life; contains prokaryotic cells that differ from archaea because they have their own unique genetic, biochemical, and physiological characteristics.

Front 17

domain Eukarya

Back 17

One of the three domains of life, consisting of organisms with eukaryotic cells; includes protists, fungi, plants, or animals.

Front 18

ecosystem

Back 18

Biological community together with the associated abiotic environment; characterized by a flow of energy and a cycling of inorganic nutrients.

Front 19

emergent property

Back 19

Quality that appears as biological complexity increases.

Front 20

energy

Back 20

Capacity to do work and bring about change; occurs in a variety of forms.

Front 21

eukaryote

Back 21

Type of cell that has a membrane bounded nucleus and membranous organelles; found in organisms within the domain Eukarya.

Front 22

evolution

Back 22

Descent of organisms from common ancestors with the development of genetic and phenotypic changes over time that make them more suited to the environment.

Front 23

experiment

Back 23

Artificial situation devised to test a hypothesis.

Front 24

experimental design

Back 24

Methodology by which an experiment will seek to support the hypothesis.

Front 25

experimental variable

Back 25

Factor of the experiment being tested.

Front 26

extinction

Back 26

Total disappearance of a species or higher group.

Front 27

family

Back 27

One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above the genus level.

Front 28

fungi

Back 28

Saprotrophic decomposer; the body is made up of filaments called hyphae that form a mass called a mycelium.

Front 29

gene

Back 29

Unit of heredity existing as alleles on the chromosomes; in diploid organisms, typically two alleles are inherited—one from each parent.

Front 30

genus

Back 30

One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; contains those species that are most closely related through evolution.

Front 31

homeostasis

Back 31

Maintenance of normal internal conditions in a cell or an organism by means of self regulating mechanisms.

Front 32

hypothesis

Back 32

Supposition established by reasoning after consideration of available evidence; it can be tested by obtaining more data, often by experimentation.

Front 33

inductive reasoning

Back 33

Using specific observations and the process of logic and reasoning to arrive at a hypothesis.

Front 34

kingdom

Back 34

One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above phylum.

Front 35

law (or "principle")

Back 35

Theory that is generally accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists.

Front 36

metabolism

Back 36

All of the chemical reactions that occur in a cell during growth and repair.

Front 37

model

Back 37

Simulation of a process that aids conceptual understanding until the process can be studied firsthand; a hypothesis that describes how a particular process could possibly be carried out.

Front 38

multicellular

Back 38

Organism composed of many cells; usually has organized tissues, organs, and organ systems.

Front 39

natural selection

Back 39

Mechanism of evolution caused by environmental selection of organisms most fit to reproduce; results in adaptation to the environment.

Front 40

observation

Back 40

Step in the scientific method by which data are collected before a conclusion is drawn.

Front 41

order

Back 41

One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above the family level.

Front 42

organism

Back 42

Individual living thing.

Front 43

phenomenon

Back 43

Observable event.

Front 44

photosynthesis

Back 44

Process occurring usually within chloroplasts whereby chlorophyll-containing organelles trap solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrate.

Front 45

phylum

Back 45

One of the categories, or taxa, used by taxonomists to group species; the taxon above the class level.

Front 46

plant

Back 46

Multicellular, photosynthetic, eukaryotes that increasingly become adapted to live on land

Front 47

population

Back 47

Group of organisms of the same species occupying a certain area and sharing a common gene pool

Front 48

prediction

Back 48

Step of the scientific process that follows the formulation of a hypothesis and assists in creating the experimental design.

Front 49

principle

Back 49

Theory that is generally accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists; also called a law.

Front 50

prokaryote

Back 50

Organism that lacks the membrane-bounded nucleus and membranous organelles typical of eukaryotes.