Biology Semester 1

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SCIENCE

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An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world

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OBSERVATION

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The act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

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INFERENCE

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A logical interpretation based on what scientists already know

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HYPOTHESIS

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a scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it

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CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT

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an experiment in which only one variable is changed and all others remain unchanged or controlled

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INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

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the variable that is deliberately changed also called the manipulated variable

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DEPENDENT VARIABLE

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the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable

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CONTROL GROUP

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a group that is exposed to the same conditions as another (experimental) group except for one independent variable

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DATA

QUANTITATIVE

QUALITATIVE

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detailed records of experimental observations

numbers obtained by counting or measuring

descriptive and involved characteristics that cannot usually be counted

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THEORY



bias

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well tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses that enables accurate predictions about new situations

particular reference that is personal rather than scientific

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SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE

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curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, and creativity help scientists generate new ideas

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ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY

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technology, science, and society are closely linked. discoveries in one lead to discoveries in another. new technology allows the further advancement in science and gives new things to humankind

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BIOLOGY

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the study of life

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DNA

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the carrier of the genetic material that is present in nearly all living things

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STIMULUS

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a signal to which an organism responds

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SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

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cells from two "parents" unite to form the first cell of a new organism

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ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

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a single organism produces offspring identical to itself

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HOMEOSTASIS

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the process of keeping the internal environment of an organism relatively stable even when external conditions change dramatically

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METABOLISM

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the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

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BIOSPHERE

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all forms of life on earth are connected to each other and relationships depend on the cycling of matter and the flow of energy

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SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT

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most scientists use the metric system when collecting data and performing experiments

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ATOM

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the basic unit of a chemical element, it was once believed to be the smallest particle that it can not be divided any smaller but there are subatomic particles inside the atom

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NUCLEUS

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protons and neutrons bind together to form this at the center of the atom

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ELECTRON



PROTONS

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a negatively charged particle they are in constant motion

a positively charged particle

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ELEMENT

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a pure substance that consists entirely of one type of atom

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ISOTOPE

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atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons they contain

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COMPOUND

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a substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions

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IONIC BOND

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is formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another

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ION

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positively and negatively charged atoms

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COVALENT BOND

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when electrons are shared by atoms instead of being transferred

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MOLECULE

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the smallest unit of most compounds

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VAN DER WAALS FORCES

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molecules that develop a slight attraction between the oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules

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HYDROGEN BONDS

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the attraction between a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge and another atom with a partial negative charge

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COHESION

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an attraction between molecules of the same substance

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ADHESION

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an attraction between molecules of different substances

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MIXTURE

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a material composed of two or more elements or compounds that are physically mixed together but not chemically combined

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SOLUTION

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a homologous mixture of two or more substances basically the substances combine so well that they become one substance

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SOLUTE

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the substance that is dissolved

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SOLVENT

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the substance in which the solute dissolves

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SUSPENSION

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a mixture of substances where one substance does not dissolve it is usually water and something else

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PH SCALE

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a measurement system to indicate the concentration of "h" ions in a solution

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ACID

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any compound that forms "h" ions in solution

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BASE

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a compound that produces hydroxide (OH-) ions in solution

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BUFFER

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weak acids or bases hat can react with strong acids or bases to prevent sharp, sudden changes in ph

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HEAT CAPACITY

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the amount of heat energy required to increase its temperature is relatively high

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MONOMER

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a molecule that can be joined with other identical molecules to form a polymer

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POLYMER

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a chemical compound that is made up of small molecules that are arranged in a simple repeating structure

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CARBOHYDRATE

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compounds that are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms usually in a ration of 1.2.1

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MONOSACCHARIDE

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single sugar molecules

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LIPID

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made mostly of carbon and hydrogen can be used to store energy

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NUCLEIC ACID

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are macromolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

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NUCLEOTIDE

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a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate they form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids like DNA

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PROTEIN

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are macromolecules that contain nitrogen as well as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen some proteins control the rate of reaction and regulate cell processes others form important cellular structures while others transport substances into and out of cells or to help to fight disease

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AMINO ACID

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compounds with an amino group on one end and a carboxyl group on the other end

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MACROMOLECULES

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many of the organic compounds in living cells are so large are known as this made from thousands or hundreds of thousands of smaller molecules

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CHEMICAL REACTION

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a process that changes one set of chemicals into another

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REACTANT

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the elements or compounds that enter into a chemical reaction

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PRODUCT

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the elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction

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ACTIVATION ENERGY

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the energy that is needed to get a reaction started

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CATALYST

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a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

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ENZYME

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proteins that act as biological catalysts they speed up chemical reactions that take place in cells.
Temperature, ph, and regulator molecules can effect the activity of enzymes

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SUBSTRATE

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a substance or layer that underlies something, or on which some process occurs, in particular.
the surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment. the substance on which an enzyme acts

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BIOSPHERE

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consists of all life on earth and all parts of the earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere

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SPECIES

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a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

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POPULATION

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a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

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COMMUNITY

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an assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

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ECOLOGY

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the study of how the organisms in the biosphere interact with each other and with their surroundings or their environment

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ECOSYSTEM

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all the organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment

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BIOME

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a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

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BIOTIC FACTOR

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any living part of the environment with which and organism might interact, including animals, plants, mushrooms, and bacteria

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ABIOTIC FACTOR

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any non living part of the environment, such as sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, wind or water currents, soil type,

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ECOLOGICAL METHODS

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modern ecologist use three methods in their work; observation , experimentation, and modeling

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OBSERVATION

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1st step in asking the important questions; what lives here, how many live here, and just watching what is around you.

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EXPERIMENTATION

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used to test hypothesis, use of artificial environments and carefully altering conditions to see what happens

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MODELING

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mathematical formulas based on data collected through observation and experimentation in order to study the effects of things difficult to observe because they happen over very long periods of time (like global warming)

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AUTOTROUGH

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organisms that can capture and convert energy from sunlight or chemicals into forms that living cells can use

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PRIMARY PRODUCER

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stores energy in forms that make it available to other organisms that eat them. they are the first producers of energy rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS

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captures light energy and uses it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy rich carbohydrates like sugars and starches

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CHEMOSYNTHISIS

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chemical energy that is harnesses from inorganic molecules is used to produce carbohydrates

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HETEROTROPH

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organisms that cannot directly harness energy from the environment must get their energy by injesting them in one way or another. also known as consumers

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CONSUMER

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organisms (heterotrophs) that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients

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CARNIVORE

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kill and eat other animals to get their energy

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HERBIVORE

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eat plants, roots , seeds and/or fruits to get their energy

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SCAVANGER

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eat the carcass of other animals that were killed by predators or have dies in other ways

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OMNIVORE

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diet includes a variety of different kinds of foods that include both plants and animals

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DECOMPOSER

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feed by chemically breaking down organic matter

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DETRITIVORE

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feed on the detritus particles, which are created by the decomposition of dead plants and animals caused by decomposers

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FOOD CHAIN

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a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

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PHYTOPLANKTON

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floating algae, its a primary producer,

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FOOD WEB

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a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains, in some areas there are many complex, overlapping feeding relationships. aquatic and terrestrial organisms interact

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ZOOPLANKTON

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a diverse group of small swimming animals that feed on marine algae

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TROPHIC LEVEL

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each step in food chain or food web

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ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID

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show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web. 3 types: pyramid of energy; pyramid of biomass; pyramid of numbers

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BIOMASS

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the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. usually measured in grams of organic matter er unit area. the amount of biomass in a given level is determined by the amount of energy available

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BIOCHEMICAL CYCLE

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matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. elements pass from one organism to another and among parts of the biosphere through these closed loops which are powered by the flow of energy

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NUTRIENT

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chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life

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NITROGEN FIXATION

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a process that certain types of bacteria use to convert nitrogen gas into amonia

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DENTRIFICATION

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a process where some types of bacteria obtain energy by converting nitrates into nitrogen gas and releasing it into the atmosphere

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LIMITING NUTRIENT

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a nutrient whose supply limits productivity .

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WATER CYCLE

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water continuously moves between the oceans, the atmosphere, and land---sometimes outside living things and sometimes inside them

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NUTRIENT CYCLE

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nutrients pass through organisms and the environment through biogeochemical cycles. these are critical for life.

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WEATHER

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the day to day conditions of earths atmosphere

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CLIMATE

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refers to the average conditions over long periods. defined by year after year patterns of temperatures and precipitations

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MICROCLIMATE

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environmental conditions that vary over small distances even within a region

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GREENHOUSE GASSES


GREENHOUSE EFFECT

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three gasses found in the atmosphere --carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor--they function like glass in a greenhouse
the gasses in the atmosphere that allow visible light to pass through but trap heat. as the gas concentration rises the earth heats up

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VARIABLE

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various factors that can change things like light, temperature, time and availability of nutrients

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PYRAMID OF ENERGY

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show the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web.
only a small portion of the energy that passes through any given trophic level is ultimately stored in he bodies of organisms at the next level

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PYRAMID OF BIOMASS

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illustrates the relative amount of living organic matter available at each trophic level in an ecosystem

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PYRAMID OF NUMBERS

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shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem

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HEAT TRANSPORT IN THE BIOSPHERE

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the unequal distribution of heat across the globe creates wind and ocean currents which transport heat and moisture