Biology Chapter 1 Flashcards
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The smallest and most fundamental unit of matter
Atom
The collection of all ecosystems and represents the zones of life on earth. It includes land, water and portions of the atmosphere.
Biosphere
The smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms.
Cell
The set of populations inhabiting a particular area.
Community
Part of an experiment that does not change.
Control
Consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, or non-living, parts of that environment such as nitrogen in the soil or rainwater.
Ecosystem
– An organism that has membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. Any cell or organism that possesses a clearly defined nucleus.
Eukaryote
The process of gradual change in a population that can also lead to new species arising from older species
Evolution
A form of logical thinking that uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results.
Deductive reasoning
Able to be disproven by experimental results.
Falsifiable
The ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions. Example: Organisms that regulate their body temperature like a polar bear.
Homeostasis
A suggested explanation for an event, which can be tested.
Hypothesis
A form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion.
Inductive reasoning
Large molecules that are typically formed by combining smaller units called monomers.
Macromolecule
They make up cell components or organelles and are themselves, made up of atoms.
Molecule
Collections of tissues grouped together based on a common function.
Organ
A higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs. Example: Circulatory system that transports blood includes organs such as the heart and blood vessels .
Organ system
Small structures that exist within cells and perform specialized functions.
Organelle
Highly organized structures that consist of one or more cells.
Organism
Scientific papers that are reviewed, usually anonymously by a scientist’s colleagues, or peers.
Peer-reviewed article
A diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among biological species based on similarities and differences in genetic or physical traits or both.
Phylogenetic tree
All the individuals of a species living within a specific area.
Population
Single-celled organisms that lack organelles surrounded by a membrane and do not have nuclei surrounded by nuclear membranes.
Prokaryote
Describes how elements of nature will behave under certain specific conditions. Often expressed in mathematical formulas.
Scientific law
A method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation.
Scientific method
A generally accepted, thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for a set of observations or phenomena. The foundation of scientific knowledge.
Scientific theory
Groups of similar cells carrying out the same function.
Tissue
Any part of the experiment that can vary or change during the experiment.
Variable
