Biology: Unit 1 - The Study of Life Flashcards

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1
Q

Metabolism

A

The sum total of all processes in an organism which convert energy and matter from outside sources and use that energy and matter to sustain the organism’s life functions.

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2
Q

Anabolism

A

The sum total of all processes in an organism which use energy and simple chemical building blocks to produce large chemicals and structures necessary for life.

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3
Q

Catabolism

A

The sum total of all processes in an organism which break down chemicals to produce energy and simple chemical building blocks.

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4
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use the energy of sunlight and simple chemicals to produce their own food.

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5
Q

Herbivores

A

Organisms that eat only plants.

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6
Q

Carnivores

A

Organisms that eat only organisms other than plants.

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7
Q

Omnivores

A

Organisms that eat both plants and other organisms.

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8
Q

Producers

A

Organisms that produce their own food.

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9
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that eat living producers and/or other consumers for food.

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10
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

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11
Q

Autotrophs

A

Organisms that are able to make their own food.

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12
Q

Heterotrophs

A

Organisms that depend on other organisms for their food.

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13
Q

Receptors

A

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment.

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14
Q

Asexual Reproduction

A

Reproduction accomplished by a single organism.

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15
Q

Sexual Reproduction

A

Reproduction that requires two organisms.

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16
Q

Inheritance

A

The process by which physical and biological characteristics are transmitted from the parent (or parents) to the offspring.

17
Q

Mutation

A

An abrupt and marked change in the DNA of an organism compared to that of its parents.

18
Q

Hypothesis

A

An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question.

19
Q

Theory

A

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.

20
Q

Scientific Law

A

A theory that has been tested by and is consistent with generations of data.

21
Q

Microorganisms

A

Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked eye.

22
Q

Prokaryotic Cell

A

A cell that has no distinct, membrane-bounded organelles.

23
Q

Eukaryotic Cell

A

A cell with distinct, membrane-bounded organelles.

24
Q

Species

A

A unit of one or more populations of individuals that can reproduce under normal conditions, produce fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other such units.

25
Q

Taxonomy

A

The science of classifying organisms.

26
Q

Binomial nomenclature

A

Naming an organism with its genus and species name.