Biology Vocab Flashcards
Biosphere
The entire portion of Earth inhabited by life; the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems
Ecosystem
All the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment
Community
An assemblage of all the populations of organisms living close enough together for potential interactions
Population
A group of individuals belonging to one species that live in the same geographic area and can potentially interbreed
Organism
An individual living thing, consisting of one or more cells
Organ
A specialized structure composed of several different types of tissues that together perform specific functions
Tissue
An intergrated group of cells with a common function, structure, or both
Cell
A basic unit of living matter separated from its environment by a plasma membrane; the fundamental structural unit of life
Organelle
A membrane enclosed structure with a specialized function within a cell
Molecule
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Hypothesis
A testable explanation for a set of observations based on the available data.
Consumer
The consumers in an ecosystem eat plants and other animals
Domain
A taxonomic category above the kingdom level. The three domains of life are Achaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya
Evolution
Decent with modification; the idea that living species are descendants of ancestral species that were different from present-day ones; also, the genetic changes in a population from generation to generation
Gene
A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA
Natural Selection
A process in which individuals with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than are individuals that do not have those traits
Producer
An organism that makes organic food molecules from CO2, H2O, and other inorganic raw materials
Prokaryotic cell
A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and other membrane-enclosed organelles; found only in the domains Bacteria and Archaea
Controlled experiment
An experiment in which a experimental group is compared with a control group that varies only in the factor being tested
Archaea
A domain of single-celled microorganisms that are similar to bacteria but have distinct molecular characteristics, often found in extreme environments
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms that are found in many different environments.They can be beneficial or pathogenic (cause disease)
Species
A group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring.
Theory
A widely accepted explanatory idea that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates a new hypothesis, and is supported by a large body of evidence.
Eukarya
The domain of life that includes all organisms with eukaryotic cells, which have a nucleus. This domain includes animals, plants fungi, and protists
Eukaryotic cells
A cell that has a true nucleus enclosed by a membrane and other organelles. Eukaryotic cells are found in organisms like plants, animals, and fungi
Atom
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element
Atomic number
The number of protons in each atom of a particular element
Covalent Bond
A type of strong chemical bond in which two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons
Electron
A subatomic particle with a single negative electrical charge. One or more electrons move around the nucleus of an atom
Electronegativity
The attraction of a given atom for the electrons of a covalent bond
Element
A substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical means
Electron Shell
A level of electrons at a characteristic average distance from the nucleus of an atom
Hydrogen bond
A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule
Ion
An atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, thus acquiring an electrical charge
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions
Double Bond
When two atoms share two valence electrons
Isotope
One of several atoms forms of an element, each with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
Matter
Anything that occupies space and has mass
Nucleus
(1) An atoms central core containing protons and neutrons. (2) The organelle of a eukaryotic cell that contains the genetic material in the form of chromosomes, made of chromatin
Neutron
A subatomic particle having no electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atom
Nonpolar covalent bond
A type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms of similar electronegativity
Polar covalent bond
A covalent bond between atoms that differ in electronegativity. The shared electrons are pulled closer to the more negative electronegative atom, making it slightly negative and the other atom slightly positive
Polar molecule
A molecule containing polar covalent bonds and having an unequal distribution of charges in different regions of the molecule
Proton
A subatomic particle with a single positive electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atom
Radioactive isotope
An isotope whose nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off particles and energy.
