Chapter 1 Flashcards
Science
a process through which we can gain a better understanding of the world
- testable
- falsifiable
- self correcting
Molecular
molecules/ organic chemistry
cellular
cells/ building blocks of life
organ/organ system
groups of cells operating together
hypothesis
a proposed explanation for observed phenomena
null hypothesis
states the lack of relationship between two factors
prediction
under certain conditions we will be able to observe certain outcomes
theory
an explanatory hypothesis for natural phenomena that is exceptionally well supported by the empirical data
alternative hypothesis
states that there is a relationship between the dependant and independent variables
organism
sets of organ systems
community
groups of all living things at the same place at the same place at the same time
ecosystem
biotic and abiotic factors
population
groups of species living in the same place at the same time
What is biological evolution?
a change in genetic frequencies over time
- acts on populations not individuals
- can occur in response to selective pressures
- results from differences in fitness
biological fitness
survival which will allow the organism to leave the most copies of itself in future generations
natural selection
things that are good t making copies of themselves make more copies of themselves
steps of natural selection
- ind. in a population vary
- some of these variations are favorable for survival
- some of this favorable variation is heritable
- ind. with traits associated with higher biological fitness will on average produce more offspring
- over time, these favorable traits will become more abundant
