Chapter 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry Flashcards
Biology
The scientific study of life.
Bioinformatics
The use of computers, software, and mathematical models to process and integrate biological information from large data sets.
Prokaryotic cell
A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea) are called prokaryotes.
Prediction
In deductive reasoning, a forecast that follows logically from a hypothesis. By testing predictions, experiments may allow certain hypotheses to be rejected.
Climate change
A directional change in temperature, precipitation, or other aspect of the global climate that lasts for three decades or more.
DNA
A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double-stranded helix, in which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of a cell’s proteins.
Emergent properties
New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.
Data
Recorded observations.
Organisms
An individual living thing, consisting of one or more cells.
Control group
In a controlled experiment, a set of subjects that lacks (or does not receive) the specific factor being tested. Ideally, the control group is identical to the experimental group in other respects.
Genomics
The systematic study of whole sets of genes (or other DNA) and their interactions within a species, as well as genome comparisons between species.
Controlled experiment
An experiment designed to compare an experimental group with a control group; ideally, the two groups differ only in the factor being tested.
Eukarya
The domain that includes all eukaryotic organisms.
Inductive reasoning
A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations.
Evolution
Descent with modification; the process by which species accumulate differences from their ancestors as they adapt to different environments over time; also defined as a change in the genetic composition of a population from generation to generation.
Eukaryotic cell
A type of cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with eukaryotic cells (protists, plants, fungi, and animals) are called eukaryotes.
Genes
A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses).
Deductive reasoning
A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise.
Experiment
A scientific test. Often carried out under controlled conditions that involve manipulating one factor in a system in order to see the effects of changing that factor.
Proteome
The entire set of proteins expressed by a given cell, tissue, or organism.
Producers
An organism that produces organic compounds from carbon dioxide by harnessing light energy (in photosynthesis) or by oxidizing inorganic chemicals (in chemosynthetic reactions carried out by some prokaryotes).
Experimental group
A set of subjects that has (or receives) the specific factor being tested in a controlled experiment. Ideally, the experimental group is identical to the control group for all other factors.
Proteomics
The systematic study of sets of proteins and their properties, including their abundance, chemical modifications, and interactions.
Independent variable
A factor whose value is manipulated or changed during an experiment to reveal possible effects on another factor (the dependent variable).
Feedback regulation
The regulation of a process by its output or end product.
Natural selection
A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
Gene expression
The process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins or, in some cases, RNAs that are not translated into proteins and instead function as RNAs.
Theory
An explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.
Technology
The application of scientific knowledge for a specific purpose, often involving industry or commerce but also including uses in basic research.
Systems biology
An approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems based on a study of the interactions among the system’s parts.
Hypothesis
A testable explanation for a set of observations based on the available data and guided by inductive reasoning. A hypothesis is narrower in scope than a theory.
Variables
A factor that varies in an experiment.
Model organism
A particular species chosen for research into broad biological principles because it is representative of a larger group and usually easy to grow in a lab.
Bacteria
One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Archaea.
Archaea
One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Bacteria.
Science
An approach to understanding the natural world.
Genome
The genetic material of an organism or virus; the complete complement of an organism’s or virus’s genes along with its noncoding nucleic acid sequences.
Consumer
An organism that feeds on producers, other consumers, or nonliving organic material.
Inquiry
The search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions.
Dependent variable
A factor whose value is measured during an experiment or other test to see whether it is influenced by changes in another factor (the independent variable).
