chapter 1 - the science of biology Flashcards
science
the constantly changing body of knowledge
biology
study of life
observation
something observed in science
data
info taken from experiments/real world scenarios or models
inference
an educated guess based on prior info
hypothesis
a prediction of a test/experiment
spontaneous generation
the theory that life spawns in
biogenesis
the synthesis of living substances by living organisms
controlled experiment
experiment with controlled variables
control group
group in an experiment which is the base line with no changed variables
independent variable
the variable that is changed in a an experiment
dependent variable
the variable that is the outcome of the experiment; i.e. in result of the ind. var
theory
a scientific idea which has been proven over time and has evidence to back it
DNA
deoxyriboneucleic acid; contains genetic info for cells
stimulus
a signal from an organism’s environment
sexual reproduction
reproduction with 2 organisms’ cells come together to make 1 organism
asexual reproduction
reproduction with 1 organism making genetic code
homeostasis
maintaining relatively stable internal conditions
metabolism
the reactions which build/break materials
biosphere
all of the living things on the earth
light microscope
microscope with and ocular lens and is cheap and easy to use
electron microscope
microscope which uses an electron beam and requires expensive equipment and a computer; also ~1000x the mag. of a light microscope
how many independent variables can there be?
1
what are the characteristics of life
have cells, reproduce, universal genetic code, grow and develop, obtain and use materials and energy, respond to the environment, maintain homeostasis, evolve as a group
