Chapter 11: Biology Flashcards
the study of life and living organisms
biology
high degree of order including one or more cells
organization
adjustment when faced with physical or chemical change in the envorment
response to stimuli
the ability to maintain stable internal conditions
homostasis
use of energy to power life processes
metabolism
grown and increase in size
growth and development
production of new organisms like themselves
reproduction
change experienced without change in their basic genetic characteristics
change through time
a social movement advocating the genetic improvement of the human race through such practices as selective breeding, compulsory sterilization, forced abortion, and genocide.
eugenics
a belief system that claims that the first speck of life emerged from nonliving matter and slowly evolved into one-celled organisms, some of which, through eons of genetic mutations and natural selection, turned into more complex organisms and ultimately into human beings.
evolution
the belief that small, adaptive changes are capable of producing variations within the gene pool or a species.
microevolution
the belief that small, adaptive changes are capable of accumulating over time to produce entirely new species.
macroevolution
the belief that favorable traits can be passed on (or unfavorable traits eliminated) from one generation to the next strictly by chance.
genetic drift
the belief that favorable traits can be passed on (or unfavorable traits eliminated) when a migratory group breeds with a native group.
genetic flow
the process by which organisms better adapted for their environment tend to survive longer, reproduce, and pass along more favorable biological traits.
natural selection
the process by which human beings selectively breed organisms with desirable traits to produce a line of offspring with the same desirable traits.
selective breeding
a change in the genetic makeup of an organism
mutation
the process by which an organism or species becomes better able to survive
adaptation
belief that new species arise through the process of natural selection acting over vast periods of time on change genetic mutations within organisms
neo-dawinism
the belief that evolutionary changes occur over relatively quick periods of time, followed by periods of time with little or no evolutionary change.
punctured equilibrium
the belief that entities don’t possess essences (i.e., a set of necessary and defining attributes); rather, and entity’s identity is thought to be the result of social construction.
anti-essentialism
the belief that the cosmos and all life were brought into existence by the creative act of God.
special creation
a scientific movement that posits an intelligent designer best accounts for the information, design, and complexity found in life and the cosmos.
intelligent design
the belief that God created the cosmos and all life in its present form in six literal days, around six thousand years ago.
young age creationist
the belief that God created the cosmos and all life in its present forms in progressive stages, over a long period of time.
progressive creationism
the belief that God created the cosmos billions of years ago and then guided the process of biological evolution to produce the diversity of life seen today
theistic evolution
challenges the notion that complex biological systems could have gradually evolved because without all the components functioning together complex systems don’t function
irreducible complexity
the belief that humanity is continually progressing toward higher consciousness.
Spiritual evolution
