flashcards for chapter one
binomial nomenclature
the system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet.
biogenesis
the synthesis of substances by living organisms.
cell
the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.
control
the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.
genus
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name.
homeostasis
the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
hypothesis
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
kingdom
each of the three traditional divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) in which natural objects have conventionally been classified.
law
the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
organism
an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
phylogeny
the branch of biology that deals with phylogenesis.
scientific methods
a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
spontaneous generation
the supposed production of living organisms from nonliving matter, as inferred from the apparent appearance of life in some supposedly sterile environments
theory
a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
variable
A variable is a quantity that may change within the context of a mathematical problem or experiment. Typically, we use a single letter to represent a variable. The letters x, y, and z are common generic symbols used for variables
