Lecture Series 1 Vocabulary Flashcards
metabolism
All the chemical reactions that occur inside living cells, including those that release and store energy.
evolution
A change in the overall inherited characteristics of a group of organisms over multiple generations.
biodiversity
the number of species found in a given ecosystem.
homeostasis
organisms must continually use energy to maintain an “internal steady state” Examples – body temperature, blood pH.
autotroph
make their own food and include photosynthetic & chemosynthetic organisms. They provide the basis for all food chains in all ecosystems
heterotroph
consume other organisms for food.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions
gene
portion of DNA molecules that code for the proteins and hence traits of organisms.
allele
one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
chromosome
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
natural selection
also called survival of the fittest; the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution.
gene pool
the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.
species
one of a kind organisms and the smallest category of the classification system
population
group of interbreeding species
community
all the various interacting species of a given locale
ecosystem
interacting communities along with their non-living surroundings
domain
the highest taxonomic rank of organisms in the three-domain system: archaea, bacteria, eukarya
bacteria
one of the three domains, comprised of Prokaryotes – unicellular organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus
archaea
one of the three domains, comprised of Prokaryotes – unicellular organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus. May be representative of the first cells on Earth
eukarya
one of the three domains, comprised of Eukaryotes (organisms whose cells contain a true nucleus). They are unicellular or multicellular organisms with a membrane-bound nucleus and belonging to one of four kingdoms: Plant, Animal, Fungi and Protist
Four Kingdoms of Eukarya
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia (Protista are any eukaryote that isn’t a plant, animal or fungi)
macromolecule
a molecule containing a very large number of atoms (thousands+), such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer.
biological molecule
is molecule that is present in living organisms, including large macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as small molecules such as primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and natural products.
organic molecule
A molecule of the kind normally found in living systems. Organic molecules are usually composed of carbon atoms in rings or long chains, to which are attached other atoms of such elements as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
polymer
a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g., many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins.
prokaryote
unicellular, lacks membrane-bound nucleus; may be representative of first cells on Earth
eukaryote
Unicellular or multicellular organisms with a membrane-bound nucleus; protists are eukaryotes that are NOT a plant, animal or fungi
cell
the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane; all cells are either prokaryotic or eukaryotic
organ
collections of tissues that work together; a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans.
tissue
group of similar cells working together to perform a function; specialized cells and their products
organ system
There are ten major organ systems in the body, each of which plays a different role in helping the body work; groups of organs that work together to accomplish various important functions
carbohydrate
a biological molecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water)
protein
where the traits of organisms can be found for which DNA molecules code; large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the body. They do most of the work in cells and are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs.
enzyme
macromolecular biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions
lipids
a group of naturally occurring molecules containing hydrocarbons that make up the building blocks of the structure and function of living cells that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others.
nucleic acids
a complex organic substance of biopolymers (large biomolecules) present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
observation (scientific method)
the active acquisition of information from a primary source, such as nature, prior to formulating a question
hypothesis
the initial building block in the scientific method, described as an “educated guess,” it is based on prior knowledge and observation.
scientific research
the systematic investigation of scientific theories and hypotheses
survey
the sampling of individual units from a population and the associated survey data collection techniques, such as questionnaire construction
controlled experiment
one in which everything is held constant except for one variable
variable
any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled. The independent variable is the one that is changed by the scientist.
data
the information gained from observing and testing an experiment
statistics
the science of data
scientific theory
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment
scientific law
a statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspect of the universe.
