Unit 1 Flashcards
Key Terms from modules 1 and 2
abiotic
An adjective that describes nonliving materials in the environment, such as sunlight, rain, gases in the air, rocks, and chemicals in the soil.
atom
The basic unit of matter that cannot be further broken down without losing its unique properties. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.
biotic
An adjective that describes living organisms or their remains. Common characteristics of biotic (living) things are that they use energy and raw materials to grow, sense, and respond to changing environments; they reproduce; and they consist of one or more cells.
biology
The scientific study of life. Biology is a vast subject divided into many branches or subdivisions representing areas of specialization. Branches of biology include anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, evolution, genetics, immunology, and physiology.
biosphere
All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of supporting life.
cell
The smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in life. Cells are fluid-filled spaces bound by a membrane. When first formed, all cells include DNA and other macromolecules and are organized to grow, reproduce, and respond to changes in the external environment.
community
All of the populations interacting with each other within a specified area.
ecosystem
All the living (biotic) things in a particular area together with the abiotic (nonliving) materials and conditions in that area; i.e., a biological community and its physical environment.
macromolecule
A large and complex molecule formed by combining smaller subunits producing a larger unit consisting of many atoms with new properties. Biological macromolecules are special large macromolecules produced by living organisms that contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms. There are four main types of biological macromolecules (sometimes referred to as biomolecules or biomacromolecules) that you will be learning about in this course: carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins.
population
All the individuals of the same species that occupy the same area and are likely to breed with one another.
tissue
A groups of similar cells carrying out the same detailed function within an organism. In the lung, for instance, the lining of airways comprises one type of tissue: a layer of similar cells that forms a sealed surface.
scientific inquiry
The application of scientific observation, experimentation, and the scientific method to study, interpret, and predict natural phenomena in the world around us.
