Bio Unit 1

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biology

biology

the scientific study of living things

science

observation, identification, experimentation, investigation and theoretical explanation of natural phenomina

scientific method

the scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

hypothesis

the assumption about what will happen during an experiment or observation based on reason and experience.

experiment

set of organized steps followed under controlled conditions to test a theory or hypothesis.

dependent variable

the variable that depends on the other variables - data - what is measured.

independent variable

in an experiment, the factor that the scientists deliberately manipulates.

control group

in an experiment, it is the group that has no changes to it - the natural expected conditions.

qualitative data

data that represents qualities or characteristics that can be expressed by a number. categories (example smooth, rough)

quantitative data

data that represents a quantity; numeric data. numbers

inference

making an explanation for an observation

observation

what you see.

homeostasis

a state of balance reached through reactions within a cell or organism. (Greek = stays the same)

metabolism

The chemical processes we need for life (the total of all chemical reactions within an organism).

organism

any living thing that takes in food, grows, and reproduces.

Characteristics of Life

1. cells & organization, 2. use of energy & metabolism, 3. responds to the environment, 4. regulations & homeostasis, 5. Growth & development, 6. reproduction, 7. evolution

organ

a group of different tissues that work together to perform a specific function.

organelle

a differentiated structure within a cell that performs a specific function. example: chloroplast, mitochondria.

tissue

a group of cells that are similar in structure and that work together to perform a certain function.

Levels of Organization

atom-molecules-macromolecules-cells-tissues-organs-organ systems-organisms-populations-communities-ecosystems-biosphere.

abiotic

relating to non biological factors.

biome

a large area dominated by characteristic plants and animals. example: rain forest, tundra

biotic

relating to factors that are associated with or result from the activity of living organisms

community

all of the populations that live and interact with each other in a particular area.

ecosystem

a community or group of organism living and interacting with each other and their environment.

population

all of the members of one species that live in a common area and whose population dynamics are different from those of other populations.

adenosine triphosphate

ATP: the molecule that delivers usable chemical energy for almost all processes and reactions that a cell must undergo to survive. Energy comes from backing the bonds in the phosphate tails.

cellular respiration

the process of breaking down glucose for the production of ATP in the presence of oxygen.

photosynthesis

the process by which plants and certain other organism use the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen.