Biology Terms Flashcards

Key Biology Terms and Definitions

• Biology: Study of life encompassing various aspects of living organisms.
• Organization: Refers to the structured and ordered arrangement in an organism's parts and their interactions with the environment.
• Cell: The basic unit of life capable of performing essential life processes.
• Unicellular: Organisms consisting of a single cell.
• Multicellular: Organisms composed of multiple cells working together.
• Organ Systems: Combinations of specialized parts that perform specific functions in an organism.
• Organs: Distinct structures that serve specialized functions within organ systems.
• Tissues: Groups of similar cells that collectively perform specific functions in organs.

Levels of Biological Organization

• Organelles: Tiny structures within cells that perform necessary functions to sustain life.
• Biological Molecules: Chemical compounds that contribute to structural integrity and facilitate movement, energy use, and various biological functions.
• Atoms: The simplest particle of an element that retains its chemical properties.

Homeostasis and Metabolism

• Homeostasis: The process of maintaining stable internal conditions despite changing external environments.
• Metabolism: The total of chemical reactions within an organism that manage energy and materials from the environment.

Processes of Life

• Cell Division: The formation of two new cells from a parent cell, essential for growth and reproduction.
• Development: The process through which an organism matures into an adult.
• Reproduction: The biological process by which organisms create new individuals similar to themselves.

Genetics and Research Methodology

• Gene: A segment of DNA encoding instructions for a specific trait.
• Observation: The act of noticing natural occurrences, leading to inquiries or questions.
• Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon, guiding further investigation.
• Prediction: A forecast of outcomes based on the hypothesis in a testing scenario.

Experimental Design

• Experiment: A method to test hypotheses and their predictions.
• Controlled Experiment: Compares an experimental group with a control group, differing by only one variable.
• Control Group: Serves as a reference point in experiments for comparison against the experimental group.
• Experimental Group: Similar to the control group but modified by one independent variable.
• Independent Variable: The variable that is altered by the experimenter.
• Dependent Variable: The variable that is measured, responding to changes in the independent variable.

Scientific Understanding

• Theory: A well-substantiated explanation derived from a set of confirmed hypotheses.
• Peer Review: Process involving evaluation of research papers by experts to ensure validity.

Historical Perspectives and Life Application

• Spontaneous Generation: A historical belief that living organisms could arise from non-living matter.
• Biology's Impact on Daily Life: Influences decisions regarding diet, exercise, and health maintenance.
• Biology's Impact on Society: Contributes to addressing real-world challenges, including food supply improvement, disease treatment, and environmental conservation.

Characteristics of Living Things

• Common attributes include organization, response to stimuli, homeostasis, metabolism, growth, reproduction, and evolutionary change.

Hierarchy of Complex Organisms

• Complex life forms consist of a structured hierarchy: atoms → biological molecules → organelles → cells → tissues → organs → organ systems → organisms.