Themes and Concepts of Biology

Key characteristics shared by all living organisms; including order, sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth, regulation, energy processing, and evolution.

The scientific study of life.

The way living things are structured from atoms to ecosystems.

A non-living entity that exhibits some characteristics of living organisms but lacks others. Can attack living organisms.

Organisms have complex but orderly structures.

Organisms respond to stimuli or changes in their environment.

Living things have changed over time and adapt.

A change that makes an organism better suited to its environment.

A living organism's 'fit' to its environment, resulting from natural selection.

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

The process of increasing size and complexity instructed by genes.

Maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes.

The mechanisms within an organism to coordinate internal functions.

Groups of organs working together to perform specific functions.

Process by which organisms maintain a stable body temperature.

Instructions for traits that direct an organism's growth and development coded for by DNA.

Organisms in hot climates have methods to get rid of excess body heat, like sweating or panting.

All living things need energy to function, which they get from the sun or other chemical sources.

Changes in hereditary material (mutations) allow organisms to adapt to changing environments through natural selection

The basic unit of matter.

Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Large molecules formed from smaller units (monomers).

Knowledge about the natural world, acquired through specific methods.

A research method using experiments and observation with defined steps.

A suggested explanation for an event, testable through experiments.

Careful observation and record-keeping in scientific studies.

A hypothesis that can be proven or disproven through experiments and data.

Science focuses on material phenomena and can be observed/measured; non-science includes moral, aesthetic, or spiritual questions.

Areas of science focused on useful solutions, such as disease prevention.

Essential for designing experiments; often described as elegance or beauty.

A well-tested and confirmed explanation for a set of observations or phenomena. It is the foundation of scientific knowledge.

A concise description of how elements of nature behave under specific conditions, often expressed as a mathematical formula.

Scientific disciplines that study the physical world and its phenomena and processes, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics.

A branch of natural sciences that studies living organisms, including biology.

A branch of natural sciences that studies nonliving matter, including astronomy, physics, and chemistry.

A field of study that combines knowledge and methods from two or more scientific disciplines, such as biophysics or biochemistry.

The process of asking questions, gathering evidence, and drawing conclusions to gain knowledge about the world.

Utilizing algorithms and statistical analyses of data in databases to extract insights and knowledge.

A type of data research performed entirely on computers, using digital models and simulations.

Computer science provides the algorithms and tools for data analysis and interpretation.

Biology provides the context and data for analysis, often focusing on biological systems and processes.

Scientific research focused on expanding knowledge, regardless of immediate applications or benefits.

Scientific research aimed at solving practical problems or improving human lives.

Basic science focuses on knowledge expansion, while applied science focuses on practical applications and solutions.

It's a rapidly growing field offering promising career opportunities due to the increasing need for data specialists.