Glencoe Biology - Chapter 1: The Study of Life

adaptation

inherited characteristic of a species that develops over time in response to an environmental factor, enabling the species to survive.

biology

the scientific study of life

constant

factor that remains fixed during an experiment while the independent and dependent variables change. it keeps the experiment fair

control group

The side of an experiment not receiving the factor being tested.It is used for comparison

data

quantitative or qualitative information gained from scientific investigation.

dependent variable

Also called the responding variable. A factor being measured in a controlled experiment; its value changes because of changes to the independent variable. Yields data

development

changes an organism undergoes in its lifetime before reaching its adult form.

ethics

the principles of right and wrong that guide an individual in making decisions

experiment

procedure performed in a controlled setting to test a hypothesis and collect precise data.

experiment group

in a controlled experiment, the group receiving the factor being tested.

forensics

the field of study that applies science to matters of legal interest and other areas such as archaeology.

growth

process that results in mass being added to an organism; may include formation of new cells and new structures.

homeostasis

regulation of an organism's internal environment to maintain conditions need for life.

hypothesis

testable explanation of a situation.

Independent variable

Also called the experimental variable. It is the one factor that is changed in a controlled experiment; the factor tested that affects the experiment outcome.

Inference

assumption based on prior experience.

observation

orderly, direct information gathering about a natural phenomenon.

organism

anything that has or once had all the characteristics of life. (HOGRIMER)

organization

orderly structure shown by living things.

peer review

a process in which the procedures used during an experiment may be repeated and the results are evaluated by scientists who are in the same field or are conducting similar research.

reproduction

production of offspring.

response

organism's reaction to a stimulus.

safety symbol

logo representing a specific danger such as radioactivity, electrical or biological hazard, or irritants that may be present in a lab activity or field investigation.

science

a body of knowledge based on the study of nature and its physical setting.

scientific method

a series of problem-solving procedures that begin with observations and include forming a hypothesis, experimenting, gathering and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

species

group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

stimulus

any change in an organism's internal or external environment that causes the organism to react.

Theory

well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations

pseudoscience

set of claims that seems scientific but isn't

Qualitative Data

descriptive data

Quantitative data

numerical data