Zoology

Metabolism

Process by which the body converts food and drink into energy to sustain life and perform all bodily functions

Domain

Broadest category in the classification of life (all living organisms) and 1st taxonomic rank

Kingdom

2nd taxonomic rank that groups organisms based on fundamental characteristics

Phylum

3rd taxonomic rank that groups organisms that share a fundamental body plan or set of characteristics

Protein synthesis

Process by which cells assemble amino acids into proteins, following genetic instructions encoded in DNA

Morphology

Study of the form and structure of organisms

Inheritance

Process of passing genetic information in the form of DNA from parents to offspring

Natural selection

Process where organisms with heritable traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully

Common ancestor

Past organisms from which two or more present day species are descended, meaning they share a shared evolutionary origin

Homeostasis

Process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in their external environment

Phylogenetic

Evolutionary history and relationships of a group of organisms, often depicted as a branching tree

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a membrane bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles

Heterotrophs (consumers)

Organisms that obtain energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic matter because they cannot produce their own food

Taxonomy

Classifying and naming organisms, including all living and extinct life forms

Genus

4th taxonomic rank based on common characteristic

Species

Smallest taxonomic rank that groups organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring

Cladogram

Diagram that illustrates the hypothesized evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms by showing shared derived characteristics

Phylogenetic tree

Diagram that represents hypothesized evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms, showing how they descended from common ancestors

Anterior

Front side of body

Posterior

Back of body

Ventral

Belly side of body

Dorsal

Back of body

Medial

Center of body

Lateral

Side of body

Proximal

Closer to shoulder or hip bone

Distal

Further from shoulder or hip bone

Trinomial nomenclature

System of naming biological organisms with three parts (genus, species, subspecies)