Biology Chapter 1: A View of Life & The Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic principles of life, biological organization, classification domains, and the steps of the scientific method from Chapter 1.

Biology

The scientific study of life.

Cell

The most basic unit of life.

Tissue

A structure formed when similar cells come together to perform a function.

Organ

A group of similar tissues working together to perform a specific function.

Organ System

A group of organs working together in an organism.

Adaptation

A modification that makes an organism more suited to its way of life.

Biosphere

The global ecological system that includes the land, sea, and air, along with all living organisms on Earth.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a given area.

Community

The populations of different species interacting in a given area.

Ecosystem

The interaction of all living things (biotic) in an area plus all nonliving things (abiotic).

Biodiversity

The sum total of all organisms and their genetic information.

Extinction

The death of the last member of a species.

Taxonomy

The branch of science created to group organisms into categories and to understand their evolutionary relationships.

Binomial Name

The unique scientific name assigned to an organism, consisting of its genus and species.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus.

Domain Archaea

A domain of single-celled prokaryotes that may be the oldest life forms on Earth and are often found in extreme environments.

Domain Bacteria

A domain of single-celled prokaryotic organisms found almost everywhere on planet Earth.

Domain Eukarya

A domain consisting of organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus, categorized into four kingdoms.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning used in discovery science that moves from specific observations to general conclusions.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning used in experimental science that moves from general principles to specific predictions (if…then statements).

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation for what was observed that is formulated as a testable statement.

Experimental (Independent) Variable

The specific item or factor being manipulated or tested by the investigator in an experiment.

Response (Dependent) Variable

The variable that is measured to generate data and is expected to yield different results based on experimental conditions.

Control Group

The reference group in an experiment that is left unmanipulated and used for comparison.

Scientific Theory

A broad concept that joins together two or more related hypotheses and is supported by a wide range of observations, experiments, and data.

Scientific Principle / Law

A widely accepted set of scientific theories that faces no serious challenges to its validity.

Technology

The application of scientific knowledge for a practical purpose.