foundation biology

Evolution

Cumulative change in heritable characteristics of a population over generations.

Divine intervention

The belief that the world was created by God in six days.

Naturalistic view

The perspective held by ancient Greeks that natural factors were the source of all life.

Binomial nomenclature

A two-part system for naming species, developed by Linnaeus.

Natural selection

The process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Heritable variation

Differences in traits that can be passed from parents to offspring.

Overproduction

The concept that species produce more offspring than can survive to adulthood.

Differential reproductive success

The idea that some individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce than others.

Fossil record

The remains left in sedimentary rock that show progression from earliest organisms to organisms today.

Biogeography

The study of past and present geographical distribution of organisms.

Comparative anatomy

The study of the structural similarities and differences among different organisms.

Molecular biology

The study of the molecular basis of biological activity, focusing on DNA and proteins.

Vestigial structure

A structure that has no apparent function but was functional in ancestors, such as pelvic bones in whales.

Convergent evolution

The evolution of similar features in organisms that do not share a common ancestor.

Homologous structures

Features that have similar basic structures due to shared ancestry.

Prokaryotes

Simple, single-celled organisms without a nucleus, including bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

More complex cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Plasma membrane

A phospholipid bilayer that surrounds and protects the cell, regulating entry and exit.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures that synthesize proteins by translating mRNA into polypeptide chains.

Mitochondria

Organelles in eukaryotic cells that are the sites of cellular respiration.

Endoplasmic reticulum

A network of membranous sacs involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle in plant cells that stores nutrients and maintains turgor pressure.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.

Protostome

An organism characterized by the development of the mouth before the anus.

Chordate

Members of the phylum Chordata that share derived characteristics like a notochord and dorsal nerve cord.

Amniotes

A group of animals that lay shelled eggs in terrestrial environments, including reptiles and mammals.

Ectothermic

Animals that regulate their body temperature through external environmental sources.

Endothermic

Animals that generate heat internally through metabolic processes.

Innate behaviour

Behaviors that are instinctual and do not require learning.

Learned behaviour

Behavior that is acquired through experience and interaction with the environment.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Fundamental niche

The potential ecological niche of a species without competition.

Realised niche

The actual niche a species occupies when competition is present.

Interspecific competition

Competition between individuals of different species for the same resource.

Resource partitioning

The division of resources among species to minimize competition.