Physiology

Negative feedback

serves to reduce an excessive response and keep a variable within the normal range., e.g., thermoregulation via sweat glands.

Positive feedback

increases the effect of the change and produces instability, e.g., blood clotting or uterine contractions during childbirth.

Antihomeostatic

Refers to processes that disrupt homeostasis, like positive feedback mechanisms.

Acronym for the characteristics of science - Consistent, Observable, Natural, Predictable, Testable, Tentative.

CONPTT

Comparative approach

Method of asking similar questions across species to determine shared vs. unique traits.

Common ancestor

Ancestor shared by two living species on a phylogenetic tree.

Life expectancy comparison

Example of a question answered using the comparative method, like comparing life expectancy between countries.

Factors for increased life expectancy

Vaccines, family planning, workplace safety, and lower infant mortality rate.

Limitation of correlative data

Proximate factors (mechanism and development) and ultimate factors (function and phylogeny).

Biomolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids,