Intro to Biology

Biology

study of life

Cell

smallest unit of life; makes up all living things

Orgnization

all living things share the same genetic code; cells - tissues - organs - organ systems - organism

Reproduction

ability to make offspring

Homeostasis

Maintaining a stable internal environment (balance)

Metabolism

obtaining and using energy (chemical reactions that build up and break down)

Growth

to increase in size (gain more cells)

Development

to gain new abilities

Response to stimuli

React to changes in environment (temperature, humidity, light, predator, prey ect.)

Adaptation

inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival (occurs over several generations)

Controlled Experiment

An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time.

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; tested factor

dependent variable

The outcome factor (results); the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Constants

the factors in an experiment that remain the same

control group

the group that does not receive the independent variable (used for comparison)

experimental group

the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested (independent variable)

hypothesis

a possible answer to a scientific question or observation; must be testable