WHS Biology Semester 1 Final Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards designed to help review key biological concepts from the semester.

Cell Theory

A fundamental concept in biology that states that all living things are composed of cells, and that cell is the basic unit of life.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and organelles, and are generally larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Simpler, smaller cells that do not have a nucleus, exemplified by bacteria.

DNA

Molecule that contains coded instructions for making proteins and other important molecules within a cell.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

Reactants

Substances that undergo changes during a chemical reaction; in photosynthesis, these are carbon dioxide and water.

Products

Substances that are produced as a result of a chemical reaction; in photosynthesis, these are glucose and oxygen.

Energy Transfer

The process in ecosystems where energy is passed from one trophic level to the next; typically, only about 10% of energy is transferred.

Trophic Level

Each step in a food chain or food web, representing the feeding relationships between organisms.

Primary Consumer

Organisms that consume producers; typically herbivores like rabbits, frogs, and grasshoppers.

Secondary Consumer

Carnivores that eat primary consumers, such as snakes and owls.

Tertiary Consumer

Predators at the top of the food chain that consume secondary consumers, such as foxes and hawks.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the environment, including bacteria and fungi.

Experimental Design

A structured approach used to test hypotheses, including control groups, independent variables, and dependent variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment; in the provided example, it is the sugar concentration.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured or observed in response to the independent variable; in the experiment, it is the rate of cellular respiration.

Constant Variable

A variable that remains unchanged throughout the experiment to ensure accurate results.

Hypothesis

An educated guess or prediction that can be tested through scientific investigation.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support.

Carbon Cycle

The process through which carbon is exchanged between living organisms, the atmosphere, and the Earth.

Human Activities

Actions such as driving and industrial processes that increase carbon levels in the atmosphere.

Heat Energy

The energy that is released and not transferred to the next trophic level, effectively lost to the environment.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, as it captures light energy.

Biological Molecules

Molecules essential for life, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Growth Development

The process by which living organisms undergo changes and maturation over time.