Introduction to Biology

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to the study of biology, including definitions and core principles.

Biology

The science of life, encompassing the study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Living systems

The most complex chemical systems on Earth, characterized by various properties.

Interdisciplinary Science

An approach that combines multiple fields of study.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of internal balance within living organisms.

Evolutionary adaptation

The ability of organisms to adapt over time to changing environments.

Cell Theory

A unifying theme in biology stating that all organisms are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life.

Hierarchy of organization

The structured arrangement of biological life, from atoms and molecules to ecosystems and the biosphere.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Inductive reasoning

A type of reasoning that involves forming generalizations based on specific observations.

Deductive reasoning

A type of reasoning that involves starting with general principles to draw specific conclusions.

Scientific method

A systematic approach consisting of well-defined steps used to conduct scientific research.

Reductionism

A philosophical approach that breaks complex processes down into simpler parts.

Systems biology

A field that focuses on understanding emergent properties that cannot be understood by examining simpler components.

Scientific theory

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The molecule that carries genetic information within living organisms.

Gene

A discrete unit of heredity that encodes information for a specific trait or function.

Genome

The complete set of DNA instructions necessary for the development and function of an organism.

Function and structure

The principle that the function of a biological part can often be inferred from its structure.

Three domains of life

A classification system that divides life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Prokaryote

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus, including Bacteria and Archaea.

Eukaryote

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus, encompassing single-celled and multicellular forms.