M01: Introduction to Biotechnology, Matter, Energy, and Measurements

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory concepts in biotechnology, nature of science, matter and energy properties, history, color-coded subfields, spatio-temporal reasoning, and standard units of measurement.

Scientific Thinking

A form of collective wisdom based on critical thinking, healthy skepticism, constant change, and principles of practice.

Unscientific Thinking

A mode of thinking that disregards the logic and methodology of scientific practice, is inflexible, based on unverifiable belief, and rejects different perspectives.

Dependent Variable

The characteristic, number, or quantity in an experiment that represents the outcome or what is affected.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is controlled (kept the same) or manipulated to affect the dependent variable.

Intensive Property

A property of matter that is independent of quantity, such as density, buoyancy, ductility, malleability, elasticity, viscosity, and boiling, freezing, or melting points.

Extensive Property

A property of matter that is quantity-dependent, such as mass, volume, energy, entropy, and electrical charge.

Ductility

The ability of matter to stretch, bend, or be drawn into thin wires under tensile stress.

Malleability

The ability of matter to be hammered into thin sheets.

Viscosity

The resistance of a fluid to flow.

Deposition

The phase change in which a gas transforms directly into a solid.

Sublimation

The phase change in which a solid transforms directly into a gas.

First Law of Thermodynamics

The law stating that energy is neither created nor destroyed, it simply transforms.

Catabolism

A metabolic reaction that takes a form of matter with a high chemical energy state and turns it into one with a lower chemical energy state.

Anabolism

A metabolic reaction that takes a lower molecule with a low chemical energy state and builds it up into one with a higher energy state.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The law stating that the universe is slowly going into a disordered state, explaining why the flow of energy in the universe is unidirectional.

Biotechnology

The utilization or exploitation of biological processes, organisms, or systems to innovate and produce products that improve human lives.

Louis Pasteur

The Father of Bacteriology and Microbiology who invented pasteurization in 1865 and discovered vaccine development through inoculation with weakened bacteria/viruses between 1877 and 1886.

Gregor Johann Mendel

The Father of Genetics who introduced the concept of particulate inheritance in 1866 and applied rigorous statistical analysis to genetic crosses.

Robert Koch

The Father of Modern Bacteriology who introduced Koch's postulates to support his germ theory of diseases.

Karoly Ereky

The individual who coined the term biotechnology in 1919 to describe large-scale agricultural enterprises of meat, fat, and milk production.

Sir Alexander Fleming

The scientist who discovered penicillin in 1928 and gave it to humanity for free without patenting it.

Medical Biotechnology

The red-coded color classification of biotechnology covering biopharmaceuticals, stem cell studies, and genetic engineering.

Environmental Biotechnology

The blue-coded color classification of biotechnology focusing on pollution control, renewable energy research, conservation biology, and bioremediation.

Agricultural Biotechnology

The green-coded color classification of biotechnology focusing on increased produce production, disease-resistant animals, pest-resistant crops, and biopesticides.

Industrial Biotechnology

The white-coded color classification of biotechnology focusing on biofuel science, production of new chemicals and metabolites, and biodegradable alternatives to plastics.

Temporal Variability

Refers to how a system, property, or quantity changes and fluctuates over time.

Spatial Variability

Refers to how much a measured value or trait changes across different physical locations.

Potential Energy Equation

The physical relationship defined by $PE = mgh$.

Kinetic Energy Equation

The physical relationship defined by $KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2$.

Metric Prefix Scale

A scale depicting standard unit prefixes, symbols, and exponential powers of 10 ranging from tera ($10^{12}$) to pico ($10^{-12}$).

SI and Imperial Units Table

A comparative table outlining the seven base physical properties alongside their respective units in the International System of Units (SI) and the Imperial system.