Life Science Review (EOY Benchmark)

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Life Science Review related to various biological concepts, definitions, and functions.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Adaptation

A feature that allows an organism to survive in its environment.

Population

All the individuals of a species that live in a particular area.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic matter.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce.

Food Web

A representation of all the connections of energy flow throughout organisms in a habitat.

Phenotype

The set of observable characteristics of an individual.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual.

Dominant Allele

A strong gene variant that masks the presence of a recessive allele.

Recessive Allele

An allele that only shows its effect if two copies are present.

Vacuole

A large chamber of fluid that stores water, waste, food, and other cellular materials.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse of the cell, it breaks down stored food into energy.

Chloroplasts

Found in plant cells, it captures energy from sunlight to produce food.

Cell Wall

The hard outer layer that surrounds the plant cell and maintains cell shape.

Biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar abiotic and biotic conditions.

Punnett Square

A diagram used to predict the genetic outcome of a cross between two parents, showing the possible genotypes of offspring.

plant

I have cell walls, I am an autotroph, I am multicellular

Levels of Classification

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Fungi

I am plant-like, but not a plant, I absorb nutrients from organic matter

Primary Consumer

An organism that eats primary producers and is typically herbivorous, serving as an essential link in the food chain.

herbivore

An organism that primarily consumes plants for energy and nutrients.

carnivore

An organism that primarily feeds on other animals, playing a crucial role in the food web.

scavenger

An organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter, contributing to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

heredity

The genetic transmission of traits from parents to offspring, influencing the characteristics of future generations.

lysosome

A membrane-bound organelle containing digestive enzymes that help break down waste materials and cellular debris.

cell wall

A rigid outer layer that provides structural support and protection to plant cells, fungi, and some bacteria.

gene

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring, determining specific traits.