College Biology: Themes and Concepts of Biology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, concepts, and principles from the lecture notes on 'The Science of Biology' and 'Themes and Concepts of Biology'.

Biology

The study of life, ranging from microscopic cells to whole ecosystems and the living planet.

Science

Knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws, acquired and tested by the scientific method.

Scientific method

A research method with defined steps including experiments and careful observation, central to testing hypotheses.

Hypothesis

A suggested, testable explanation for an event or phenomenon.

Theory

A tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena, substantiated and generally accepted as a fact, though not provable.

Natural sciences

Fields of science related to the physical world, its phenomena, and processes, including biology, physics, chemistry, geology, and astronomy.

Life sciences

A division of natural sciences that studies living things, primarily biology.

Physical sciences

A division of natural sciences that studies nonliving matter, including astronomy, geology, physics, and chemistry.

Inductive reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion, common in descriptive science.

Deductive reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results, employed in hypothesis-based science.

Descriptive (or discovery) science

A scientific approach that aims to observe, explore, and discover, typically using inductive reasoning.

Hypothesis-based science

A scientific approach that begins with a specific question or problem and a testable potential answer or solution, typically using deductive reasoning.

Sir Francis Bacon

Credited as the first to document and define the scientific method.

Testable hypothesis

A hypothesis that can be verified or refuted through experimentation.

Falsifiable hypothesis

A hypothesis that can be proved false by experimental results, distinguishing science from non-sciences.

Independent variable

The variable manipulated by the researcher in an experiment; what is being tested.

Dependent variable

The measurable outcome or condition that changes in response to the independent variable in an experiment; the data collected.

Controlled experiment

An experiment that compares experimental groups and control groups to isolate the effects of the independent variable.

Experimental group

The group in a controlled experiment that receives the independent variable or experimental treatment.

Control group

The group in a controlled experiment that does not receive the independent variable, serving as a baseline for comparison (placebo group).

Controlled variables

Factors that are kept constant in an experiment to ensure only the independent variable is affecting the outcome.

Confounding variables

Variables that can affect the outcome of an experiment but are beyond the researcher's control.

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

Scientific papers evaluated by a scientist’s colleagues (experts) to determine their suitability for publication in scientific journals.

Properties of life

Shared characteristics of all living organisms: order, sensitivity/response, reproduction, adaptation/evolution, growth/development, regulation/homeostasis, and energy processing.

Order (property of life)

Organisms are highly organized, coordinated structures composed of one or more cells.

Sensitivity or response to the environment

The ability of organisms to react to various stimuli.

Reproduction (property of life)

The process by which organisms pass DNA containing genes to offspring, ensuring species continuity and similar characteristics.

Adaptation/Evolution

The consequence of natural selection, where organisms evolve characteristics suitable for their environment due to changes in hereditary material over time.

Natural selection

The process by which characteristics of individuals in a population undergo selection as an environment changes, leading to adaptation.

Growth and development (property of life)

The process by which organisms grow and mature, guided by genetic instructions for cellular development.

Regulation/Homeostasis

The ability of organisms to coordinate internal functions and maintain stable internal conditions (steady state) despite environmental changes.

Energy processing (property of life)

The use of an energy source by all organisms for metabolic activities, either from the sun or chemical molecules in food.

Atom

The smallest and most fundamental unit of matter, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

Molecule

A chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or more chemical bonds.

Macromolecules

Large molecules formed by polymerization, combining smaller units called monomers.

Organelles

Small structures within eukaryotic cells, aggregates of macromolecules surrounded by membranes, performing specific functions.

Cell

The smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms; the basis for classifying something as living.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled or colonial organisms that do not possess membrane-bound nuclei or organelles.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with membrane-bound organelles and a membrane-bound nucleus, typically larger and more complex than prokaryotes.

Tissues

Groups of similar cells carrying out similar or related functions, found in both animals and plants.

Organs

Collections of tissues grouped together to perform a common function.

Organ system

A higher level of organization consisting of functionally related organs working together.

Organism

An individual living entity, which can be single-celled or multicellular.

Population

All the individuals of a single species living within a specific area.

Community

The sum of all populations (all living things) inhabiting a particular area.

Ecosystem

All the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic (nonliving) parts of that environment.

Biome

A compilation of multiple ecosystems sharing similar climate and dominant life forms.

Biosphere

The collection of all ecosystems, representing the zones of life on Earth, including land, water, and atmosphere.

Evolution

The process of gradual change in a population or species over time, responsible for the tremendous diversity of life.

Phylogenetic tree

A diagram that summarizes the evolutionary relationships between various life forms, showing their separation into domains.

Molecular biology

A branch of biology that studies biological processes at the molecular and chemical level.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms, focusing on the structure and function of single-celled organisms.

Neurobiology

The study of the biology of the nervous system, often an interdisciplinary field known as neuroscience.

Paleontology

A branch of biology that uses fossils to study the history of life on Earth.

Zoology

The scientific study of animals.

Botany

The scientific study of plants.