Biology 2E Chapter 1: The Study of Life Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, scientific processes, and biological hierarchy of organization discussed in Chapter 1 of Biology 2E.

Biology

The study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments.

Eunice aphroditois

Also known as the sand striker or the bobbit worm; a marine organism with powerful jaws.

The Feynman Technique

A learning method involving identifying a concept, explaining it to an eight-year-old, reflecting on the explanation without using technical jargon, and applying the concept to a real-world application.

Natural sciences

Fields of science related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes, restricted to natural explanations rather than supernatural ones.

Observation

Perceptions of actual properties of the external world.

Hypothesis

Possible explanations of observations or possible answers to questions.

Theory

A collection of related hypotheses that, together, explain a broad range of observations; in science, these are considered functionally equivalent to laws and explanations.

Assumption

A statement that is accepted as truth without evidence in order to make a hypothesis.

Prediction

A statement of expected observations given that a hypothesis is true, always stated in an "if-then" format.

Science

Knowledge that covers general truths or the operation of general laws, especially when acquired and tested by the scientific method.

The scientific method

A method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation.

Inductive reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses multiple related observations to arrive at a general conclusion; requires distinguishing between correlation and causation.

Deductive reasoning

A form of logical thinking that uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results, which results in a prediction.

Pseudoscience

A practice that uses the scientific method but yields results that do not enable reliable predictions, often using vague explanations that prohibit accurate testing.

Basic science

Also known as "pure" science; it seeks to expand knowledge regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge.

Applied science

Science that aims to use scientific knowledge to solve immediate, specific problems.

Peer review

A blind process whereby scientists submit details of their work to reviewers who determine the veracity and merit of the research for publication.

Homeostasis

The property of life involved in maintaining ideal internal environments.

Metabolism

Energy processing categorized into catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism

The part of metabolism involving the breakdown of substances.

Anabolism

The part of metabolism involving the building of substances.

Evolution

Descent with modification that occurs in populations or groups from one generation to the next, rather than in individuals.

Natural Selection

The mechanism by which evolution occurs in nature, as described by Darwin and Wallace; it requires time, genetic alteration, and death.

Artificial Selection

The evolution of natural things directed by human control.

Organelles

Intracellular structures, such as the nucleus, that perform specific functions within a cell.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living within a specific area, such as all the pine trees in a forest.

Community

The sum of all plant and animal species inhabiting a particular area.

Ecosystem

A system that includes all living organisms in an area along with the environment in which they live.

Biosphere

The highest level of biological organization, encompassing all the ecosystems on Earth.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms, such as those in the domains Bacteria and Archaea, that lack intracellular organelles.