Module 1 Vocab

The science of classifying organisms based on shared characteristics

Taxonomy

The two‑part scientific naming system for organisms (Genus + species).

Binomial nomenclature

The study of an organism’s physical form and structure.

Morphology

The evolutionary history and relationships among species

Phylogeny

The highest taxonomic rank (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya).

Domains

Natural selection

The process where organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully.

Biogeography

The study of how species are distributed across geographic areas.

The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different organisms.

Comparative anatomy

The process of humans breeding and controlling organisms for desired traits.

Domestication

Human‑driven selection of traits in organisms (e.g., dog breeding).

Artificial selection

A group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.

Clade (cladistics)

Structures that share a common evolutionary origin but may have different functions.

Homologous structures

Structures with similar functions but different evolutionary origins.

Analogous structures

A cell without a nucleus (bacteria and archaea).

Prokaryotic cell

A cell with a nucleus and membrane‑bound organelles.

Eukaryotic cell

An organism that makes its own food (e.g., plants).

Autotroph

An organism that must consume other organisms for energy.

Heterotroph

A timeline of Earth’s history measured in millions/billions of years.

Geological time

The disproven idea that life arises from nonliving matter.

Spontaneous generation

Droplet‑like structures formed from organic molecules; hypothesized precursors to cells.

Coacervates

Protein‑based spherical structures that can form spontaneously; early cell‑like models.

Microspheres

The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free‑living bacteria engulfed by early cells.

Endosymbiont theory

A rapid, widespread loss of many species in a short geological period.

Mass extinction

A period ~540 million years ago when most major animal groups rapidly appeared.

Cambrian explosion

non‑living infectious particles made of genetic material inside a protein coat.

Viruses

All the genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside a virus or organism.

Genome

The protein shell surrounding a virus’s genetic material.

Capsid

A lipid membrane surrounding some viruses, taken from the host cell.

Envelope

A virus that infects bacteria.

Bacteriophage

A viral cycle where the virus replicates and bursts (lyses) the host cell.

Lytic cycle

A viral cycle where viral DNA integrates into the host genome and stays dormant before activating.

Lysogenic cycle

An enzyme that converts viral RNA into DNA.

Reverse transcriptase

A virus that uses reverse transcriptase (e.g., HIV).

Retrovirus

A biological preparation that stimulates immunity against a disease.

Vaccine