BIOL 1010 - Lecture 1: Characteristics of Living Things and The Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from BIOL 1010 Lecture 1: Characteristics of living things and the Scientific Method.

Biology

The science that studies life.

Life

Defined by the characteristics of living things: cellular organization, ordered complexity, sensitivity, growth, development and reproduction, energy utilization, homeostasis, and evolutionary adaptation.

Cellular organization

Living systems are organized at the cellular level—from atoms to molecules to organelles to cells; the cell is the basic unit of life.

Atoms

The smallest units of matter; atoms join to form molecules.

Molecules

Groups of atoms assembled into structures; building blocks of life.

Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell formed by assemblies of molecules.

Cell

The basic unit of life; can be unicellular or multicellular.

Unicellular

Organisms that consist of a single cell.

Multicellular

Organisms composed of many cells.

Tissues

Groups of similar cells that act as a functional unit.

Organs

Groups of tissues that form a functional unit.

Organ systems

Groups of organs that work together to perform major functions.

Population

A group of organisms living in the same place and of the same species.

Species

Populations of a kind that can interbreed to produce viable offspring.

Community

All populations of different species living together in one place.

Ecosystem

The biological community and the habitat within which it lives.

Biosphere

The entire planet; all ecosystems together.

The Scientific Method

A systematic process for investigating phenomena: make observations, ask questions, do background research, form a hypothesis, conduct experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions.

Observation

Careful noticing and description of phenomena to gather information.

Question

A research question guiding inquiry based on observations.

Background research

Gathering existing information before forming a hypothesis.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation or mechanism for an observation; testable by experimentation and refinable with new data.

Null Hypothesis (Ho)

The hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations.

Experimentation

Testing the hypothesis through controlled experiments; can reject alternative hypotheses.

Independent variable

The factor deliberately changed in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The factor measured or observed in an experiment.

Control

The standard for comparison; the variable that remains unaltered.

Sea Star Wasting Disease

A disease causing lesions, tissue decay, arm loss, and death in sea stars; warming ocean temperatures may influence its spread.

Growth, development, and reproduction

Biological processes by which organisms grow, mature, and produce offspring.

Energy utilization

Use of energy to power metabolic processes and life functions.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal conditions in the face of external changes.

Sensitivity

Ability to detect and respond to stimuli.

Evolutionary adaptation

Heritable changes that improve survival or reproduction in a given environment.

Ordered complexity

The increasing organization of life from simple components to more complex systems.