Scientific Method and Characteristics of Life Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering the scientific method, experimental variables, characteristics of life, ecological interactions, and ecosystem energy terminology from the lecture notes.

Scientific Method

The process of observing, asking questions, and seeking answers through tests and experiments.

Independent Variable

The cause factor in an experiment that is intentionally changed.

Dependent Variable

The effect factor in an experiment that is measured.

Controlled Variable

A factor in an experiment that stays the same throughout.

Observation

Noticing and describing something using your senses or instruments.

Question

A clear question about something that can be scientifically investigated.

Research

Gathering existing information about a scientific topic.

Hypothesis

A testable and educated prediction about what will happen, presented as a single statement before an investigation.

Experiment

A controlled procedure used to test a hypothesis.

Data

Information collected during an experiment.

Analysis

Examining data to identify patterns or relationships.

Conclusion

Explaining what the results show and whether they support the hypothesis.

Communication

Sharing the results and conclusions of an experiment with others.

Biology

The study of the details of living organisms, not life itself.

Abiotic

Refers to non-living factors or things without life.

Biotic

Refers to all living things.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Apoptotic

The name of a cell when it is dead due to programmed cell death.

Metabolism

All the biochemical reactions inside of an organism.

Homeostasis

Process that helps the body maintain a stable internal environment.

Structural Adaptation

A physical feature that helps an organism survive.

Macromolecule

Large biomolecules made up by polymerization, such as carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), and lipids.

Niche

Describes how a species lives, what it needs, and how it interacts with its environment and other organisms.

Habitat

The physical environment in which a species lives.

Predation

An interaction where one species feeds on another, or an animal hunts and eats other animals to survive.

Interspecies Competition

Competition that occurs when two different species vie for the same resources.

Mutualism

A close cooperative relationship between two organisms where both benefit from each other.

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms where one species benefits while the other remains unaffected.

Parasitism

A relationship where one species (the parasite) benefits from growing on and harming another species (the host).

Amensalism

A interaction where one species is harmed or inhibited while the other species is unaffected.

Biomass

The amount of matter that is stored in the bodies of a group of organisms.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which energy is stored as biomass by plants or other primary producers and made available to consumers in the ecosystem.