biology vocab unit 1 nature of science

HOMEOSTASIS

The regulation system of a living organism.

EVOLUTION

The gradual changes acquired with time by living organisms.

CELL

The basic unit of life; like a puzzle piece of a puzzle.

EUKARYOTE

A more complex organism or unit of life; has a nucleus.

• Contains archea, fungi, animal, and plant kingdoms

• Can be both unicellular or multicellular

PROKARYOTE

A more simplified unit of life; lacks a nucleus.

• Contains bacteria cells

• Always unicellular

CELL MEMBRANE

A protective barrier around the cell (made of lipids).

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Reproduction by blending the genes of two different sexes.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Reproduction that does not require blending of genes; undifferentiated genes are passed.

ORGANISM

An entity that is alive and can operate by itself.

Requirements:

• made of cells

• contains DNA

• capable of reproducing

• metabolism (building up/down materials for energy)

• responsive to their environment

• they grow and develop

• have some form of homeostasis

• they go through evolution

NUCLEUS

An organelle found in eukaryotic cells that contains DNA.

DNA

The biological genetic coding that directs an organism’s cell functions.

METABOLISM

The way an organism transforms food into energy.

GROW

When a living organism sequentially develops into maturity.

DEVELOP

Advancement in growth and the “growth” stages.

HYPOTHESIS

A developed, supported, and educated explanation for an observation used as a foundation for an experiment.

INFERENCE

A quick guess as to why an event happened after an observation.

OBSERVATION

Noticing an event using the 5 senses, usually piques interest leading to an experiment.

QUALITATIVE DATA

Data collected using non-numerical means; achieved by observation using the 5 senses or self-reflection.

QUANTITATIVE DATA

Data collected through numerical means.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

The variable that is manipulated to achieve a specific result.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

The variable that is affected by the independent variable.

CONTROLLED VARIABLE

The variables that are regulated to avoid affecting the result by an unregulated variable.

AUTOTROPH

an organism that can produce its own food

also called a producer

HETEROTROPH

an organism that has to get their energy from other sources

also called a consumer