General Biology (1012) Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on General Biology.

Biology

The study of life and living organisms.

Biological Sciences

The branch of science that covers the study of living beings and their interactions with their environment.

Scientific Method

A systematic process for experimentation used to explore observations and answer questions.

Independent Variable

The factor being tested in an experiment that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

The factor being measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable.

Theory of Special Creation

The belief that life was created by God.

Theory of Spontaneous Generation

The theory that life arose suddenly and spontaneously from non-living matter.

Theory of Chemical Evolution

The theory that life originated from a slow and gradual process of chemical evolution.

Adaptability

The ability of living organisms to change and maintain balance in their environments.

Metabolism

The transformation of energy and the use of materials in living organisms.

Irritability

The ability of living tissues and organisms to detect stimuli and respond.

Homeostasis

The process through which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Evolution

The process through which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms.

Microbiology

The study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

Zoology

The scientific study of animals.

Genetics

The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.

Ecology

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Cell Biology

The study of cell structure and function.

Marine Science

The study of oceanic and marine life.