Bio Ch. 1 (From textbook)

biology

the study of life

organization

the degree of order in an organisms parts and interactions with the living world

cell

the smallest unit that can perform all life processes; the basic unit of life

unicellular

describes an organism that only has one cell

multicellular

describes an organism that has more than one cell

organ

a collection of tissues that carry out a certain job in a body

tissue

a collection of cells and cell products with particular jobs that perform those jobs

organelle

one of the small bodies that are specialized to perform a certain job

biological molecule

a chemical compound that provides physical structure and brings about movement, energy use, and other cellular functions.

homeostasis

the process carried out by the human body to maintain a constant state

metabolism

the sum of all chemical processes in an organism

cell division

the formation of two cells from one existing cell

development

the gene directed process by which an organism matures

reproduction

the process of producing offspring

gene

a segment of DNA that contains instructions for a trait

domain

the major subdivisions of all organisms

kingdom

a major category in the scientific classification of living things that ranks above the phylum and below the domain

ecology

the study of the interactions between organisms and the other living or nonliving things in an environment

ecosystem

a community of organisms and their abiotic and biotic environment

natural selection

the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully

adaptation

the process of adapting to an environment

scientific method

the series of steps followed to solve problems

observation

perceiving an occurrence that causes someone to ask a question

hypothesis

an educated guess; proposed explanation

prediction

a statement that forecasts what would happen if the hypothesis were true

experiment

procedures that are used to test a hypothesis and its predictions

control group

a group that serves as a standard of comparison

experimental group

a group that is identical to the control group except for one factor and that is compared with the control group

independent variable

the factor that is manipulated

dependent variable

the factor that changes as a result of the manipulated factor

theory

explanation for phenomenon based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning; supported by lots of evidence; doesn't conflict with existing observations

peer review

experts examine the results and conclusions of a scientists study

compound light microscope

a microscope that shines light through a specimen and has two lenses to magnify an image

eyepiece (ocular lens)

the part of a compound light microscope that magnifies an image, usually ten times

objective lens

the part of a compound light microscope that is located directly above the specimen and that magnifies the image of the specimen

stage

a platform of a compound light microscope that supports the slide holding the specimen

light source

a light bulb that provides light for viewing the image in a microscope

magnification

the increase of an objects apparent size

nosepiece

the part of a compound light microscope that holds the objective lenses in place above the specimen

resolution

in microscopes, the ability to form images with fine detail

SEM (scanning electron microscope)

a microscope that passes a beam of electrons over the specimens surface

TEM (transmission electron microscope)

a microscope that transmits a beam of electrons through a very thinly sliced specimen

metric system

standard system of measurement based on the powers of 10

base unit

one of the fundamental units of measurement that describes length, mass, time, etc.

characteristics of living things

organization, cells, response to stimuli, homeostasis, metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, change through time

stimuli

physical or chemical; changes the internal or external environment; living things respond to this

evolution

change in an organism over a long period of time