Biological Science Freeman Chapter 1

Theory

An explanation for a general class of phenomena that is supported by a wide body of evidence.

Hypothesis

A testable statement that explains a phenomenon or a set of observations.

Prediction

A measurable or observable result of an

experiment based on a hypothesis. Also an if then statement

Cell Theory

The theory that all organisms are made of cells and that all cells come from preexisting cells.

Cell

A highly organized compartment bounded by a thin, flexible structure (plasma membrane) and containing concentrated chemicals in an aqueous (watery) solution. The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.

Spontaneous Generation

Hypothesis stating that life could arise from nonliving matter.

Evolution

Change in a population's characteristics over time

Natural Selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Heritable

Referring to traits that can be transmitted

from one generation to the next.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species

living in the same geographic area at the same time.

Fitness

Ability of individual to produce offsprings

Adaptation

Any heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual with that trait

Speciation

An evolutionary process in which one species splits into two or more species.

phylogenetic tree

The tree of life that includes all

organisms.

Taxonomy

The branch of biology concerned with the

classification and naming of organisms.

Taxon

a named group of organisms

Scientific Name

Genus name and the species name put together by the binomial nomenclature system. eg: Lepomis macrochirus

Domain

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya

Genus

A classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms.

First part of scientific name

Always capitalized

Species

Individuals that regularly breed together

Prokaryote

A member of the domain Bacteria or Archaea; a unicellular organism lacking a nucleus and containing relatively few organelles or cytoskeletal components.

Eukaryote

A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a group of

organisms.

Hypothesis Testing

1. State hypothesis as precisely as possible and list predictions it makes

2. Design observational or experimental study capable of testing those predictions

Null Hypothesis

Hypothesis that predicts NO relationship between variables. The aim of research is to reject this hypothesis

Observational Study

A study that merely observes conditions of individuals in a population and records information; the population is disturbed as little as possible.

Experimental Study

Research study that involves the manipulation of one variable to determine its possible effect on another variable, allowing conclusions to be drawn about cause-and-effect relationships.

Control Group

In a scientific experiment, a group of organisms or samples that do not receive the experimental treatment but are otherwise identical to the group

that does.

Five fundamental characteristics shared by all living organisms.

Energy, Cells, Information, Replication, Evolution.

Central Dogma

DNA codes for RNA which codes for proteins

chromosomes

molecules of DNA that hold the genetic instructions for every cell in the body

genes

consist of DNA segments that code for cell products

Theory of evolution

States that all organisms came from a preexisting origin species and that all species evolve over time through natural selection

Robert Hooke

Discovered cells

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

made first simple microscope

All cells from cells

Cells are produced when pre-existing cells grow and divide

Correct hypothesis of cells

Chromosomal theory of inheritance

Hereditary or genetic information is encoded in genes

DNA function

carries or encodes information needed for an organism's growth and reproduction

RNA

molecules that carry put specialized functions in cells

Messenger RNA

Read to make proteins

Natural selection acts on

individuals

Evolutionary change occurs in

populations