Manipulated Variable
The variable that is intentionally changed in an experiment
Responding Variable
The variable that demonstrates (or doesn't demonstrate) an effect
Controlled Variables
Variables that need to be consistent for accurate results
Hypothesis
A possible explanation to the experiment prior to the experiment
Qualitative Data
Data observed by the five senses
Quantitative Data
Data that is numerically represented
Discrete Data
Data that can be easily categorized
Continuous Data
Data that can be measured using the real number system
Biodiversity
The number of species and number of different species living in an area
Biodiversity Index
A measure between 0 and 1 that determines the biodiversity in an area
Species
A group of living organisms with similar characteristics, capable of producing viable offspring
Adaptations
Variations for survival
Structural Adaptation
A physical feature of an organism that allows them to survive in an area successfully
Behavioural Adaptation
An inherited behaviour of an organism that allows them to survive in an area successfully
Polymorphism
Different adult forms within a species
Metamorphism
Different life stages within a species
Sexual Dimorphism
Different male and female forms within a species
Speciation
The process of the formation of a new species
Niche
Where an organism lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with its environment
Generalist
A species with a broad niche
Specialist
A species with a narrow niche
Predation
An interaction in which one organism kills another for food
Competition
An interaction in which two or more organisms compete for a resource
Symbiosis
A long-term relationship between two organisms
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit
Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other remains mostly unaffected
Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other's wellbeing
Resource Partitioning
The act of dividing resources to avoid competition
Asexual Reproduction
Reproduction performed with a single parent with identical genetic material
Binary Fission
A form of asexual reproduction where a parent cell divides itself into two identical daughter cells
Spores
A form of asexual reproduction performed with the release of unicellular cells containing the parent's genetic material
Budding
A form of asexual reproduction in which miniature forms of the plant grow from the parent as appendages, which eventually detach from the parent plant
Cloning
The process where humans trim appendages from the parent plant, which is then used to grow an identical plant
Artificial Cloning
The human creation of genetically identical organisms
Sexual Reproduction
Reproduction performed with two parents with genetic material from both parents
Gametes
Sex cells
Sperm
The male sex cell
Egg
The female sex cell
Zygote
The result when sperm and egg meet
Embryo
The result when a zygote undergoes cellular division
Stamen
The male reproductive organ of a flower
Pistil
The female reproductive organ of a flower
External Fertilization
Fertilization that occurs outside the mother's body
Internal Fertilization
Fertilization that occurs inside the mother's body
Bacterial Conjugation
The direct transfer of genetic material (DNA) from one bacterial cell to another
Heredity
The passing of traits from parents to offspring
Nature
Traits that are inherited solely through genes
Nurture
Traits that are inherited through the outside environment
Genetics
The study of heredity
Discrete Traits
Traits that are easily observable but difficult to quantify
Continuous Traits
Traits that are easily quantifiable
Dominant Genes
Genes whose phenotype will always appear regardless of what it is paired with
Recessive Genes
Genes whose phenotype will only appear when paired with another recessive gene
Genotype
An organism's genetic makeup
Homozygous Dominant
A genotype where both alleles are dominant
Homozygous Recessive
A genotype where both alleles are recessive
Heterozygous
A genotype where the two alleles are different (one dominant, one recessive)
Phenotype
An organism's visible traits
Genotypic Ratio
The ratio of the genotypes that appear in offspring
Phenotypic Ratio
The ratio of phenotypes that appear in offspring
Punnett Square
A chart displaying the genotypic and phenotypic ratios
Mutation
A change in the genetic material
Mutagen
A cause for a mutation
Cancer
A disease as the result of the uncontrolled division of cells
Cell Cycle
The stages of a cell’s life
Interphase
The stage in the cell cycle where cells grow, replicate, and carry out their life functions
Mitosis
A stage in the cell cycle where cell division for somatic cells occurs
Prophase
The first phase of mitosis where the cell duplicates its chromosomes and spindle fibres form
Spindle Fibres
Tiny tube-like structures made of proteins
Metaphase
The second phase of mitosis where the duplicated chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell
Anaphase
The third phase of mitosis where the duplicated chromosomes move towards opposite ends of the cell
Telophase
A nucleolus forms around the chromosomes at the opposite ends of the dividing cell
Cytokinesis
The final stage of the cell cycle where the cell divides itself after replicating its genetic material following mitosis
Meiosis
The process of cell division for sex cells
Diploid Cells
A cell with two complete sets of chromosomes
Haploid Cells
A cell that only contains one set of chromosomes
Genetic Engineering
The process of transferring DNA from one cell to another
Transgenic Organism
An organism with more than one species' DNA
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Organisms whose genetic material has been modified for increased agricultural output
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
The molecule containing genetic information; found in the nucleus of a cell
Nitrogen Bases
The chemicals that make up the "rungs" of the DNA double helix
Gene
A sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait
Chromatid
One half of a duplicated chromosome
Chromosome
A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus, consisting of two chromatids
Genome
All of the genetic information in an organism
Nucleus
The part of a cell that directs and controls the ability of a cell to grow, develop, and replicate itself
Nucleolus
A structure within the nucleus that creates ribosomes
Ribosomes
Cells responsible for the creation of proteins
Proteins
Macromolecules that all cells need to carry out bodily functions; consists of amino acids
Artificial Selection
Humans acting as the selective force for the breeding of organisms to develop desirable traits in offspring
Natural Selection
Nature acting as the selective force for the breeding of organisms; AKA "survival of the fittest"
Sexual Selection
A form of natural selection where females prefer to mate males with specific characteristics
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
A system responsible for the communication of hazards, precautions, and emergency procedures for hazardous materials in the workplace
The Periodic Table of Elements
A table that organizes the elements by the number of protons
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
An organization responsible for the universal system of element symbols and names
Metals
Elements that are solid at room temperature (excluding mercury), conductive, malleable, ductile, and lustrous.
Non-metals
Elements that exist in any of the three common states of matter, and are not conductive, malleable, ductile, or lustrous.
Metalloids
Elements with a combination of properties of metals and non-metals.
Chemical Family
A group of elements with similar properties
Group
A column of elements on the periodic table