BIO FINAL REVIEW VOCAB

only vocab

Biology

The study of life and living organisms, from one-celled creatures to the most complex living organisms.

Compound light microscope

A microscope with a high resolution that uses two sets of lenses providing a 2-dimensional image of the sample.

Homeostasis

A state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly.

Theory

A widely accepted explanation of a biological phenomenon based on sound evidence from rigorous empirical experiments.

Variable

Any characteristic that varies from individual to individual.

Control

The group that does not receive the new treatment being studied.

Cellular organization

One of the 8 characteristics of living things, referring to the arrangement and functioning of cells.

Reproduction

The ability of living things to produce new organisms.

Metabolism

The biochemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring.

Response to stimuli

How living organisms react to changes in their environment.

Growth and development

The process by which organisms increase in size and mature.

Adaptation

The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to its environment.

Neutron

An uncharged atomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Organic compound

Molecules that contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms.

Lipids

Fatty compounds that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Enzyme

Proteins that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions.

Electrons

Small particles with a negative charge found in all atoms.

Prokaryotic

A simple, single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle.

Eukaryotic

An organism composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles.

Cell specialization

The process by which cells develop into specialized cell types with distinct functions and characteristics.

Osmosis

diffusion with water

Hypotonic

A solution that has a lower concentration of solute compared to the cell.

Hypertonic

A solution that has a higher concentration of solute compared to the cell.

Pigments

Light-absorbing molecules used by plants to gather the sun’s energy.

Fitness

An organism’s ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring.

Adaptation

The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.

Natural selection

The process in which organisms adapt to their environment through selective reproduction of changes in their genotype.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a kind of organism.

Taxonomy

The science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms.

Spirillum

A spiral-shaped bacterium.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Coccus

Spherical-shaped bacteria.

enzyme

biological catalyst

cohesion

clinging to itself

adhesion

clinging to you

diffusion

high to low, flows through the cell membrane

kinetic energy

exerting energy

stored energy

storing energy

active transport

using energy to transport

passive transport

no energy needed to move

oxidation

losing electrons

reduction

gaining electrons

Photosystem

large complexes of proteins and pigments used to harvest light

Homologous structures

whale, dolphin, shark