Module 1: The Science of Life

Heterotrophs

Organisms that depend on other organisms for their food

Mutation

An abrupt and marked change in the DNA of an organism compared to that of its parents

Theory

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use the energy of sunlight and simple chemicals to produce their own food

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions

Inference

Logical interpretations based on prior knowledge, experience, or evidence

Anabolism

The sum total of all processes in organism which use energy and simple chemical building blocks to produce large chemicals and structures necessary for life

Autotrophs

Are organisms that are able to make their own food

Heterotrophs

Will eat autotrophs or other heterotrophs that eat autotrophs to get the energy they need

Quantitative

Data involves numbers (counting or measuring)

Qualitative

Data is descriptive and doesn't involve numbers

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Observation

is made using one of the five sense

Asexual reproduction

Process by which a single parent reproduces by itself

sexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents

Mutation

change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information