General Biology 1406-02P Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the General Biology 1406-02P lecture notes, providing definitions and important ideas for exam preparation.

Biology

The study of living things.

Hierarchical Organization

The arrangement of biological structures in levels from atoms to biosphere.

Cellular organization

Living things are made of one or more cells, which are the basic units of life.

Homeostasis

The ability of living organisms to maintain stable internal conditions.

Evolution

Change over time in populations of organisms, explained by natural selection.

Hypothesis

A possible explanation for an observation that must be tested to determine its validity.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed or manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The outcome that is measured in an experiment, influenced by the independent variable.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to understanding the natural world through observation and reasoning.

Natural Selection

A key mechanism of evolution, where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Emergent Property

A characteristic or behavior of a system that arises from the interaction of its parts but is not present in any individual part.

Reductionism

The approach of breaking down complex phenomena into simpler parts to understand them.

Models in Science

Tools to organize thought about how parts fit together and to suggest experiments.

Basic Research

Research intended to extend the boundaries of what we know.

Applied Research

Research that uses knowledge from basic research to address practical problems.

Core Concepts in Biology

Key ideas that encompass the study of biology, including evolution and the relationship between structure and function.