BIO103 - B01 VOCAB - the study of biology

biology

The scientific study of life.

life

In reality, a very difficult idea to define. According to Wikipedia, ______ is a characteristic that distinguishes physical entities that have biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (they have died), or because they never had such functions and are classified as inanimate.

biological hierarchy

The biological levels of organization of living things arranged from the simplest to most complex: atom, molecule,.... --> ecosystems, and finally the biosphere.

atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.

molecule

Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds; not necessarily a compound

organelle

Any of several membrane-enclosed structures with specialized functions, suspended in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells.

cell

Life's fundamental unit of structure and function; the smallest unit of organization that can perform all activities required for life.

tissue

An integrated group of cells with a common structure, function, or both.

organ

A specialized center of body function composed of several different types of tissues.

organ system

A group of organs that work together in performing vital body functions.

organism

An individual living thing, consisting of one or more cells.

population

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring.

community

All the organisms that inhabit a particular area; an assemblage of populations of different species living close enough together for potential interaction.

ecosystem

All the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic (= nonliving; referring to the physical and chemical properties of an environment) factors with which they interact; one or more communities and the physical environment around them.

biosphere

The entire portion of Earth inhabited by life; the sum of all the planet's ecosystems.

emergent properties

New properties that arise with each step upward in the biological hierarchy, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.

structure

An arrangement or organization of parts to form a molecule, cell, organ, system, or living thing. The way something is arranged enables it to play its role, fulfill its job.... do its function.

function

Simply put, what a given molecule, cell, tissue, organ, etc does.

science

An approach to understanding the natural world.

hypothesis

A testable (and tentative) explanation for a set of observations based on the available data and guided by inductive reasoning (= a type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations); also, a ___________ is much narrower in scope than a theory.

experiment

A scientific test. Often carried out under controlled conditions that involve manipulating one factor (or variable) in a system in order to see the effects of changing that factor.

controlled experiment

This type of experiment compares an experimental group with a control group; ideally, the two groups differ only in the factor being tested (= only one variable being manipulated).

experimental group

A(n) _________ __________ consists of a set of subjects that has (or receives) the specific factor (= variable being manipulated) being tested in a controlled experiment. Ideally, this group is identical to the control group for all other factors (or variables).

control group

In a controlled experiment, the _________ __________ consists of subjects that lack (or did not receive) the specific factor (= variable being manipulated) being tested. Ideally, this group is identical to the experimental group for all other factors (or variables).

theory

An explanation that is much broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.

basic science

________ ________ (or research), also called pure research or fundamental research, has the scientific research aim to improve scientific theories for improved understanding or prediction of natural or other phenomena. Applied science (or research), in turn, uses scientific theories to develop technology or techniques to intervene and alter natural or other phenomena. Though often driven by curiosity, ________ ________ (or research) fuels applied science's innovations. The two aims are often coordinated in research and development (Wikipedia).

applied science

________ ________ (or research) is the application of existing scientific knowledge to practical applications, like technology or inventions. Within natural science, disciplines that are basic science develop "baseline" information to predict and perhaps explain and understand phenomena in the natural world. ________ ________ is the use of scientific processes and knowledge as the means to achieve a particular practical or useful result (Wikipedia).

peer review

________ ________ is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review methods are used to maintain quality standards, improve performance, and provide credibility (Wikipedia).