BSC1010 Exam 1 (Chapter 1-2)

Cell

The basic unit of life; every organism consists of one or more cells.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The informational molecule of life that encodes genetic instructions for producing proteins.

Homeostasis

The state of internal constancy that cells maintain despite changes in the surrounding environment.

Autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food by extracting energy and nutrients from nonliving sources; also known as primary producers.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms; also known as consumers.

Decomposers

Heterotrophs that absorb energy and nutrients from wastes or dead organisms, recycling nutrients back to the environment.

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic or behavior that enables an organism to survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.

Natural Selection

The enhanced reproductive success of certain individuals from a population based on inherited characteristics.

Taxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms.

Species

The basic unit of classification that designates a distinctive type of organism.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation for one or more observations that must be testable.

Independent Variable

The factor that an investigator directly manipulates in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

Any response that might depend on the value of the independent variable.

Control Group

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and serves as a baseline for comparison.

Theory

A comprehensive explanation for a natural phenomenon that encompasses multiple hypotheses and is widely accepted based on evidence.

pH Scale

A scale that measures how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).

Buffer

A pair of weak acids and bases that resist pH changes in biological systems.

Organic Molecules

Chemical compounds that contain both carbon and hydrogen, essential for life.

Polymers

Large molecules composed of smaller subunits called monomers.

Amino Acids

The monomers that make up proteins, each containing a central carbon atom bonded to various groups.

Triglycerides

A type of lipid composed of three fatty acids bonded to glycerol, commonly known as fats.

Ionic Bond

The electrical attraction between two ions with opposite charges.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when two atoms share electrons.

Hydrogen Bond

An attraction between molecules or parts of a large molecule due to partial charges, often involving hydrogen.

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick together, contributing to surface tension.

Solvent

A chemical in which other substances (solutes) dissolve; water is a common solvent.

Chemical Reaction

A process in which molecules swap atoms to yield different molecules, breaking and forming chemical bonds.

Isotope

Different forms of a single element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Evolution

A change in the genetic makeup of a population over multiple generations, often driven by natural selection.