Honors Biology Review: Unit 1 - Characteristics of Life and Taxonomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms from the notes on Characteristics of Life and Taxonomy.

Metabolism

All chemical processes in living organisms that obtain and use energy and matter to sustain life (e.g., photosynthesis, cellular respiration).

Reproduction

The process by which organisms produce offspring of their own kind; can be asexual or sexual.

Growth and Development

increase in size; maturation and changes that lead to a mature form.

Heredity

The passing of genetic traits from parents to offspring.

Evolution

Change in populations over generations that leads to diversity and adaptation.

Respond to Stimuli

Ability to detect and respond to physical or chemical changes in the environment.

Cell

The basic unit of life; the smallest unit capable of carrying out all life processes.

Homeostasis

keeping things stable, balances, and working properly when when there is changes in the external environment.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that defines a chemical element; composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Relationship between Atoms and Cells

Atoms form molecules that build cells; cells are the basic units that make up living organisms.

Independent Variable

The variable deliberately changed by the experimenter to test its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable.

Control

A baseline condition in an experiment where the independent variable is not applied.

Constants

Factors kept the same across all trials to ensure a fair test.

Virus

A noncellular infectious agent with nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) inside a protein coat that requires a host cell to reproduce.

Living status of Viruses

Viruses are not considered alive by themselves because they lack independent metabolism and reproduction.

Lytic Cycle

Viral replication cycle where the virus takes over the host cell to produce new viruses, often causing cell lysis.

Lysogenic Cycle

Viral DNA integrates into the host genome and is replicated with it, potentially remaining dormant before entering lytic activity.

Binomial Nomenclature

Two-part scientific naming system for species: Genus (capitalized) first, species (lowercase) second; names are italicized.

Taxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms in a hierarchical system.

Domain

Highest taxonomic rank in the three-domain system: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Kingdom (general concept)

Second-highest taxonomic rank; groups organisms into major kingdoms (e.g., Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia).

Bacteria (Eubacteria)

Prokaryotic, single-celled organisms lacking a nucleus; diverse habitats; example: Escherichia coli.

Archaea

Prokaryotic organisms, often extremophiles; live in extreme environments.

Protista

Mostly single-celled eukaryotes (some simple multicellular); not plants, animals, or fungi; examples: Amoeba, Paramecium.

Fungi

Eukaryotes; heterotrophic; cell walls of chitin; many are multicellular (e.g., mushrooms, molds, yeasts).

Plantae

Multicellular, photosynthetic organisms with cellulose cell walls (e.g., mosses, flowering plants).

Animalia

Multicellular, heterotrophic organisms without cell walls (e.g., sponges, jellyfish, worms, starfish, mammals).

Phylum

Taxonomic rank under kingdom; groups organisms by major body plans.

Class

Taxonomic rank under phylum; groups organisms by finer similarities.

Order

Taxonomic rank under class.

Family

Taxonomic rank under order.

Genus

Taxonomic rank under family; a group of closely related species.

Species

Most specific taxonomic rank; organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.