Biology and Earth Science Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to biology, earth science, and general science principles.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, to be tested through experimentation.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world based on a body of evidence.

Variable

Any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measured in an experiment.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive treatment and is used for comparison.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Data

Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.

Conclusion

The summary of the results of the experiment that addresses the hypothesis.

Cell

The basic unit of life that makes up all living organisms.

Gene

The basic unit of heredity in a living organism.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that may lead to a different trait.

Adaptation

A characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.

Allele

One of two or more versions of a gene.

Dominant

An allele that expresses its phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele.

Recessive

An allele that only expresses its phenotype when two copies are present.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions.

Vaccine

A substance that stimulates the body's immune response against disease.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with chlorophyll.

Natural Selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce.

Geology

The study of the Earth, its structure, and processes.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates.

Weathering

The breaking down of rocks and minerals through processes like wind and water.

Erosion

The removal and transportation of soil and rock by wind, water, or ice.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Prey

An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

Atom

The smallest unit of a chemical element.

Element

A pure substance consisting of one type of atom.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements chemically bond together.

Chemical Reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

pH Scale

A scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together.

Acid

A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.

Atmosphere

The layers of gases surrounding the Earth.

Climate

The long-term average of weather conditions in a particular area.

Orbit

The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon.

Ecosystem

A biological community interacting with its environment.

Producer

An organism that can make its own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Consumer

An organism that consumes other organisms for energy.

Herbivore

An animal that feeds exclusively on plants.

Carnivore

An animal that primarily eats other animals.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals.

Chloroplast

An organelle in plant cells that conducts photosynthesis.

Endothermic

A reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings.

Exothermic

A reaction that releases heat into its surroundings.

Host

An organism that harbors another organism, often in a symbiotic relationship.

Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy.

Hydrosphere

The combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of the Earth's surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases.

Solar System

The collection of planets and other celestial bodies that orbit the Sun.

Gravity

A force that attracts two bodies towards each other.

Conservation of Energy

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of chemical elements organized by their atomic number.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment.

Immune System

The body's defense system against infections and diseases.

Nervous System

The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits signals between different parts of the body.

Circulatory System

The system responsible for the flow of blood, nutrients, oxygen, and hormones throughout the body.

Respiratory System

The system that allows us to breathe and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Digestive System

The system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.

Nutrient Science GED Vocabulary

Key terms related to the study of nutrients and their roles in living organisms.

Force

A push or pull on an object resulting from its interaction with another object.

Energy

The capacity to do work or produce change.

Velocity

The speed of an object in a particular direction.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat.

Observation

The action or process of closely observing something or someone.

Experiment

A scientific procedure undertaken to test a hypothesis.

Analysis

The detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.

Reaction

A response to a stimulus.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity of an object.

Volume

The amount of space an object occupies.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Speed

The distance traveled per unit of time.

Newton's Laws of Motion

Three physical laws that together form the foundation for classical mechanics.

Parasite

An organism that lives on or in a host organism and benefits at the host's expense.