Campbell Biology Chapter 1: Exploring Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering core biological concepts, scientific methods, evolutionary principles, and key definitions from Chapter 1 of Campbell Biology.

Biology

The scientific study of life.

Cell

The structural and functional unit of life.

Domains of Life

The three higher levels into which life is classified: Domain Bacteria, Domain Archaea, and Domain Eukarya.

Domain Eukarya

The domain of life that includes protists and the kingdoms Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Emergent Properties

New properties that arise at each higher level of structural organization due to the specific arrangement and interactions of component parts.

Science

A way of knowing that uses an evidence-based process of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Scientific Theory

An explanation that is broad in scope and supported by a large body of evidence.

Independent Variable

The specific factor in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

The measure used to judge the outcome of an experiment, which depends on the manipulated variable.

Controlled Experiment

An experiment in which an experimental group is compared with a control group to isolate the effect of a single variable.

Evolution

The core theme of biology, defined as the process of change that has transformed life on Earth from its earliest forms to the diversity of organisms living today.

Artificial Selection

The selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals by humans to promote the occurrence of desirable inherited traits.

Radial Sesamoid Bone

A bony projection in the wrist of the red panda (referred to as a "false thumb") that helps it grasp bamboo.

Systems Biology

An approach to studying biology that models the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems based on study of the interactions among the system's parts.

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

An Asian organism adapted to high mountain forests, reclassified as the sole living species in its own family (Ailuridae) based on DNA analysis.