CHAPTER 1

atom

smallest and most fundamental unit of matter

biology

the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their

environments

biosphere

collection of all the ecosystems on Earth

cell

smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living things

community

set of populations inhabiting a particular area

control

part of an experiment that does not change during the experiment

control group

has every feature of the experimental group except the tested variable

dependent variable

variable that is being measured in the experiment

ecosystem

all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, nonliving parts of that environment

eukaryote

organism with cells that have nuclei and membrane-bound organelles

falsifiable

able to be disproven by experimental results

hypothesis

suggested explanation for an observation, which one can test

independent variable

variable that is being manipulated in the experiment

macromolecule

large molecule, typically formed by the joining of smaller molecules

molecule

chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or more chemical bonds

natural science

field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes

organ

collection of related tissues grouped together performing a common function

organ system

level of organization that consists of functionally related interacting organs

organelle

small structures that exist within cells and carry out cellular functions

organism

individual living entity

population

all of the individuals of a species living within a specific area

prokaryote

single-celled organism that lacks organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by a nuclear membrane

scientific method

method of research with defined steps that include observation, formulation of a hypothesis, testing, and confirming or falsifying the hypothesis

theory

tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena

tissue

group of similar cells carrying out related functions

variable

part of an experiment that the experimenter can vary or change