Life Science 8th Grade FSA Review

abiotic

an environmental factor not associated with the activities of living organisms

allele

any of two or more alternate forms of a gene that an organism may have for a particular trait

dominant

the form of a trait that is expressed or shown when the combination of alleles for this trait is heterozygous

biotic

a factor in an environment relating to, caused by, or produced by living organisms

food chain

represents the transfer of energy from the Sun through producers and a series of consumers

ecosystem

all the living and nonliving things that interact with each other in an environment

herbivore

an animal that obtains nutrients only from plants

gene

a specific part of a chromosome or sequence of DNA that determines a particular feature or characteristic in an organism

environment

an area that includes all living organisms and the surrounding physical features such as air, water, soil, weather, and landforms

adaptation

a characteristic of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment

characteristic

a feature, quality, property, or trait of an object or organism

behavior

a plant or animal action, reaction, or activity that occurs in response to stimuli (i.e. gravity, light, temperature)

carnivore

an animal that obtains nutrients from eating other animals

eukaryote

an organism whose cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane

community

populations of different species of organisms living together in the same geographic area

autotroph

an organism that can produce food from inorganic materials (ex. carbon dioxide, sunlight, water)

biodiversity

the existence of a wide range of different species in a given area or specific period of time

budding

an asexual reproductive process in which an outgrowth of a parent organism detaches and forms a new individual of the same species

germination

the process by which plants begin to grow from a seed or a spore

consumer

an organism in a food chain that obtains nutrients from producers or other consumers (may be herbivores or carnivores)

heterotroph

an organism that cannot produce its own food