Study guide BIO- study of life

Biology

The study of life

Cell

The basic unit of life

Unicellular

Made of one cell

Multicellular

Made of many cells

Organelle

Specialized cell structure that carries out a specific function

Differentiation

Process by which cells become specialized

DNA

Genetic information containing instructions for traits

Gene

Part of DNA containing information for a trait

Homeostasis

Maintaining stable internal conditions

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes in an organism

Reproduction

The production of new organisms

Inheritance

The passing of hereditary information to offspring

Evolution

Change in populations over generations

Natural selection

Process in which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to successfully reproduce

Adaptation

A favorable characteristic that can be passed to offspring

Ecology

The interaction of organisms with one another and their environment

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

Heterotroph

An organism that must take in food for energy

Photosynthesis

Process that captures solar energy and transforms it into chemical energy

Hypothesis

A testable statement that predicts an outcome

Independent variable

The factor intentionally changed in an experiment

Dependent variable

The factor that is measured or observed in an experiment

Control group

The group used for comparison in an experiment

Experimental group

The group exposed to the experimental condition

Quantitative data

Data that can be represented with numbers

Qualitative data

Non-numerical information

Theory

A broad statement supported by considerable evidence

Magnification

The increase in apparent size of an object

Resolution

The ability to show details clearly

Ocular lens

The eyepiece lens of a microscope

Objective lens

The lens that is directed toward the specimen

TEM

Transmission electron microscope; produces an enlarged image using electrons

SEM

Scanning electron microscope; produces a 3D image using electrons