Chapter 1 Key Terms

applied science

a form of science that solves real-world problems

atom

a basic unit of matter that cannot be broken down by noraml chemical reactions

basic science

science that seeks to expand knowledge regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge

biology

the study of life

biosphere

a collection of all ecosystems on earth

cell

the smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living things

community

a set of populations inhabiting a particular area

control

a part of an experiment that does not change during the experiment

deductive reasoning

a form of logical thinking that uses a general statement to predict specific results

descriptive science

a form of science that aims to observe, explore, and find things out

ecosystem

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

eukaryote

a organism with cells that have nuclei and membrane- bound organelles

evolution

the process of gradual change in a population that can also lead to new species arising from older species

falsifiable

able to be disproven by experimental results

homeostasis

the ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions

hypothesis

a suggested explanation for an event, which can be tested

hypothesis-based science

a form of science that begins with a specific explanation that is then tested

inductive reasoning

a form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion

life science

a field of science, such a biology, that studies living things

macromolecule

a large molecule typically formed by the joining of smaller molecules

molecule

a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond

natural science

a field of science that studies the physical world, it phenomena and processes

organ

a structure formed of tissues operating together to perform a common function

organ system

the higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs

Organelle

a membrane- bound compartment or sac within a cell

organism

an individual living entity

peer-reviewed article

a scientific report that is reviewed by a scientists’s colleagues before publication

phylogenetic tree

a diagram showing the evolutionary relationships amoung biolocial species based on similarities and differences in genetic or physical traits or both

physical science

a field of science, such as astronomy, physics, and chemistry, that studies nonliving matter

population

all individuals within a species living within a specific area

prokaryote

a unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle

science

knowledge that covers general truths or the operation of general laws, especially when acquired and tested by the scientific method

scientific law

a description, often in the form of a mathematical formula, for the behavior of some aspect of nature under certain specific conditons

scientific method

a method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation

scientific theory

a thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena

tissue

a group of similar cells carrying out the same function

variable

a part of an experiment that can vary or change