Bio 1020 topic 1: Intro to Biology (Vocab)

Vocab

Observation

gathering of information

Data

recorded observations:

quantitative- cold hard #’s

qualitative- behavioural

statstics

mathematics used to analyze data

inductive reasoning

derive generalizations from a large number of specific observations

deductive reasoning

take a general premise and use current facts to predict the specific result

scientific theory

it’s general enough to spin off new scientific hypotheses that can be tested. Supported by a lot of evidence

controlled experiment

compares an experimental group to a controlled group

independent variable

the factor being manipulated

dependent variable

the factor being measured that is affected by the independent variable.

reductionism

reduces complex systems to simpler components, that are easier to study

emergent properties

new properties emerge at each level that are absent from the one before.

systems biology

exploring a biological system by analyzing the interactions among its parts

Gene

Unit of inheritance Instructs all the info necessary to build molecules in a cell

gene expression

the transfer of information from a gene resulting in a functional protein

Transcription

DNA to RNA

Translation

RNA to DNA

Genomics

Large scale analysis of DNA sequences

Genome

library of genetic instructions that an organism inherits

Proteomics

the study of full sets of proteins

Proteomes

full set of proteins present in a cell

cellular work

all activities carried out by cells

feedback regulation

The output or product of a process regulates the process

Nomenclature

the naming of organisms

Taxonomy

the sorting of life into groups