Biology Foundations and the Scientific Method

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the scientific method, CER, laboratory safety and equipment, metrics, graphing, characteristics of life, and cellular organization.

CER

An acronym for Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning, used to create a well-supported argument.

Claim

A complete statement that answers an investigative question; it should not begin with a "yes" or "no".

Evidence

Quantitative or qualitative data, facts, or observations gathered through experiments or research that support a claim.

Reasoning

Explains what the evidence means and how it supports the claim, incorporating scientific concepts, principles, or data analysis.

Scientific Method

An organized plan for gathering, organizing, and communicating information.

Observation

Information that is obtained through the senses.

Inference

An assumption based on prior experience.

Quantitative Observation

Measures of value or counts expressed as numbers, such as height or weight.

Qualitative Observation

Measures of types that may be expressed by name, symbol, color, or the five senses.

Independent Variable

The variable that causes a change in another; also called the manipulated variable and graphed on the X-axis.

Dependent Variable

The variable that changes in response to the manipulated variable; also called the responding variable and graphed on the Y-axis.

Constant

The variable in an experiment that remains the same.

DRY MIX

An acronym to remember variables: Dependent, Responds, Y-axis; Manipulated, Independent, X-axis.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation to a situation or problem, typically written as an "If… then…" statement.

Controlled Experiment

An experiment where only one variable, the independent variable, is deliberately changed at a time.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable and receives treatment.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that is not exposed to the independent variable and receives no treatment.

Peer Review

The process where other scientists in the same field look over an experiment to ensure it is valid and repeatable before results are published.

Compound Light Microscope

A microscope that allows light to pass through the specimen and uses two lenses to form an image.

Electron Microscope

A microscope that uses beams of electrons to produce images; includes SEM for outer surfaces and TEM for inner structures.

Graduated Cylinder

Lab equipment used to accurately measure the volume of a liquid in units of milliliters $(mL)$ or liters $(L)$.

Triple Beam Balance

Lab equipment used to measure the mass of an object in grams $(g)$ or kilograms $(kg)$.

Thermometer

Lab equipment used to measure temperature, typically in Celsius $({}^\text{o}C)$ in science.

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the true value.

Precision

How exact a measurement is, based on measurements made in the same way; indicated by more decimal places.

Metric System

The International System of measurement used by scientists, scaled on multiples of $10$.

Meniscus

The curve at the bottom of the line of liquid in a graduated cylinder.

Bar Graph

A type of graph used to compare amounts.

Line Graph

A type of graph used to show the change in information over time.

Pie/Circle Graph

A type of graph used to show parts of a whole.

SULTAN Method

A mnemonic for elements of a good graph: Scale, Units, Labels, Title, Accuracy, and Neatness.

Growth

An increase in size or number of cells.

Development

A change in shape or form, such as a tadpole becoming a frog.

Homeostasis

The regulation of constant internal conditions within a normal range.

Adaptation

Inherited characteristics and changes that occur over time resulting in evolution.

Biology

The study of life and living things.

Biotic Factor

The living factors in an organism's environment, such as predators or plant-life.

Abiotic Factor

The non-living factors in an organism's environment, such as rainfall or temperature.

Atoms

The basic (nonliving) chemical elements, such as carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.

Molecules

A group of atoms bonded together, such as $H_2O$, $CO_2$, or glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$).

Organelles

Organized, specialized (nonliving) structures making up cells.

Cell

The basic (living) unit of life, responsible for all life's processes.

Nucleus

A membrane-bound organelle that is home to genetic information and manages the cell.

Mitochondria

An organelle that converts carbohydrates into cellular energy.

Ribosome

An organelle with no membrane that produces proteins within the cell.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plants and some bacteria that convert light energy into carbohydrates.

Eukaryotic Cell

Cells that contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Prokaryotic Cell

Simpler cells without a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria.

Tissue

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Organ

A collection of tissues joined to serve a common function, such as the brain or lungs.

Species

A group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

Binary Fission

The division of a prokaryotic cell into text{2} identical cells.

Viruses

Nonliving particles of nucleic acid and protein that can only reproduce by infecting living cells.