Full set BIOLOGY

Scientific Process

Scientific Process

The systematic method scientists use to develop and test scientific ideas, involving making observations, forming theories, making predictions, conducting experiments, and peer review.

Theory

A scientific idea that can be tested through experiments and observations to determine its validity.

Peer Review

The process where scientific reports are evaluated by other experts in the field before being published in scientific journals to ensure quality and accuracy.

Hypothesis

A specific testable statement based on a theory, predicting the outcome of an experiment or observation.

Lab Experiment

Controlled experiments conducted in laboratories to gather evidence and draw valid conclusions by controlling variables.

Study

Research conducted outside of a lab setting to investigate phenomena that cannot be studied in a controlled environment, aiming to make valid conclusions despite challenges in controlling all variables.

Scientific Evidence

Data and results obtained from experiments and studies that support or refute scientific theories and hypotheses.

Economic Factors

Considerations related to the cost and financial implications of implementing scientific findings or developing new ideas.

Environmental Factors

Factors related to the impact of scientific decisions on the environment, biodiversity, and natural resources.

Social Factors

Considerations about how scientific recommendations and decisions impact individuals' lives, choices, and societal norms.

Water

A molecule composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, essential for life due to its solvent properties and ability to transport substances.

Solvent

A substance capable of dissolving other substances, such as water which is a universal solvent due to its polarity.

Dipolar molecule

A molecule with a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other, like water which exhibits this property due to its structure.

Circulatory System

The system responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, and waste products throughout the body, typically using the heart to pump blood.

Hydrogen Bonding

An attraction between the slightly positive hydrogen atom of one molecule and the slightly negative atom of another molecule, as seen in water molecules.

Left Ventricle

The chamber of the heart with thicker, more muscular walls responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body.

Atrioventricular Valves

Valves that connect the atria to the ventricles in the heart, preventing blood from flowing back into the atria during ventricular contraction.

Semi-lunar Valves

Valves linking the ventricles to the pulmonary artery and aorta, ensuring blood does not flow back into the heart after ventricular contraction.

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels where metabolic exchange occurs, facilitating the exchange of substances between cells and the bloodstream.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of contraction and relaxation of the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) that keeps blood circulating throughout the body.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart chambers (atria or ventricles) contract and pump blood.

Diastole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart chambers (atria or ventricles) relax and fill with blood.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out to the body.

AV Valves

Atrioventricular valves that separate the atria from the ventricles and prevent backflow of blood.

SL Valves

Semilunar valves that separate the ventricles from the major arteries and prevent backflow of blood.

Aorta

The main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body.

Pulmonary Artery

The artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Vena Cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart.

Heart Rate

The number of heartbeats in a minute, indicating the speed at which the heart is pumping blood.

Daphnia

Tiny transparent aquatic invertebrates used in experiments to observe internal organs, such as the heart, under a microscope.

Light Microscope

An optical instrument used to magnify and observe small objects or organisms that are not visible to the naked eye.

Eyepiece

The lens at the top of the microscope where you look through to observe the specimen.

Objective Lenses

Lenses located on the rotating nosepiece of the microscope that provide different levels of magnification.

Stage

The platform where the specimen is placed for observation under the microscope.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

A knob used to move the objective lens up or down to focus on the specimen.

Fine Adjustment Knob

A knob used for precise focusing to obtain a clear image of the specimen.

Slide

A small, flat piece of glass or plastic on which specimens are mounted for observation under a microscope.

Wet Mount

A method of preparing a microscope slide by placing a specimen in a drop of water and covering it with a cover slip.

Dry Mount

A method of preparing a microscope slide by directly placing the specimen on the slide and covering it with a cover slip without adding water or stain.

Caffeine Solution

A solution containing caffeine used to test its effect on heart rate, often prepared in different concentrations for experiments.

Serial Dilution

A technique used to create solutions of varying concentrations by repeatedly diluting a stock solution.

Stopwatch

A timekeeping device used to measure the duration of an event, such as counting heartbeats in an experiment.

Daphnia

Small, freshwater crustaceans commonly used in experiments to study the effects of substances like caffeine on heart rate.

Caffeine

A stimulant compound found in coffee, tea, and other beverages that can increase heart rate and alertness.

Invertebrates

Animals lacking a backbone, such as Daphnia, spiders, and insects, often used in experiments due to ethical considerations.

Ethical Issues

Moral dilemmas or concerns related to the treatment of living organisms in scientific experiments, including consent, pain, and suffering.

Atheromas

Fatty deposits that develop within the walls of arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like thrombosis.

Thrombosis

The formation of blood clots within blood vessels, which can lead to blockages and restrict blood flow, causing damage to tissues.

Atherosclerosis

The hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the buildup of atheromas, leading to increased blood pressure and reduced blood flow.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

The formation of a blood clot in a vein deep inside the body, typically occurring in leg veins, often caused by prolonged inactivity.

Stroke

A rapid loss of brain function due to a disruption in the blood supply to the brain, often caused by a blood clot in an artery leading to the brain.

Myocardial infarction

Commonly known as a heart attack, it occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked by a blood clot, cutting off blood supply to an area of the heart muscle.

Thrombosis

The body's mechanism to prevent excessive blood loss when a blood vessel is damaged, involving the formation of a blood clot through a series of reactions.

Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Occurs when the coronary arteries have a buildup of atheromas, restricting blood flow to the heart and increasing the risk of blood clots and heart attacks.

Atheroma

Fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to the formation of blood clots, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

High blood pressure

Increases the risk of damage to artery walls, leading to atheroma formation and contributing to cardiovascular disease risk.

Carbon monoxide

In cigarette smoke, combines with hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport in the blood and potentially leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Nicotine

In cigarette smoke, makes platelets sticky, increasing the likelihood of blood clot formation and raising the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Genetics

Some individuals inherit alleles that predispose them to high blood pressure or cholesterol, increasing their risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Age

The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases with age due to the gradual buildup of plaque in the arteries over time.

Gender

Men are three times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases than pre-menopausal women, partly due to hormonal differences affecting cholesterol levels.

Atheroma

A fatty deposit or plaque that forms within the inner lining of arteries, contributing to atherosclerosis.

Thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a blood vessel, obstructing blood flow.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

A group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

Fibrin

A protein involved in the blood clotting process, forming a mesh that traps blood cells to create a clot.

Perception of Risk

The subjective assessment individuals make about the likelihood of experiencing harm or adverse events, which may differ from the actual statistical risk.

Sample size

The number of individuals participating in a study, with larger sample sizes leading to more reliable results.

Variables

Factors that can influence the outcome of a study, with controlling for more variables increasing the reliability and validity of results.

Data collection

The process of gathering information for a study, with less bias in data collection leading to more reliable results.

Controls

Elements in a study that are kept constant to ensure the validity of the results.

Repetition by other scientists

When other researchers obtain the same results, it increases the reliability of the findings.

Platelet Inhibitory Drugs

Medications like aspirin that prevent platelets from clumping together to form blood clots, reducing the risk of a blood vessel blockage.

Energy Budget

The balance between the amount of energy taken in through food and the amount of energy used up by an organism through activities like movement.

Energy Imbalance

When there is a disparity between the energy intake (food consumed) and energy output (calories burned through activities), leading to weight gain or weight loss.

CVD (Cardiovascular Disease)

A group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including conditions such as coronary heart disease and hypertension.

Anticoagulants

Medications that prevent blood clot formation by interfering with the body's clotting process, reducing the risk of clot-related issues like stroke or heart attack.

Calories

Units of energy used to measure the energy content of food and the energy expenditure of the body.

DCPIP

A chemical dye that turns colorless in the presence of vitamin C, used to measure the concentration of vitamin C in a solution.

Energy Budget

The balance between the calories consumed through food and the calories expended through bodily functions and activities.

Calibration Curve

A graph showing the relationship between the concentration of a substance (e.g., vitamin C) and a measurable property (e.g., volume of drops needed to change the color of DCPIP).

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the main energy supply in living organisms, consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar molecules that join together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides through glycosidic bonds.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates formed by more than two monosaccharides joining together, such as amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen.

Glycosidic bonds

Bonds formed between monosaccharides in a condensation reaction and broken in a hydrolysis reaction.

Amylose

A polysaccharide formed by a-glucose molecules joined together by 1-4 glycosidic bonds.

Amylopectin

A polysaccharide with a-glucose and 1-4/1-6 glycosidic bonds, containing side branches.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide similar to amylopectin but with even more side branches.

Maltose

A disaccharide formed by two a-glucose molecules joined by a glycosidic bond.

Lactose

A disaccharide composed of b-glucose and galactose with a 1-4 glycosidic bond.

Sucrose

A disaccharide made of a-glucose and fructose with a 1-2 glycosidic bond.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary source of energy for living organisms.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made up of multiple monosaccharide units bonded together.

Starch

A polysaccharide found in plants, consisting of amylose and amylopectin, used for energy storage.

Amylose

A type of starch composed of unbranched chains of glucose molecules with 1-4 glycosidic bonds.

Amylopectin

A type of starch composed of branched chains of glucose molecules with 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide found in animals, similar in structure to amylopectin, used for energy storage.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of sugar, such as glucose.

Disaccharide

A sugar formed by joining two monosaccharides through a condensation reaction.

Condensation Reaction

A chemical reaction where two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, with the release of a small molecule like water.