Benchmark Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering experimental design, data analysis, characteristics of life, taxonomy, cell theory, germ theory, membrane transport, and cellular energy from the benchmark review outline.

Observation

The act of using your senses to gather information.

Research Question

A measurable and specific question that explores the cause and effect relationship between variables.

Hypothesis

A testable statement and explanation of the why regarding the cause and effect relationship between two variables.

Prediction

A specific expected outcome that must be stated in an if-then format.

Independent Variable

The purposely changed or manipulated variable in an experiment, plotted on the x-axis.

Dependent Variable

The variable that gets measured (also known as the responding variable because it is the response to the independent variable), plotted on the y-axis.

Controlled Variable

A variable that is left the same and does not change during an experiment.

Control Group

The standard comparison group in an experiment that is treated under normal conditions.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment tested by the independent variable.

Data

The evidence collected to answer the original research question, which must be relevant, appropriate, and sufficient.

Inference

A conclusion drawn from an observation.

Quantitative Data

Data consisting of numbers or measurements, such as temperature and height.

Qualitative Data

Data consisting of descriptive qualities, such as colors and texture.

Accuracy

The nearness of a measurement to the true value, determined by data and average.

Precision

The reproducibility of measurements, determined by data and range.

Autotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from the sun or chemical compounds (e.g., flowers).

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by breaking down molecules (e.g., humans, dogs).

Colonial Organisms

A colony of smaller individual organisms that work together and act as a multicellular organism (e.g., Volvox, slime molds).

Cell Division

A process that cells use to create and produce new cells.

Homeostasis

The process by which organisms maintain and keep their internal conditions stable, such as body temperature.

Stimulus

Something in the environment (internal or external) that causes a reaction or response.

Classification

The grouping of things based on similarities.

Taxonomy

The scientific discipline that groups and names organisms based on their characteristics.

Binomial Nomenclature

A naming system using Latin where each organism gets a two-word name: the first word is the capitalized genus and the second is the lowercase species, written in italics or underlined.

Dichotomous Key

A classification tool meaning 'divided into two parts' where each step gives a choice and directions leading to another step until identification is achieved.

Spontaneous Generation

The early belief that living things come from non-living things, which was disproved by Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur.

Robert Hooke

English scientist (1635–1703) who discovered cells in cork and coined the term 'cells'.

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

Dutch scientist (1632–1723) considered the father of microbiology who built microscopes and was the first to describe unicellular life.

Rudolph Virchow

German physician known as the father of pathology who proposed the idea that every cell arises from another preexisting cell.

Prokaryotic Cells

Single-celled organisms belonging to the bacteria kingdoms that lack membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells containing membrane-bound organelles, making up mainly multicellular organisms.

Pathogens

Agents that cause disease, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, and parasitic worms.

Germ Theory

The scientific theory developed between 1850 and 1920 stating that diseases are caused by microorganisms.

Miasma Theory

An early historical explanation of disease attributing sickness to 'bad air', which was disproved by John Snow.

Binary Fission

An asexual reproduction method in bacteria where a cell divides to create two identical cells.

Conjugation

A bacterial reproductive process involving horizontal transfer where a recipient cell receives new genetic material.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects bacterial cells.

Lytic Cycle

A viral reproduction cycle where the virus destroys host DNA, uses the host cell's ribosomes to produce more viruses immediately, and releases new viruses.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral reproduction cycle where the virus inserts its DNA into the host DNA and lies dormant until it enters the lytic cycle.

Fluid Mosaic Model

The model used by scientists to describe the composition and movement of cellular membranes.

Phospholipids

The main component of cellular membranes consisting of a phosphate group ($\text{PO}_4$) and 2 fatty acids, featuring a hydrophilic polar head and a hydrophobic nonpolar head.

Diffusion

A type of passive transport involving the movement of substances from high to low concentration (e.g., oxygen and carbon dioxide).

Facilitated Diffusion

The passive movement of substances that are too charged or too big across the membrane from high to low concentration with the help of protein channels or carriers.

Osmosis

A special term given to the facilitated diffusion of water, where water moves toward areas with solutes to be dissolved.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution where there are more solutes inside the cell than outside, causing water to move into the cell and make it swell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution where there are more solutes outside the cell than inside, causing water to move out of the cell and make it shrink.

Isotonic Solution

A solution with equal solutes inside and outside the cell, causing water to move in and out at the same rate with no change in cell size.

Active Transport

The movement of substances across a membrane from low to high concentration requiring energy in the form of $\text{ATP}$ (e.g., sodium and potassium).

Endocytosis

The cellular process of moving large particles, large amounts of water, or pathogens into the cell.

Exocytosis

The cellular process of moving large materials out of the cell.

Metabolism

Chemical reactions that break down food products into usable energy ($\text{ATP}$).

Chlorophyll

A light-absorbing pigment located in thylakoids that absorbs most wavelengths of light and reflects green light.

Cellular Respiration

The process that converts glucose and oxygen into usable energy according to the formula: $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{ATP}$.

Fermentation

Anaerobic respiration that supplies energy when not enough oxygen is present, yielding $2\,\text{ATP}$ via lactic acid or alcoholic pathways.