BIOL 1450 - Vocabulary Flashcards (Video Notes)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from the video notes, including history of science context, reasoning in science, biological organization, and genetic information flow.

Telescope

An instrument that reveals distant objects, contributing to the understanding that Earth is not at the center of everything.

Microscope

An instrument that reveals the microbial world and cells, expanding knowledge of life's small-scale structure.

Extrasolar planets

Planets that orbit stars other than the Sun.

Genome

The complete set of genetic material present in an organism or cell.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; the molecule that carries hereditary information in most organisms.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; a molecule transcribed from DNA that helps express genetic information.

Central dogma of genetics

The flow of genetic information: DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins (with DNA replication occurring beforehand).

Transcription

The process of copying a DNA sequence into an RNA molecule.

Translation

The process of decoding an mRNA sequence to synthesize a protein.

Replication

The process of copying DNA before cell division.

Complementary base pairing

A-T and C-G base pairing in DNA that enables accurate replication and transcription.

Hypothesis

A proposed answer to a question that can be tested with experiments and observations.

Inductive reasoning

Reasoning that infers a general conclusion from specific observations.

Deductive reasoning

Reasoning that derives specific conclusions from general statements or hypotheses.

Experiment

A systematic procedure to test a hypothesis by collecting evidence through observation and measurement.

Theory (scientific usage)

A well-supported, broad framework that explains many observations and makes testable predictions.

Facts vs interpretations

Facts are objective observations; interpretations are explanations or meanings drawn from those facts.

Strong hypothesis

A hypothesis that makes testable, falsifiable predictions and can be disproven by evidence.

Emergent properties

New properties that arise at higher levels of organization and are not present in lower levels.

Levels of biological organization

A hierarchical ladder from largest to smallest: biosphere, biomes, ecosystems, communities, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, organelles, molecules, atoms.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems where life exists on Earth.

Biome

A large ecological region defined by climate, flora, and fauna.

Community

A group of interacting populations of different species in a shared location.

Population

All individuals of a single species living in a particular area.

Organ

A body structure composed of multiple tissues that performs a specific function.

Tissue

A group of similar cells that work together to perform a common function.

Cell

The basic unit of life; viruses are not considered alive by many definitions, and prions are not alive.

Organelle

A specialized subcellular structure within a cell with a specific function.

Molecule

A chemical unit made of two or more atoms; the building block of all cellular components.

Atom

The basic unit of matter.

Gene

A discrete unit of hereditary information encoded in DNA.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional product (RNA or protein).

Cell theory (implied in notes)

The idea that all living things are composed of cells and that the cell is the basic unit of life.