Biology & Life Sciences ASVAB

Producer

An organism that produces its own energy, typically through photosynthesis, such as plants.

Consumer

An organism that cannot produce its own food and needs to eat other organisms for energy.

Herbivore

A type of consumer that eats only plants.

Carnivore

A type of consumer that eats only animals.

Omnivore

A type of consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Scavenger

An organism that feeds on dead animals.

Food chain

A linear representation of how energy flows through organisms in an ecosystem.

Food web

A more complex depiction of energy flow in an ecosystem that shows multiple feeding relationships.

Energy pyramid

A diagram that shows how energy is lost as it is transferred through different organisms in an ecosystem.

Trophic level

The different levels in a food chain or pyramid, representing different stages of energy transfer.

Muscular System

The organ system that includes all the muscles that move the bones.

Respiratory System

The system responsible for the process of breathing and gas exchange, including organs like lungs and trachea.

Circulatory System

The system responsible for transporting materials throughout the body, consisting of blood, the heart, and blood vessels.

Digestive System

The system that processes food so it can be used by the body, including organs like the stomach and intestines.

Nervous System

The system that gathers and interprets information from the environment, allowing for communication and response.

Reproductive System

The system that allows organisms to produce offspring.

Genetics

The study of how hereditary information is passed from one generation to the next.

Gregor Mendel

Known as the 'Father of Genetics,' he studied inheritance in pea plants and laid the groundwork for modern genetics.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene, which can be dominant or recessive.

Dominant allele

An allele that shows its effect even if only one copy is present.

Recessive allele

An allele that shows its effect only when two copies are present.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by alleles.

Punnett Square

A tool used to predict the probability of an offspring inheriting particular genotypes.