Overview of Life and Biological Organization

These flashcards will help in understanding key terms related to biological organization, processes of life, and scientific methodology.

Levels of Biological Organization

Hierarchy of biological structures: atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment within an organism.

Metabolism

The total of all chemical reactions occurring within cells.

Photosynthesis

The process used by plants and some organisms to convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

The hereditary material that contains genetic information necessary for the structure and function of living organisms.

Evolution

Change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Species

A group of interbreeding organisms that can produce fertile offspring.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; the zone of life on Earth.

Cultural Heritage

The practices, skills, and knowledge that are passed from one generation to the next.

Scientific Method

A systematic process for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or proposed explanation for an observation.

Emerging Diseases

Diseases that have recently increased in incidence or geographic range, often due to changes in human behavior or environmental factors.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.