Miller and Levine Biology Chapter 01 Science of Biology

science

an organized way of studying the natural world

observation

the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

inference

logical interpretation based on what scientists already know

hypothesis

a tentative scientific explanation that can be tested by further observation or by experimentation

controlled experiment

experiment in which only one variable is changed

independent variable

variable that is deliberately changed (the part that is changed)

dependent variable

variable that is observed and changes in response to the independent variable (the part that is measured)

control group

exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable

data

evidence; information gathered from observation

quantitative data

numbers obtained by counting or measuring

qualitative data

descriptive and involve characteristics that cannot usually be measured

theory

well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses

bias

personal point of view for, or against, something

biology

study of life

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents

stimulus

signal to which an organism responds

asexual reproduction

process of reproduction involving a single parent that results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

sexual reproduction

type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

scientific method

observing, ask questions, make inferences, form hypothesis conduct an experiment , collect/analyze data, draw conclusions

characteristics of living things

made up of cells, based on DNA, obtain and use materials and energy, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a stable internal environment, change over time

metabolism

combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

homeostasis

relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain

evolve

change over time