Intro to Biology & Scientific Method

What is biology?

Biology is the study of living things and their interactions with the environment.

What is the smallest unit considered fully alive?

The cell.

What are the two types of organisms based on cell number?

Unicellular and multicellular.

What is the universal genetic code written in?

DNA.

What is metabolism?

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

What happens during growth in organisms?

Organisms get larger.

What is differentiation in development?

Cells divide and begin to look different and perform different functions.

What is sexual reproduction?

The process where cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism.

What is asexual reproduction?

A process where a single organism produces offspring identical to itself.

What is a stimulus?

A signal to which an organism responds.

What is homeostasis?

The maintenance of stable internal conditions within cells.

What does it mean for organisms to evolve?

To change over time across generations.

What is the scientific method?

An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.

What are the goals of science?

To provide natural explanations for events and to use those explanations to understand patterns and make predictions.

What is a hypothesis?

A scientific explanation that is testable.

What is an independent variable?

The variable that is changed during an experiment.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable that changes in response to the independent variable.

What is the difference between the experimental group and control group?

The experimental group has the independent variable, while the control group does not.

What are the two main types of data in scientific research?

Quantitative and qualitative data.

What is qualitative data?

Data that describes characteristics or qualities, such as color or texture.

What is quantitative data?

Data that involves numbers and measurements, such as weight or volume.

What is the purpose of analyzing data in scientific research?

To find patterns.

What do scientists do after analyzing data?

They draw conclusions to give meaning to the patterns.