| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Science | Systematic knowledge gained by the use of reason based on observation (p. 3) |
| Scientific Method | Observe a problem, state a hypothesis, design and perform an experiment, form conclusions, replicate the work (p. 8-10) |
| Experimental Group | Group that is exposed to the experimental (independent) variable. |
| Control Group | Group that is not exposed to the experimental (independent) variable; the standard against which changes, if any, are made and measured. |
| Independent Variable | The experimental variable, what you test on the experimental group to see if makes a difference; the manipulated variable (p. 9). |
| Hypothesis | A reasonable but tentative explanation supported by observation and/or research (p. 5). |
| Theory | An EXPLANATION that has survived repeated testing; A well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations (p. 14). |
| Law | A concise statement that DESCRIBES a large body of observations. |
| Emergent Properties | New properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases. |
| Biosphere | The part of Earth that contains all ecosystems; the total of all the environments on earth that support life (p. 21) |
| Ecosystem | A community and its nonliving surroundings; consists of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact (p. 21) |
| Community | Populations that live together in a defined area; the entire array of organisms inhabiting an ecosystem (p. 21) |
| Population | Group of organisms of one type that live in the same area; an interacting group of individuals of one species (p. 21) |
| Organism | An individual living thing (p. 21) |
| Organ system | Consists of several organs that work together in performing a specific function (p. 21) |
| Organ | A structure consisting of several tissues adapted as a group to perform specific functions (p. 21) |
| Tissue | A cooperative unit of many similar cells that perform a specific function within a multicellular organism (p. 21) |
| Cell | Smallest functional unit of life; a unit of living matter separated from its environment by a boundary called a membrane (p. 21) |
| Characteristics of Life | Made up of cells, Reproduction, Based on a genetic code, growth and development, need for materials and energy, response to the environment, homeostasis, evolution (p. 16-20). |
| Testable | An idea is said to be this when there is some way to check its validity. |
| Falsifiable | An idea is said to be this when there is some observation or experiment that COULD show that it is not true. |
| Species | A group whose members possess similar anatomical characteristics and have the ability to interbreed. |
| Spontaneous generation | The idea that life could arise from nonliving matter (p. 8). |
| Dependent variable | Some factor that is measured in both groups to see if it changes; the responding variable (p. 9). |
| Biology | The science that seeks to understand the living world (p. 16). |
| Data | The information gathered from observations (p. 4). |
| Inference | A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience (p. 4). |
| Unicellular | Made of only one cell (p. 17). |
| Multicellular | Made of many cells (p. 17). |
| Sexual reproduction | Two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism (p. 17). |
| Asexual reproduction | A new organism is formed from a cell or cells from a single parent (p. 17). |
| Metabolism | The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes (p. 18). |
| Homeostasis | The process by which organisms keep their internal conditions relatively stable (p. 19). |
| Evolve | To change over time (p. 20). |
| Botany | The study of plants (p. 20). |
| Zoology | The study of animals (p. 20). |
| Ethology | The study of animal behavior (p. 20). |
| Paleontology | The study of life as it was in the past (p. 20). |
| Molecules | Groups of atoms; smallest unit of most chemical compounds (p. 21). |
| Biogenesis | The idea that new organisms come from existing organisms (p. 14). |
| Redi | Hypothesized that flies produce maggots; Tested his hypothesis by covering 4 jars with gauze while leaving 4 jars uncovered. |
| Spallanzani | Boiled two jars of gravy, sealing one jar immediately while leaving the other open to the air. The sealed jar remained free of microorganisms. |
| Pasteur | Used flasks with long curved necks to show that as long as broth was protected from microorganisms, it remained free of living things. |
| meter | The basic metric unit of length. |
| liter | The basic metric unit used for measuring the volumes of liquids and gases. |
| gram | The basic metric unit of mass. |
| Celsius | Metric unit for measuring temperature; On this scale water freezes at zero and boils at 100. |
| Cell Culture | Group of cells grown in a nutrient solution from a single original cell. |
| Cell fractionation | Technique in which cells are broken into pieces and the different cell parts are separated. |
| Anton von Leeuwenhoek | Dutch lens grinder who developed the first microscope. |
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