Holt Rinehart and Winston Modern Biology Chapter 1
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54 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Algae | autotrophic protists |
| asexual reproduction | the production of offspring that does not involve the union of gametes |
| autotroph | an organism that uses energy to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic substances |
| base unit | one of seven fundamental units of SI measurement that describe length, mass, time, and other quantities |
| biology | the science of life |
| cell | a membrane-bound structure that is the basic unit of life |
| compound light microscope | an instrument that magnifies small objects so they can be seen easily using two or more lenses |
| control group | in an experiment, a group or individual that serves as a standard of comparison with another group or individual to which it is identical except for one factor |
| controlled experiment | a test of variables using a comparison of a control group with an experimental group data any and all information that scientists gather in trying to answer their questions |
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | a double-helix-shaped nucleic acid |
| dependent variable | the responding variable in an experiment |
| derived unit | units produced by the mathematical relationship between two base units or between two derived units |
| development | the process by which an organism grows |
| differentiation | the process by which cells become different from one another through multiplying and following various genetic instructions |
| DNA | hereditary information in the form of a large molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid |
| ecology | the study of interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment |
| ecosystem | distinct environmental communities |
| electron microscope | an instrument that uses a beam of electrons rather than a beam of light to enlarge the image of an extremely small object so that it can be seen |
| evolution | all the changes that have formed life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to the diversity that characterizes it today |
| evolve | the changing of an organism over numerous generations |
| experiment | the process of testing a hypothesis or prediction by gathering data under controlled conditions |
| experimental group | in an experiment, a group or individual that receives an independent variable, differentiating them from the control group |
| gene | a segment of DNA that contains coding for a polypeptide or protein; a unit of hereditary information |
| heterotroph | an organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or their by-products |
| homeostasis | the stable internal conditions of a living thing |
| hypothesis | a statement that can be tested experimentally |
| independent | variable an experimentally manipulated variable |
| inference | a conclusion made on the basis of facts or premises rather than on direct observation |
| magnification | the increase of an object's apparent size |
| matter | anything that occupies space and has mass |
| metabolism | the sum of all chemical processes in living things |
| microscope | an instrument that produces an enlarged image of an object |
| model | an explanation supported by data |
| multicellular organism | a living thing that consists of more than one cell |
| natural selection | the theory that organisms that have certain favorable traits are better able to successfully reproduce than organisms that lack these traits |
| Nosepiece | the rotating piece of a compound microscope that holds the varying objective lenses |
| Observation | the act of employing one or more of the five senses to perceive objects or events |
| objective lenses | the magnifying lenses positioned directly above the specimen on a compound microscope |
| ocular lens | in a microscope, the lens in the eyepiece |
| organism | a living being |
| organ system | a group of organs that interact to perform a set of related tasks |
| photosynthesis | the conversion of light energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds |
| power of magnification | the factor of enlargement on an objective lens |
| prediction | a statement made in advance that states the results that will be obtained from testing a hypothesis |
| reproduction | the production of new offspring |
| resolution | the power of a microscope to show detail |
| sampling | the scientific technique of using a small part of a population to represent the entire population |
| scanning electron microscope | a microscope that produces an enlarged image of the surface of an object with a beam of electrons rather than light |
| sexual reproduction | hereditary information from two parts of a single organism or from two organisms of the same species |
| SI Système International d'Unités | (International System of Measurements) the scientific standard of measurement which employs a set of units that describe length, mass, time and other attributes of matter |
| Stage | the area used to secure a slide on a compound microscope |
| theory | a broad and comprehensive statement of what is believed to be true, supported by considerable experimental evidence resulting from many tests of related hypotheses |
| transmission electron microscope | a microscope that transmits a beam of electrons rather than light through a thinly sliced specimen |
| unicellular organism | a living thing composed of one cell |
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