Biology Midterm (get ready to die :P)

• Science


  Organized way to use evidence to learn about the natural world.
• Observation


  Using your senses to gather information in an orderly way
• Data


  Information gathered from observation
• Inference


  A logical understanding based on prior knowledge
• Hypothesis


  An educated guess (explanation) based on scientific information
• Spontaneous Generation


  A hypothesis that was disproven, stating that life could arise from nonliving matter.
• Independent Variable =Manipulated Variable


  Factor in an experiment that a scientist purposely changes.
• Dependent Variable = Responding Variable


  Factor in an experiment that a scientist wants to observe, which may change in response to the manipulated variable.
• Controlled Experiment


  An experiment in which one variable (condition) is changed to see if a hypothesis is true.
• Theory


  When a hypothesis is proven many times it becomes a theory, or a well tested explanation that has been proven correct by other scientists.
• Biology


  The study of living things
• Biosphere


  Part of the earth that has all the ecosystems.
• Ecosystem


  Community and it's non-living surroundings.
• Community

  Populations that live together in a specific area. (Ex. DHS is a community made up of different populations including teachers, students, and administrators).
• Population


  One type of organism that lives in a certain area. (Ex. People in Duxbury).
• Organism

  An individual living thing
• Cells


  Smallest unit of life with structure and function.
• Tissues


  Group of one or more cells that perform a function.
• Organ


  Group of tissue that perform a job. (Ex. Heart, lungs)
• Organ System


  Group of organs (Ex. Circulatory system, Respiratory System).
• Molecules


  Group of Atoms that is made up of two or more atoms (Ex. H20).
• Atoms


  The basic unit of matter. The pieces (or particles), are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• Neutron


  A particle inside an atom with no charge.
• Metric System


  A decimal system used by scientists to collect data and perform experiments. Multiples of ten (10) are used.
• Microscope


  Devices used to magnify (enlarge) images.
• Homeostasis


  Process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment.
• Sexual Reproduction


  Process by which cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism.
• Asexual Reproduction


  Process by which a single parent reproduces itself.
• Metabolism

  Set of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up and breaks down material as it carries out its life processes.
• Stimulus


  A signal to which an organism responds
• Cell Theory


  1. All living things are made up of cells2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things3. New cells come from existing cells
• Cell (Plasma) Membrane


  Regulates what enters and leaves the cell and provides protection and support Also called a lipid bilayer
• Cytoplasm


  Jelly-like substance within a cell; The portion of the cell outside the nucleus that contains all of the organelles inside the nucleus and where the majority of the cells reactions take place
• Ribosome

  Where proteins are made; they can be either free or attached to the membrane
• Prokaryote


  An organism whose cells do NOT contain a nucleus. These cells are usually smaller and simpler. The DNA is free floating. Ex. Bacteria

  
• Cell Wall


  Provide structure and support to the cell Usually made of cellulose gives the cell rigidity.
• Flagella


  Whip like extension that enables cells to moveOnly found on a human sperm cells
• Eukaryote


  An organism whose cells contain a nucleus that separates the DNA from the rest of the cell. The cells needs to be larger and more complex. They contain organelles that each have a different function. Ex. Plants and animals

  
• Nucleus


  The control center of the cell contains the cell's DNA (chromosomes)
• Organelle


  A specialized structure that performs a important cellular functions in a eukaryotic cell.