BackGeneral Biology: Key Concepts from Campbell Biology Ch. 1
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Terms in this set (23)
Biology is the scientific study of life.
The prefix means life and the suffix -ology means the study of.
The cell is the smallest, most fundamental unit of life.
An organism is any individual form of life, applicable to all life forms.
Unicellular organisms consist of a single cell; multicellular organisms consist of many cells.
All living organisms share key characteristics such as organization, energy use, homeostasis, growth, reproduction, and evolution.
Viruses are NOT considered alive because they lack key characteristics of life.
Taxonomy is the branch of science that classifies, identifies, and names organisms.
The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Eukarya consist of eukaryotic cells that contain a nucleus.
Kingdoms include Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista.
Organisms are categorized as autotrophs (make their own food), heterotrophs (consume others), or decomposers (consume dead matter).
A procedure to ask questions, test ideas, and build scientific knowledge starting with observation and hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a proposed, testable explanation for an observation that includes a prediction.
A theory is a well-supported, testable explanation based on many observations.
An experiment is a scientific procedure designed to test a hypothesis or theory.
The independent variable is changed by the researcher; the dependent variable is measured as the outcome.
False positives incorrectly indicate a result is present; false negatives incorrectly indicate a result is absent.
Positive controls are expected to show a response; negative controls are expected to show no response.
Adaptation is a process that enables organisms to improve survival and reproduction in their environment.
Natural selection is the process where the environment selects for organisms with traits that increase fitness.
Natural selection requires genetic variation and selective pressure on heritable traits.
Evolution is the change in the genetic makeup of a population over generations, often via natural selection.