IndietroGeneral Biology Exam 1 Review
Termini in questo insieme (29)
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms.
A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of evidence.
Deductive reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion.
Inductive reasoning involves making broad generalizations from specific observations.
A hypothesis is a testable prediction that explains a set of observations.
The independent variable is the factor that is deliberately changed or manipulated in an experiment.
The dependent variable is the factor that is measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable.
The control group is the group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used for comparison.
Replication refers to repeating an experiment multiple times to ensure reliability of results.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external changes.
Natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
An adaptation is a heritable trait that increases an organism's chance of survival and reproduction.
Domain is the highest taxonomic rank, grouping organisms into Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.
Species is the most specific taxonomic rank, representing a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
A proton is a positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus in electron orbitals.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
An ionic bond forms when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract.
A covalent bond is a chemical bond where atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.
A hydrogen bond is a weak attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an electronegative atom in another.
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.
The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution; each unit change represents a tenfold change in H⁺ concentration.
A buffer resists changes in pH by accepting or releasing H⁺ ions.
Macromolecules are large biological molecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Dehydration synthesis is a chemical reaction that joins monomers by removing water.
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.
Proteins have four levels of structure: primary (sequence), secondary (alpha-helix, beta-sheet), tertiary (3D folding), and quaternary (multiple polypeptides).
A phospholipid is an amphipathic lipid with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, forming cell membranes.