Biology Slides 1
The science of how life works
Biology
Observations
A method used in science to gather information
Hypothesis
A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence
Experimentation
A procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis
Theories
Concepts that arise from repeated experimentation and validation
Order/Organization
One of the traits that define life, indicating structured arrangement.
Reproduction
The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced.
Growth and Development
The process of increasing in size and maturing over time
Energy processing/metabolism
The conversion of energy from food into usable forms for biological processes.
Response to the environment
The ability of living organisms to react to external stimuli.
Homeostasis and Regulation
The maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.
Evolutionary adaptation
Changes in organisms over time that enhance their survival and reproduction.
Cell
The basic unit of life, which can be unicellular or multicellular.
Organelles
Microscopic structures within a cell that perform specific functions.
Asexual reproduction
A mode of reproduction where a single organism creates a copy of itself.
Sexual reproduction
A mode of reproduction involving two orgasnism mating to produce offspring.
Respiration
The process of converting chemical energy from food into usable energy.
Photosynthesis
The process by which producers convert sunlight into chemical energy.
Stimulus
An external factor that elicits a response from an organism.
Buffers
Substances that maintain pH levels in biological systems.
DNA
The genetic material used to pass information from one generation to the next.
Proteins
Molecular machines that perform most cell functions.
Organization of Living Things
Levels of biological organization: Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, Biosphere
Atom
Smallest unit of matter that has distinct properties
Molecule
Bonded group of atoms
Organelle
A defined structure that performs a specific function.
Tissue
Group of cells with similar structure and function
Organ
Group of tissues that perform a similar function
System
Group of organs that perform an overall function
Organism
Total living creature composed of many systems
Population
Localized group of organisms of the same species.
Community
Populations of species living in the same area.
Ecosystem
The collection of community interactions that include abiotic factors such as soil, temperature and water
Biome
Large scale communities classified by predominant vegetation type and distinctive combinations of plants and animals
Biosphere
The sum of all a planet's ecosystems
Species
A group of organisms with similar structural and functional characteristics that freely interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Epithelial Tissue
One of the four basic types of tissue
Muscular Tissue
One of the four basic types of tissue
Nervous Tissue
One of the four basic types of tissue
Connective Tissue
One of the four basic types of tissue
Vital Organs
Brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys
Human Body Systems
Skeletal, Muscular, Integumentary, Nervous, Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Endocrine, Lymphatic, Reproductive
Skeletal System
Supports the body & enables movement (cartilage, bones, joints)
Muscular System
Enables movement & helps maintain body temperature (skeletal muscles, tendons)
Integumentary System
Encloses internal body structures & site of many sensory receptors (hair, skin, nails)
Nervous System
Detects and processes sensory information & activates bodily responses (brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves)
Circulatory System
Delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues & equalizes temperature in the body (heart, blood vessels)
Respiratory System
Removes carbon dioxide from the body & delivers oxygen to the blood (nasal passages, trachea, lungs)
Digestive System
Processes food for use by the body & removes wastes from undigested foods (stomach, liver, small intenstine, large intestine, gall bladder)
Urinary System
Controls water balance in the body & removes wastes from blood and excretes them (kidneys, urinary bladder)
Endocrine System
Secretes hormones & regulates bodily processes (pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, testes, ovaries)
Lymphatic System
Returns fluid to blood & defends against pathogens (thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, lymphatic vessels)
Male Reproductive System
Produces sex hormones and gametes & delivers gametes to female (testes, epididymis)
Female Reproductive System
Produces sex hormones and gametes & supports embryo/fetus until birth & produces milk for infant (Mammary glands, ovaries, uterus)
Water
Makes up 55 to 60% of an adult human's body
Dehydration
Occurs when water loss exceeds intake
Nutrition
Vitamins, minerals, essential proteins, and a few essential fats that must be consumed
Calories
Need ~2000 calories per day, 4 cal/gram for carbs and proteins, 9 cal/gram for fats
Chemicals
Everything that isn't a vacuum is a chemical
Natural
Nature isn't nice; includes deadly substances like botulinum toxin
Vacuum
A space without matter or air