Module #1 Vocabulary

Question 1

Metabolism

Answer 1

The sum total of all processes in an organism which convert energy and matter from outside sources and use that energy and matter to sustain the organisms life functions.

Question 2

Anabolism

Answer 2

The sum total of all processes in an organism which use energy and simple chemical building blocks to produce large chemicals and structures necessary for life.

Question 3

Catabolism

Answer 3

The sum total of all processes in an organism which break down chemicals to produce energy and simple chemical building blocks.

Question 4

Photosynthesis

Answer 4

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use the energy of sunlight and simple chemicals to produce its own food.

Question 5

Herbivores

Answer 5

Organisms that eat only plants.

Question 6

Carnivores

Answer 6

Organisms that eat only organisms other than plants.

Question 7

Omnivores

Answer 7

Organisms that eat both plants and other organisms.

Question 8

Producers

Answer 8

Organisms that produce their own food.

Question 9

Consumers

Answer 9

Organisms that eat living producers and/or other consumers for food.

Question 10

Decomposers

Answer 10

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

Question 11

Autotrophs

Answer 11

Organisms that are able to make their own food.

Question 12

Heterotrophs

Answer 12

Organisms that depend on other organisms for their food.

Question 13

Receptors

Answer 13

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment.

Question 14

Asexual reproduction

Answer 14

Reproduction accomplished by a single organism.

Question 15

Sexual reproduction

Answer 15

Reproduction that requires two organisms.

Question 16

Inheritance

Answer 16

The process by which physical and biological characteristics are transmitted from the parent (or parents) to the offspring.

Question 17

Mutation

Answer 17

An abrupt and marked difference in the DNA of an organism compared to its parents.

Question 18

Hypothesis

Answer 18

An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question.

Question 19

Theory

Answer 19

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.

Question 20

Scientific law

Answer 20

A theory that has been tested and is consistent with generations of data.

Question 21

Microorganisms

Answer 21

Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked eye.

Question 22

Abiogenesis

Answer 22

The idea that, long ago, very simple life forms spontaneously appeared through random chemical reactions.

Question 23

Prokaryotic cell

Answer 23

A cell that has no distinct, membrane bound organelles.

Question 24

Eukaryotic cell

Answer 24

A cell with distinct, membrane-bound organelles.

Question 25

Species

Answer 25

A unit of one or more populations of individuals that can reproduce under normal conditions, produce fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other such units.

Question 26

Taxonomy

Answer 26

The science of classifying organisms.

Question 27

Binomial nomenclature

Answer 27

Naming an organism with its genus and species name.