Chapter 1- The Science of Biology Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the goal of science?
To investigate and understand the natural world, to explain events in the natural world, and to use those explanations to make useful predictions.
What is science?
an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.
What is observation?
the process of gathering information about events or processes in a careful, orderly way
What is data?
The information gathered from observations
What is quantitative data?
expressed in numbers, obtained by counting or measuring
What is qualitative data?
description of characteristics that can’t be counted or measured
What is an inference?
a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience
What is a hypothesis?
a proposed scientific explanation for a set of observations; must be able to be tested
What is spontaneous generation?
the idea that life could arise from nonliving matter
What are the steps to the scientific method?
State the problem, form hypothesis, set controlled experiment testing hypothesis, record results, analyze results, draw a conclusion, publish
What is a controlled experiment?
When a hypothesis is tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be kept unchanged or controlled.
What are the variables in an experiment?
1) controlled variables
2) manipulated variable (independent scientists change)
3) responding variable (dependent)
What is the manipulated variable?
the variable that is changed
What is the responding variable?
the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the manipulated variable
What are the 8 characteristics that living things share?
1) they are made up of cells
2) they reproduce
3) they are based on a universal genetic code(DNA)
4) they grow and develop
5) they obtain and use materials and energy
6) they respond to their environment
7) they maintain a stable internal environment
8) as a group, they change over time
What is a cell?
The smallest unit of an organism that can be considered alive
What is homeostasis?
process of keeping the internal conditions stable
What is sexual reproduction?
Cells from 2 different parents unite to form the first cell of the new organism
What is asexual reproduction?
a single parent produces offspring that are identical to itself
What is metabolism?
The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials
What is a stimulus?
a signal to which an organism responds to
What unit of measurement do most scientists use when collecting data and performing experiments?
the metric system
How do light microscopes produce magnified images?
by focusing visible light rays
How do electron microscopes produce magnified images?
by focusing beams of electrons
