Biology Now Chapter 1 Vocab

data

Information collected in a scientific study.

energy

The capacity of any object to do work, which is the capacity to bring about a change in a defined system.

Placebo effect

The frequently observed, poorly understood phenomenon in which people respond favorably to any treatment

control group

The group of subjects in an experiment that is maintained under a standard set of conditions with no change in the independent variable.

organs

a collection of different types of tissues that form a functional unit with a distinctive shape and location in the body

fact

a direct and repeatable observation of any aspect of the natural world

tissues

a group of cells that function in an integrated manner to perform a unique set of tasks in the body

population

a group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in a shared environment

biomes

a large region of the world defined by shared physical characteristics (esp climate) and a distinctive community of organisms

organ systems

a network of organs that work in closely coordinated manner to perform a distinct set of functions in the body

ecosystem

a particular physical environment and all the communities in it

biosphere

all the world's living organisms and the physical spaces where they live

molecule

an association of atoms held together by chemical bonds

organism

an individual living thing composed of interdependent parts

Double-blind experimental design

studies in which neither subjects nor experimenters know which treatment the subject is receiving

Single-blind experimental design

studies in which subjects do not know which treatment (if any) they received

DNA, Deoxyribonucleic acid

the genetic code of life, consisting of two parallel strands of nucleotides twisted into a double helix. DNA is the genetic material that transfers information from parents to offspring.

reproduce

the making of a new individual like oneself

community

the populations of different species that live and interact with one another in a particular place

cell

the smallest and most basic unit of life - a microscopic, self-contained unit enclosed by a water-repelling membrane

atoms

the smallest unit of an element that retains the element's distinctive properties; the building blocks of all matter

biology

the study of living things

experiment

A repeatable manipulation of one or more aspects of the natural world.

biological hierarchy

A way to visualize the breadth and scope of life, from the smallest structures to the broadest interactions between living and nonliving systems that we can comprehend.

falsifiable

Able to be refuted.

treatment group

Also called experimental group. The group of subjects in an experiment that is maintained under the same standard set of conditions as the control group but is subjected to manipulation of the independent variable.

controlled experiment

An experiment that measures the value of a dependent variable for two groups of subjects that are comparable in all respects except that one group (the treatment group) is exposed to a change in the independent variable and the other group (the control group) is not.

hypothesis

An informed, logical, and plausible explanation for observations of the natural world.

analytical study

An observational study that looks for patterns in the information collected and addresses how or why those patterns came to exist.

descriptive study

An observational study that reports information about what is found in nature.

dependent variable

Any variable that responds, or could potentially respond, to changes in an independent variable.

theory

A hypothesis, or a group of related hypotheses, that has received substantial confirmation through diverse lines of investigation by independent researchers.

science

A body of knowledge about the natural world, and an evidence-based process for acquiring that knowledge

statistics

A branch of mathematics that estimates the reliability of data.

evolution

A change in the overall inherited characteristics of a group of organisms over multiple generations.

variable

A characteristic of any object or individual organism that can change.

observation

A description, measurement, or record of any object or phenomenon.

scientific method

The practices that produce scientific knowledge (aka scientific process)

homeostasis

The process of maintaining constant internal conditions.

peer-reviewed publication

The publishing of original research only after it has passed the scrutiny of experts who have no direct involvement in the research under review, or a scientific journal that follows this standard.

cell

The smallest and most basic unit of life—a microscopic, self-contained unit enclosed by a water-repelling membrane.

independent variable

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher in a scientific experiment.

sense

To perceive the world through a sensory system such as sight, touch, or smell.