Chapter 1 - Exploring Life and Science

Smallest unit of an element composed of electrons, protons and neutrons.

Union of two or more atoms of the same or different elements.

The smallest unit that displays the properties of life. All organisms are composed of cells and new cells only come from pre-existing cells.

A group of cells with a common structure and function.

Composed of tissues functioning together for a specific task.

Composed of several organs working together.

Individual living thing

Organisms of the same species in a particular area.

Interacting populations in a particular area.

Populations of organisms interact with each other in the physical environment.

Regions of the earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms.

The science of biology is the study of living organisms and their environments.

Process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria harvest the energy of the sun and convert it to chemical energy.

All the chemical reactions that occur in a cell

Maintenance of normal internal conditions in a cell or an organism by means of self regulating mechanisms.

A stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment.

When organisms reproduce they pass on their genetic information to the next generation.

Increase in the number of cells and/or the size of the cells. Example – fertilized egg into fetus

The term development is used to indicate all the changes that occur from the time the egg is fertilized until death.

The genetic information of all life is deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA contains the hereditary information that directs not only the structure of each cell but also it’s function.

Organisms contain coded information that dictates their form, function, and behavior.

Alteration in chromosome structure or number and also an alteration in a gene due to change in DNA composition.

The process by which a population changes over time. All organisms have a common ancestor, but each is adapted to a particular way of life.

The mechanism by which evolution occurs.