1.G: Unit 1 Glossary

Unit 1.2

atom

smallest and most fundamental unit of matter

biochemistry

study of the chemistry of biological organisms

biosphere

collection of all the ecosystems on Earth

botany

study of plants

cell

smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living things

community

set of populations inhabiting a particular area

ecosystem

all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, nonliving parts of that environment

eukaryote

organism with cells that have nuclei and membrane-bound organelles

evolution

process of gradual change during which new species arise from older species and some species become extinct

homeostasis

ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions

macromolecule

large molecule, typically formed by the joining of smaller molecules

microbiology

study of the structure and function of microorganisms

molecule

chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or more chemical bonds

molecular biology

study of biological processes and their regulation at the molecular level, including interactions among molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins

neurobiology

study of the biology of the nervous system

organ

collection of related tissues grouped together performing a common function

organ system

level of organization that consists of functionally related interacting organs

organelle

small structures that exist within cells and carry out cellular functions

organism

individual living entity

paleontology

study of life’s history by means of fossils

phylogenetic tree

diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in genetic or physical traits or both; in essence, a hypothesis concerning evolutionary connections

population

all of the individuals of a species living within a specific area

prokaryote

single-celled organism that lacks organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by a nuclear membrane

tissue

group of similar cells carrying out related functions

Unit 1.3

zoology

study of animals

abstract

opening section of a scientific paper that summarizes the research and conclusions

applied science

form of science that aims to solve real-world problems

basic science

science that seeks to expand knowledge and understanding regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge

biology

the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments

conclusion

section of a scientific paper that summarizes the importance of the experimental findings

control

part of an experiment that does not change during the experiment

deductive reasoning

form of logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to forecast specific results

descriptive science

(also, discovery science) form of science that aims to observe, explore, and investigate

discussion

section of a scientific paper in which the author interprets experimental results, describes how variables may be related, and attempts to explain the phenomenon in question

falsifiable

able to be disproven by experimental results

hypothesis

suggested explanation for an observation, which can be tested

hypothesis-based science

form of science that begins with a specific question and potential testable answers

inductive reasoning

form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion

introduction

opening section of a scientific paper, which provides background information about what was known in the field prior to the research reported in the paper

life science

field of science, such as biology, that studies living things

materials and methods

section of a scientific paper that includes a complete description of the substances, methods, and techniques used by the researchers to gather data

natural science

field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes

peer-reviewed manuscript

scientific paper that is reviewed by a scientist’s colleagues who are experts in the field of study

physical science

field of science, such as geology, astronomy, physics, and chemistry, that studies nonliving matter

plagiarism

using other people’s work or ideas without proper citation, creating the false impression that those are the author’s original ideas

results

section of a scientific paper in which the author narrates the experimental findings and presents relevant figures, pictures, diagrams, graphs, and tables, without any further interpretation

review article

paper that summarizes and comments on findings that were published as primary literature

science

knowledge that covers general truths or the operation of general laws, especially when acquired and tested by the scientific method

scientific method

method of research with defined steps that include observation, formulation of a hypothesis, testing, and confirming or falsifying the hypothesis

serendipity

fortunate accident or a lucky surprise

theory

tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena

variable

part of an experiment that the experimenter can vary or change

Unit 1.4

applied science

process of science to solve real-world problems

basic science

process of science for the sake of gaining knowledge

IMRaD

traditional format of a scientific paper comprised of introduction, materials and methods, results, and discussion

Indigenous Science

recognizes the knowledge inherent in each culture

peer review

ensures that research described in a scientific paper or grant proposal is original, significant, logical, and thorough

serendipity

fortunate accident

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

combines current observation with wisdom, knowledge, and experience that has been acquired over thousands of years of direct human contact with specific environments