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Chapter 1: Vocabulary
Chapter 1 (Biology and the tree of life) of Biological Science fourth edition
26
Biology
Undergraduate 1
09/22/2011

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Term
Organism
Definition
Any living entity that contains one or more cells.
Term
Theory
Definition
A proposed explanation for a broad class of phenomena or observations.
Term
Cell
Definition
A highly organized compartment bounded by a thin flexible structure (plasma membrane) and containing concentrated chemicals in an aqueous (watery) solution. The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.
Term
Cell Theory
Definition
The theory that all organisms are made of cells and that all cells come from preexisting cells.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A proposed explanation for a phenomenon or for a set of observations.
Term
Prediction
Definition
A measurable or observable result of an experiment based on a particular hypothesis. A correct prediction provides support for the hypothesis being tested.
Term
Evolution
Definition
(1) The theory that all organisms on earth are related by common ancestry and that they have changed over time, predominantly via natural selection. (2) Any change in the genetic characteristics of a population over time, especially, a change in allele frequencies.
Term
Natural Selection
Definition
The process by which individuals with certain heritable traits tend to produce more surviving offspring than do individuals without those traits, often leading to a change in the genetic makeup of the population. A major mechanism of evolution.
Term
Heritable
Definition
Referring to traits that can be transmitted from one generation to the next.
Term
Population
Definition
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same geographic area at the same time.
Term
Artificial Selection
Definition
Deliberate manipulation by humans, as in animal and plant breeding, of the genetic composition of a population by allowing only individuals with desirable traits to reproduce.
Term
Adaptation
Definition
Any heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual with that trait, compared with individuals without that trait, in a particular environment.
Term
Fitness
Definition
The ability of an individual to produce viable offspring relative to others of the same species.
Term
Speciation
Definition
The evolution of two or more distinct species from a single ancestral species.
Term
Tree of Life
Definition
A diagram depicting the genealogical relationships of all living organisms on Earth, with a single ancestral species at the base.
Term
Phylogeny
Definition
The evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
Term
Eukaryotes
Definition
A member of the domain Eukarya; an organism whose cells contain a nucleus, numerous membrane-bound organelles, and an extensive cytoskeleton. May be unicellular or multicellular.
Term
Prokaryotes
Definition
A member of the domain Bacteria or Archae; a unicellular organism lacking a nucleus and containing relatively few organelles or cytoskeleton components.
Term
phylum (plural: phyla)
Definition
In Linnaeus' system, a taxonomic category above the class level and below the kingdom level. In plants, sometimes called a division.
Term
Domain
Definition
A taxonomic category, based on similarities in basic cellular biochemistry, above the kingdom level. The three recognized domains are Bacteria, Archae, and Eukarya.
Term
taxon (plural: taxa)
Definition
Any named group of organisms at any level of a classification system.
Term
taxonomy
Definition
The branch of biology concerned with the classification and naming of organisms.
Term
Genus (plural: genera)
Definition
In Linnaeus' system, a taxonomic category of closely related species. Always italicized and capitalized to indicate that it is a recognized scientific genus.
Term
Scientific Name
Definition
The unique, two-part name given to each species, with a genus name followed by a species name- as in Homo Sapiens. Scientific names are always italicized, and are also known as latin names.
Term
Null Hypothesis
Definition
A hypothesis that specifies what the result of an experiment will be if the main hypothesis being tested is wrong. Often states that there will be no difference between experimental groups.
Term
Control
Definition
In a scientific experiment, a group of organisms or samples that do not receive the experimental treatment but are otherwise identical to the group that does.
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