- abiotic
- physical or nonliving factor in an ecosystem
- adaptation
- a trait which helps an organism or species survive
- alleles
- different forms of the same gene
- anemometer
- an instrument used to measure wind speed
- aquifer
- a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move
- amino acid
- simple organic molecules, which link together in chains to form protein
- asexual reproduction
- a form of reproduction that involves only one parent
- autotroph
- an organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food
- bar graph
- a type of graph that shows a quantitative comparison between ordered pairs, using a series of columns to display data
- barometer
- an instrument used to measure air pressure
- binary fission
- type of asexual reproduction in which the parent organism divides into two daughter cells that are equal in size
- biodiversity
- the variety of life on Earth across all of the different levels of biological organization
- biogeochemical cycle
- any of the various pathways elements that cycle through the biosphere
- biomolecules
- organic compounds that are produced by living organisms
- biosphere
- the region on, below, and above the Earth's surface where life exists
- biotic
- any living part of an environment
- boiling point
- the temperature at which a liquid turns to vapor
- budding
- type of asexual reproduction in which a new organism is created as a smaller outgrowth on the side of the parent organism
- camouflage
- color, shape, or form that allows an animal to blend into or hide in its environment
- carbohydrates
- compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; type of nutrient that is the major source of energy for the body
- carbon cycle
- how carbon moves between the main carbon reservoirs
- carnivore
- an organism that only eats other animals to obtain their food
- cell
- the basic unit of all life forms
- causal relationship
- a relationship where one variable causes another variable to change
- cell cycle
- the series of events that a cell goes through to divide and multiply
- chemical change
- a change that results in the formation of a new substance with different properties than the original substance
- chemical digestion
- process where chemicals break down large food molecules into smaller ones that can absorbed by the body
- chemical property
- characteristics of matter that require altering the substance before they can be observed
- chlorophyll
- compound that captures radiant (light) energy from the sun and transforms it into chemical energy
- chloroplasts
- organelles found in plant cells that contain chlorophyll
- chromosomes
- threadlike structure of tightly bundled DNA and protein that contains genetic information
- circle graph
- a type of graph that shows how portions make up a whole such as percentages with the entire circle representing 100%
- circulatory system
- body system that functions to transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body and carry away wastes
- climax community
- final stage of succession that remains relatively unchanged and stable until destroyed by an event, such as fire or human interference
- comparative investigation
- type of investigation that involves collecting data on different populations/organisms, or under different conditions (e.g., times of year, locations) to make a comparison
- compost
- decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer
- compound
- a pure substance whose smallest unit is made up of atoms of two or more elements joined by chemical bonds
- conceptual model
- a model that makes comparisons with familiar things to help illustrate or explain an idea
- conductivity
- the ability of a substance to allow the flow of energy or electricity
- constants
- all factors in the experiment that are not allowed to change throughout the entire experiment or investigation
- consumer
- organism that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients
- control group
- a standard of comparison for checking or verifying the results of an experiment where all variables must be held constant
- data table
- type of graphic organizer used to display data in rows and columns
- decomposers
- organisms that obtain nutrients by chemically breaking down organic matter (dead plants and animals)
- decomposition
- the process of converting organic matter in the remains of organisms into nutrients
- density
- the mass of a substance divided by its volume D = Mass/Volume
- dependent variable
- the variable that acts in response to the manipulation of the independent variable
The dependent variable can be thought of as the results of the experiment.
- descriptive investigation
- type of investigation that involves describing and/or quantifying parts of a natural system
- DNA
- Deoxyribonucleic acid - genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents
- dichotomous key
- a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world
- digestive system
- body system that breaks down food to provide energy and nutrients to the cells of the body
- dominant trait
- an allele that masks the presence of a recessive allele in the phenotype
Dominant alleles for a trait are usually expressed if an individual is homozygous dominant or heterozygous.
- ecological succession
- series of changes that occur over time in a community, particularly after a disturbance
- ecology
- the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in an environmental system
- ecosystem
- a biological community of interacting organisms (biotic factors) and their physical environment (abiotic factors)
- ecosystem sustainability
- the ability to maintain ecological interactions and processes such as, food chains and webs, biogeochemical cycles, and populations, in an environment
- element
- a pure substance made entirely of one type of atom
- emergency shower
- safety equipment used if a toxic or corrosive chemical is spilled on the skin or clothing
Contaminated clothing should be removed.
- empirical evidence
- evidence relating to or based on experience or observation
- endocrine system
- body system that is responsible for the regulation of the body and helps maintain homeostasis
- energy
- the ability of a system to do work
- energy pyramid
- a graphical model of energy flow in a community
- enzymes
- molecules, produced by the body, that speed up chemical reactions
- Eukaryotic cell
- a type of cell in which the DNA is enclosed in the nucleus
- excretory system
- body system that removes and excretes waste
- experimental group
- the group(s) being tested with the independent variable
Each experimental group has only one factor different from each other, everything else must remain constant.
- experimental investigation
- a type of investigation involving a process in which a "fair test" is designed in which variables are actively manipulated, controlled, and measured in an effort to gather evidence to support or refute a causal relationship
- eye wash station
- safety equipment used if a chemical splashes in someone's eyes
Eyes should be flushed for 15 minutes and the teacher should be notified immediately.
- fatty acid
- molecule consisting of a chain of four or more carbon atoms
- fertilization
- process during which sperm and egg unite
- fire blanket
- large non-flammable cloth used to smother fires on people
- fire extinguisher
- active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires
- food chain
- the pathway along which energy from food is transferred from trophic level to trophic level by eating and being eaten
- food web
- a network of feeding interactions among the organisms in an ecosystem
- genes
- units of heredity
- genetics
- the study of heredity or the passing on of traits from an organism to its offspring
- genotype
- the genetic makeup of an individual
- graduated cylinder
- an instrument used to measure the volume of a liquid
- Gregor Mendel
- scientist/monk from Austria who discovered, through his work with peas, the way in which traits are inherited
- glycerol
- a three-carbon molecule that is part of a lipid
- graph
- a pictorial representation of quantative information recorded in a data table
- groundwater
- liquid water that is under the Earth's surface, in the ground
- guard cells
- a pair of curved epidermal cells that surround and control the opening and closing of a stoma in plant tissue
- heat resistant gloves
- protective clothing used to protect hands when handling hot objects
- herbivore
- an organism that obtains energy by only eating plants
- heredity
- the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next generation
- heterotroph
- an organism that uses organic carbon for growth and reproduction
- heterozygous
- having alleles of two different genes for a particular trait (Aa)
- hibernation
- sleep during winter; a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate
- homeostatsis
- the ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes
- homozygous dominant
- genotype consisting of two dominant alleles of a gene for a particular trait (AA)"
- homozygous recessive
- genotype consisting of two recessive alleles of a gene for a particular trait (aa)
- hybrid
- offspring of crosses between parents with different traits
- independent variable
- the variable that is changed on purpose for the experiment
This
may refer to several levels or conditions of an independent variable.
- hypothesis
- a proposed explanation, based on observation and research, for a scientific question
- inference
- an interpretation of an observation based upon evidence and prior knowledge
- innate
- behavioral characteristics that an individual is born with
- inorganic compound
- a compound that does not contain a carbon hydrogen bond
- instincts
- inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
- integumentary system
- body system that functions to provide protection
- kinetic energy
- energy in motion
- lab apron
- protective clothing worn to protect clothing and skin against chemical spills
Lab aprons are
usually made of plastic and do not cover the arms.
- lab coat
- protective clothing worn to protect clothing and skin against chemical spills
Lab coats are
usually made of cloth.
- latex gloves
- protective clothing used to protect hands against chemicals
- law of conservation
- law that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another
- line graph
- a type of graph that shows a continuous relationship (trend) between two variables
- lipids
- compounds made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms; includes fat, oils and waxes
- malleability
- capable of being shaped or formed, as by hammering or pressure
- mathematical model
- a model made up of a mathematical equations and data
Computer software is often used to create mathematical models.
- matter
- anything that has mass and takes up space
- mechanical digestion
- process where food is broken down through chewing, mixing and churning
- meiosis
- cell division that forms the sex cells or gametes
- melting point
- the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid
- meniscus
- a concave surface of a liquid resulting from surface tension
The bottom of the meniscus is used to measure the volume of a liquid in apparatus such as a graduated cylinder.
- metabolism
- process that modifies molecules into other forms, so that the molecules can be used or stored by the body
- metric ruler
- the standard instrument for linear measurement in the scientific laboratory
- microscopy
- scientific investigation that uses a microscope
- migration
- the periodic movement of organisms seasonally from one location to another
- mimicry
- physical adaptation in which an animal imitates another animal or object to avoid predator
- mitosis
- part of eukaryotic cell division in which the nucleus divides
- monosaccharide
- a single sugar molecule
- muscular system
- body system that functions to allow for movement
- mutation
- an alteration or change in a gene
- natural selection
- the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring
- nervous system
- body system that is responsible for the control, coordination, and communication among all the parts of the body
- nitrile gloves
- protective clothing used to protect hands against chemicals
- nitrogen cycle
- how nitrogen moves between different forms of nitrogen
- nucleic acids
- compounds that contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorous
- observation
- the process of using one or more of the senses to gather information
- omnivore
- an animal whose diet includes both plants and animals
- opportunistic species
- second species to populate an area during succession
- ordered pair
- two pieces of data that are directly related to each other
- organ
- groups of different types of tissues organized together to carry out a particular set of functions
- organ system
- groups of organs that function together to carry out broad sets of functions
- organelle
- a specialized part of a cell having some specific function
- organic compound
- a compound containing carbon that is chemically bonded to hydrogen
- organisms
- a group of organ systems working together that has a distinct existence as a complex, self-reproducing unit
- permeable
- having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through
- phenomenon
- a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one in which the cause is in question
- phloem
- the tissue that carries nutrients in plants to all parts of the plant where needed
- photosynthesis
- process by which energy from the sun is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into high-energy sugars and oxygen
- physical change
- a change in the size, shape, or state that does not change the chemical makeup of the substance
- pioneer species
- first species to populate an area during succession
- polypeptide
- long chain of amino acids that make proteins
- potential energy
- stored energy, such as energy due to position
- phenotype
- the observable or detectable characteristics of an individual organism
- physical model
- a model that you can see and touch that shows how parts relate to one another
- physical property
- characteristics of matter that can be easily observed using the senses
- pioneer species
- first species to populate an area during succession
- polysaccharide
- long chains of sugars
- primary succession
- succession that occurs on an area in which no trace of a previous community was present
- producer
- an organism that makes their own food; also called an autotroph
- Prokaryotic cell
- a type of cell that does not contain a true nucleus
- proteins
- compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair
- psychrometer
- an instrument used to measure relative humidity
- Punnett square
- a simple graphical method of showing all of the potential combinations of offspring genotypes that can occur and their probability given the parent genotypes
- qualitative data
- data that describes characteristics such as colors, smells, texture, etc.
- quantitative data
- numerical data which can be measured such as length, time, temperature, etc.
- recessive trait
- an allele that masks the presence of a dominant allele in the phenotype
Recessive alleles are expressed in the phenotype when the genotype is homozygous recessive (aa).
- respiratory system
- body system that functions to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
- runoff
- the draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of the area of land, building, or structure
- safety glasses
- protective clothing worn to protect the eyes against flying objects
Safety glasses
do not provide adequate coverage for chemical spashes.
- safety goggles
- protective clothing worn to protect eyes against chemical splashes
- scavengers
- animals that consume the carcasses of other animals that have died by some other cause
- scientific explanation
- a statement that helps make something comprehensible (understandable)
- scientific model
- a representation of an object, system, or event used as a tool for understanding the natural world
- secondary succession
- type of succession that occurs on an area that was partially destroyed by disturbance
- selective breeding
- the intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits in order to produce offspring with similar desirable traits or with improved traits
- self-pollinating
- when pollen fertilizes the egg of the same flower
- sexual reproduction
- a form of reproduction that involves two parents and a combination of genetic material
- size dependent property
- physical characteristics of matter that depend on the size or amount of the substance
- size independent property
- physical characteristics of matter that do not depend on the size or amount of the substance
- skeletal system
- body system that functions to provide structure and protection
- sporulation
- type of asexual reproduction that involves spores
- spectroscope
- an instrument used to measure properties of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
- spring scale
- an instrument used to measure the force of a load
- stomata
- tiny openings or pores found mostly on the underside of a plant leaf and used for gas exchange
- surface water
- any water, in liquid form, that is on the Earth’s surface
- theory
- a scientific conclusion that is used to explain many different hypotheses about the same phenomenon or a closely related class of phenomena
- thermometer
- an instrument used to measure temperature
- tissue
- a group of cells working together to perform a particular function in the body of the living organism
- trait
- specific characteristic of an individual
- trend
- a general direction or pattern in which data changes
- triple beam balance
- an instrument used to measure mass
- trophic level
- a step in a food chain or food web
- true breeding
- an organism that produces offspring identical to itself
- vegetative propagation
- type of asexual reproduction in which a new plant grows from part of the parent plant
- watershed
- an area of land where water drains downhill to the lowest point
- Xylem
- the tissue that carries water from the root to the leaves of a plant
- zygote
- a fertilized egg