Unit 1 Vocabulary You are to write the word on the front of the card – then write the definition on the back of the card.

Scientific Method

a series of steps a scientist uses to answer a question or solve a problem

Hypothesis

a possible explanation or answer to a scientific question (“educated guess”)

Control (Constant)

is a factor or condition that does not change in an experiment

Controlled Experiment

an activity that you design to answer a scientific question that tests only one variable at a time

Variable

the factors in a controlled experiment that can change (control, independent and dependent variables)

Independent Variable

the factor or condition that is changed in an experiment

Dependent Variable

the factor or condition that changes as a result of the action of independent variable

Theory

well-tested explanation that is consistent with all available evidence

Precision

The exactness of a measurement and also how consistently the measurement can be reproduced

Accuracy

The comparison between a measurement and an actual value (the closer the measurement is to the actual value the more accurate it is)

Technology

The use of scientific knowledge to solve problems or engineer new products, tools, or processes

DNA

contains the blueprint for life – instructions found in every cell of all living things – contains the blueprint for life – instructions for making proteins

Classification

organisms into orderly the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities

Kingdom

Archaea Bacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia One of the classification levels for classifying living things. It falls immediately under the domain level. There are 6 recognized kingdoms we will study this year: Archaea Bacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Taxonomy

the science of identifying, classifying and naming living things

Dichotomous Key

a tool used to identify unknown organisms

Cell

a membrane-covered structure that contains all of the materials necessary for life - (the smallest units of life) (the basic unit of life)

Bacteria

the smallest and simplest organisms on the planet

Archaea

Microscopic, single-celled organisms that live in extreme environments

Asexual Reproduction

a single parent produces offspring that are identical to the parent

Binary Fission

two new, identical cells simple cell division, one cell divides into two new, identical cells - -used by bacteria (Type of asexual reproduction!)

Sexual Reproduction

two parents produce offspring that now contain genetic information from both parents

Diffusion

the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration (can occur across cell membranes or outside of cells)

Osmosis

the diffusion of water molecules

Prokaryotic Cells

a cell with no nucleus (bacteria)

Eukaryotic Cells

a cell with a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles

Biotic

Abiotic

the non-living parts of the environment

the living parts of the environment

Producer

an organism that makes its own food Cyanobacteria Plant-like protists Plants

Consumer

organisms that eat producers or other organisms for energy

Decomposer

an organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead or decaying organisms and absorbing the nutrients