 Zoology  Study of Animals  Entomology  Study of insects  Herpetology  A branch of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians

 Ichthyology  Study of fishes  Ornithology  Study of birds  Taxonomy  Naming and classifying organisms

 Species  Group of organisms that can breed…produce offspring that are fertile  Are mules considered a breed?  Kingdom  BIGGEST group in taxonomy  Phylum  1 step below (more specific) kingdom in taxonomy

 Structure (body structure)  Parts of the body  Trait  A distinguishing quality  An inherited characteristic  Heredity  Passing of traits from parents to offspring  Evolution  A change over time; a process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

 Natural selection  Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully.  Adaptation  Inherited characteristic (or trait) that increases an organism’s chance of survival. Harriet was long reputed to have been one of three tortoises taken from the Galapagos Islands by Charles Darwin on his historic 1835 voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. She was 175 years old (Died 2006)

 Prokaryote  Single celled organism lacking a true nucleus  Eukaryotic  A cell that has membranous organelles and a nucleus  Organic compound  Carbon based compounds which are the basis of life (cells).  EX: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, DNA

 Photosynthesis  Process plants use to make energy from sunlight.  Autotroph  An organism that can make its own food; a producer.  Ex: Plant  Heterotroph  An organism that cannot make its own food; a consumer.

 Cellular respiration  How cells make energy from food  Metabolism  All the chemical processes in an organism release energy  Nutrient  Furnishing nourishment

 Carbohydrates  Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; energy source  EX: sugars (glucose)  Proteins  Nitrogen-containing organic compounds composed of amino acids  EX: Hair  Enzyme  A protein needed to speed up/start chemical reactions.  EX: Lactase

 Hormone  A protein that controls reactions made in one part of the body but used in another part of the body.  EX: Insulin  Homeostasis  An organisms ability to maintain stability during on environmental change.  EX: Hot and cold climate conditions

 Plankton  Organisms that drift; they don’t swim strong! Two types: 1. Phytoplankton  Plant plankton; forms the base of aquatic food chains.  EX: Diatoms 2. Zooplankton  Animal plankton  EX: krill and larval forms of crustaceans

 Population  A group of similar organisms in a given area.  Community  All the populations in an area.  Ecosystem  All the communities and their environment in an area.