Glossary

Biology: the study of life

Cells: the smallest unit cappable of all life function

Reproduction: the process by which organisms make more of their own kind

Metabolism: the sum of all of the chemical reactions carried out in an organism

Homeostatsis: the maintance of stable internal conditions in spite of changes in the external environment

Genes: sets of inherited instructions for making protein

heredity: the passing of traits from parent to offspring

Mutation: a change in DNA of a gene

Evolution: change in the inherited traits of species over time

Species: a group of genetically similar organisms that can produce fertile offspring

Natural Selection: the essence of biology, providing a consistent explanation for life's diversity

Ecology: the science that sudies the interactions of living organisms with one antoher and with the nonliving part of their environment

HIV: a virus that destroys the immune system, causing acquired immune deficiencey syndrome

Cancer: a growth disorder of cells that occurs when cells divide uncontrollably within the body

Observation: the act of noting or percieving objects or events using the senses

Hypothesis: an expanation that might be true- a statement that can be tested by additional observations or experimentation

Prediction: the expected outcome of a test assuming the hypothesis is correct

PH: a relative measure of the hydrogen ion concentration within a solution

Experiment: a planned procedure to test a hypothesis

Control group: a group in an experiment that recieves no experimental treatment

Independent variable: the factor that is varied in an experiment

dependent variable: the variable that is measured in an experiment

Theory: a set of related hypotheses that have been tested and confirmed many times by many scientists