UNIT 1 VOCABULARY
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS
CHAPTER 1 – CHARACTERISTICS OF
LIFE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Biology
Organism
Environment
Cell
Unicellular
Multicellular
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Species
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Asexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction
Growth
Development
Stimulus
Response
Behavior
Homeostasis
Adaptation
Evolution
BIOLOGY
Definition:
The study of life
Word Part:
Bio = Life
-ology = The study of
Examples:
Mammology
Dendrology
Non-examples:
Geology
Archeaology
ORGANISM
Definition:
Anything that
possesses all the
characteristics of life
Word Part:
Examples:
House Finch, Blackfooted Ferret
Non-examples:
Water, Air, Fire, Virus
ENVIRONMENT
Definition:
Word Part:
Biotic and abiotic
surroundings to which
an organism must
constantly adjust
Examples:
Internal – blood cells
inside organism
External – leaf litter to
rainforest
Non-examples:
Just an organism
without discussing
abiotic factors
CELL
Definition:
Basic unit of all
organisms
Word Part:
cell = small room
Examples:
All living things are
composed of cells
Non-examples:
Tissues, organs, organ
system, organism
UNICELLULAR
Definition:
Single-celled
organism
Word Part:
uni = one
cell = small room
Examples:
Amoeba, bacteria,
paramecium
Non-examples:
Any multicellular
organism: Northern
Red Maple, Eastern
fox squirrel
MULTICELLULAR
Definition:
Organisms that
consist of more than
one cell
Word Part:
multi = many
cell = small room
Examples:
Blue whale, Redtailed Hawk
Non-examples:
Amoeba, bacteria,
paramecium
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Definition:
Process by which autotrophs
trap energy from sunlight with
chlorophyll and use this
energy to convert carbon
dioxide and water into simple
sugars
Word Part:
photo = light
syn- = together with
thesis = process
Examples:
Any autotroph
Light dependent and
light independent
reactions
Non-examples:
Any heterotroph
CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Definition:
Chemical process
where mitochondria
break down food
molecules to produce
ATP
Word Part:
Examples:
1. Glycolysis
2. Citric acid cycle
3. Electron transport
chain
Non-examples:
Any autotroph
SPECIES
Definition:
Group of organisms
that can:
1. interbreed
2. produce fertile
offspring in nature
Word Part:
spec = to see
Examples:
Horses, donkeys
Non-examples:
Mules
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Definition:
Type of reproduction
where one parent
produces one or more
identical offspring
without the fusion of
gametes
Word Part:
a- = not, without
Examples:
Any bacteria
Non-examples:
Any organism that
reproduces with
fusion of gametes
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Definition:
Word Part:
Pattern of
reproduction that
involves the production
and fusion of haploid
sex cells
Examples:
Any organism
reproduces with
fusion of gametes
Non-examples:
Any bacteria
GROWTH
Definition:
Increase in the amount
of living material and
formation of new
structures in an
organism
Word Part:
Examples:
Non-examples:
Organism that increase
Dying cells or
in size, weight, and
structures
organism
Formation of deer
antlers
DEVELOPMENT
Definition:
All of the changes
that take place
during the life of an
organism
Word Part:
Examples:
A caterpillar that
metamorphosize into
a butterfly
Non-examples:
Any changes taking
place in a species
STIMULUS
Definition:
Anything in an
organism’s internal or
external environment
that causes the
organism to react
Word Part:
Examples:
Dehydration,
Change of seasons
Non-examples:
Stomata opening
after sun rises
RESPONSE
Definition:
Word Part:
An organism’s
reaction to a change
in its internal or
external environment
Examples:
Rising sea level
Non-examples:
Burning fossil fuels
BEHAVIOR
Definition:
Anything an animal
does in response to a
stimulus in its
environment
Word Part:
Examples:
Courtship mating,
hibernation
Non-examples:
Walking, sleeping
HOMEOSTASIS
Definition:
Organism’s regulation
of its internal
environment to
maintain conditions
suitable for survival
Word Part:
homeo = same
stasis = equilibrium
Examples:
Sodium-Potassium
pump, diabetes,
blood pressure
Non-examples:
Feeding, drinking
ADAPTATION
Definition:
Evolution of a structure,
behavior, or internal
process that enables an
organism to respond to
environmental factors and
live to produce offsrping
Word Part:
ad- = to
aptare = fit
Examples:
Camouflage, Young
immediate starts to
run when born
Non-examples:
Hiding from predator,
growing new cells in
an organism
EVOLUTION
Definition:
Gradual change in a
species through
adaptations over
time
Word Part:
Examples:
The length of giraffe
necks as species
Non-examples:
Any development of
an organism
-tion = process