CRCT
STUDY GUIDE
TH
7
GRADE
LIFE SCIENCE
LIFE SCIENCE
FLASHCARDS
Mrs. Miller
Garrison SVPA
(1) GENETICS
HEREDITY = DNA
GENES & CHROMOSOMES
SELECTIVE BREEDING
Recognize how biological
traits are passed on to
successive generations.
(2) HEREDITY
THE PASSING ON OF TRAITS FROM
PARENT TO OFFSPRING
THE STUDY OF TRAITS PASSED
FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION
(3) GENES = ALLELES
ALLELES  ALTERNATIVE
FORMS OF A GENE
HEREDITARY CHARACTERISTICS
ARE DETERMINED BY
SPECIFIC PORTIONS OF DNA
(4) RULES OF HEREDITY
1) Individuals carry two
genes for each trait,
but pass down only one.
2) One gene is dominant
over another.
(5) GENOTYPE
THE COMBINATION OF ALLELES
INHERITED FROM THE PARENTS;
THE ACTUAL GENES/ALLELES A PERSON
CARRIES FOR A TRAIT
HOMOZYGOUS (PUREBRED) –
TWO OF THE SAME ALLELES
HETEROZYGOUS (HYBRID) –
TWO DIFFERENT ALLELES
(6) GENES ARE EITHER
DOMINANT OR RECESSIVE
DOMINANT  ONE THAT WILL
ALWAYS BE EXPRESSED IF IT IS
PRESENT = CAPITAL LETTER
RECESSIVE  LOWERCASE
LETTERS
(7) LAW OF DOMINANCE
The trait that appears is the
dominant trait and the hidden
trait is the recessive trait.
(8) PHENOTYPE
THE PHYSICAL EXPRESSION OF
THE VISIBLE TRAIT
Example:
Trait = Eye Color
Phenotype = brown, blue,
green, hazel
(9) PUNNETT SQUARE
SHOWS POSSIBLE GENOTYPES
WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE
PHENOTYPE OF AN INDIVIDUAL
USED TO EXPRESS THE POSSIBLE
COMBINATIONS FOR A CERTAIN
TRAIT AN OFFSPRING MAY INHERIT
FROM THE PARENTS
(10) INCOMPLETE
DOMINANCE
ONE TRAIT IS NOT COMPLETELY
DOMINANT OVER THE OTHER
(BLENDING)
CO-DOMINANT  BOTH TRAITS
APPEAR
(11) COMPARE AND CONTRAST
SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL
REPRODUCTION IN ORGANISMS
TYPE OF ORGANISM
REPRODUCTION
PLANTS
POLLINATION; SPORES AND
REGENERATION
ANIMALS
THROUGH SEX TO PRODUCE
OFFSPRING OF THE SPECIES
FUNGI
SPORES AND BUDDING
BACTERIA
BINARY FISSION OR ‘BUDDING’
(SIMILAR TO MITOSIS)
PROTISTS
BINARY FISSION (SIMILAR TO
MITOSIS)
(12) MITOSIS
CELL DIVISION  TYPE OF CELLULAR
REPRODUCTION; DIVISION OF THE
NUCLEUS
CELL CYCLE  RESULTS IN TWO
IDENTICAL CELLS WITH THE SAME
NUMBER OF CHROMOSOMES
(13) MEIOSIS
PRODUCES FOUR SEX CELLS;
WITH HALF THE NUMBER OF
CHROMOSOMES OF THE
PARENT CELL . . .
PROVIDES GENETIC VARIATION
AMONG THE OFFSPRING
(14) CELL
DIFFERENTIATION
THE PROCESS BY WHICH CELLS
SPECIALIZE TO PERFORM A
SPECIFIC FUNCTION IN A
MULTICELLULAR ORGANISM
(15) GETTING DESIRED TRAITS
– SELECTIVE BREEDING
INBREEDING  WHEN TWO CLOSELY
RELATED ANIMALS ARE MATED
(REDUCES GENETIC DIVERSITY)
HYBRIDIZATION  WHEN TWO GENETICALLY
DIFFERENT PARENTS ARE MATED TO
PRODUCE A HYBRID OFFSPRING
(INCREASES GENETIC DIVERSITY)
(16) GENETIC
ENGINEERING
THE LABORATORY PROCEDURE IN
WHICH GENES FROM ONE
ORGANISM ARE INSERTED INTO
ANOTHER TO PRODUCE
ORGANISMS WITH DESIRED
CHARACTERISTICS
(17) MUTATION
RANDOM CHANGES IN THE DNA
CODE WHICH CAUSE OFFSPRING
TO HAVE DIFFERENT
CHARACTERISTICS THAN WOULD
BE EXPECTED (GOOD, BAD OR
NEUTRAL)
(18) CLONING
THE CREATION OF
GENETICALLY IDENTICAL
ORGANISMS
(19) CELLS
Describe the
structure and
function of cells;
Explain that cells
take in nutrients.
(20) CHARACTERISTICS OF
LIFE
Cells
(2) Sensitivity – respond to stimuli
(3) Growth
(4) Homeostasis – stable internal environment
(5) Reproduction
(6) Metabolism – transform and use energy
(7) Adaptation
(1)
(21) CELL THEORY
All living things are made of
cells.
 All cells come from other
living cells of the same kind.
 Cells are the basic unit of all
living things.

(22) CELL STRUCTURE 
ALL CELLS HAVE THREE
BASIC PARTS …



CELL MEMBRANE
CYTOPLASM
GENETIC MATERIAL – DNA
(23) TYPES OF CELLS
PROKARYOTIC – NO NUCLEUS
(BACTERIA)
 EUKARYOTIC – A NUCLEUS WITH
MEMBRANE-BOUND ORGANELLES
(PLANT & ANIMAL)

(24) PARTS OF THE
CELL
cell membrane,
nucleus, cytoplasm,
chloroplasts,
mitochondria
(25) CELL MEMBRANE
THE THIN FLEXIBLE BOUNDARY
SURROUNDING THE CELL
(26) CYTOPLASM
THE WATERY, JELLY-LIKE PART OF
THE CELL THAT CONTAINS SALTS,
MINERALS AND THE CELL
ORGANELLES
(27) NUCLEUS
CONTROL CENTER OF THE CELL;
THE LOCATION OF
HEREDITARY/GENETIC
INFORMATION (DNA);
IT REGULATES ALL THE
CELLULAR ACTIVITIES
(28) MITOCHONDRIA
ROD-SHAPED DOUBLE
MEMBRANOUS STRUCTURES
WHERE CELLULAR RESPIRATION
TAKES PLACE; PRODUCES
ENERGY (POWER PLANT)
(29) CHLOROPLASTS
CAPTURE ENERGY FROM SUNLIGHT
AND USES IT TO PRODUCE FOOD
FOR PLANT CELLS ;
CONTAINS CHLOROPHYLL
“SITE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS”
(30) CELL WALL
RIGID MEMBRANE AROUND PLANT
CELL; MADE OF CELLULOSE AND
PROVIDES SHAPE AND SUPPORT
(31) HOW ARE CELLS
DIFFERENT?
BACTERIA
PROKARYOTIC –
NO NUCLEUS
ANIMAL
EUKARYOTIC – HAS
A NUCLEUS WITH
ORGANELLES,
ROUND SHAPE
PLANT
EUKARYOTIC – HAS A
NUCLEUS, CELL WALL, &
CHLOROPLASTS, RECTANGLE
SHAPE
(32) CELLULAR
HIERARCHY
CELLS  TISSUES  ORGANS 
ORGAN SYSTEMS  ORGANISM
UNICELLULAR : HAVE ONLY ONE CELL
MULTICELLULAR : MANY CELLS THAT
WORK TOGETHER
(33) PHOTOSYNTHESIS
GREEN PLANTS MAKE THEIR OWN
FOOD (SUGAR/STARCH)
CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER 
LIGHT ENERGY (SUNLIGHT) 
GLUCOSE + OXYGEN
(34) CELLULAR
RESPIRATION
THE MITOCHONDRIA OF THE CELL
PRODUCE ENERGY FROM THE
NUTRIENTS IN FOOD ANIMALS EAT
GLUCOSE + OXYGEN  ENZYMES 
CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER +
ENERGY (ATP)
(35) TRANSPORT : THE
CELL’S ABILITY TO MOVE
MATERIALS AROUND
PASSIVE  SPONTANEOUS, DOES NOT
REQUIRE ENERGY – DIFFUSION &
OSMOSIS
ACTIVE  THE CELL MUST USE STORED
ENERGY TO MOVE SUBSTANCES
AGAINST THE CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT – EXOCYTOSIS &
ENDOCYTOSIS
(36) DIFFUSION
THE PROCESS BY WHICH
SUBSTANCES MOVE FROM AREAS
OF HIGHER CONCENTRATION TO
AREAS OF LOWER
CONCENTRATION
(37) OSMOSIS
THE MOVEMENT OF WATER
THROUGH A SEMI-PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE; PREVENTS SOME
MOLECULES FROM CROSSING 
ONLY WATER CAN GET THROUGH
(38) SUMMARY OF
SOLUTIONS
ISOTONIC : NO EFFECT ON CELL
HYPOTONIC : WATER IN = CELL SWELLS
HYPERTONIC : WATER OUT = CELL SHRINKS
(39) THE HUMAN BODY
EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF
THE MAJOR ORGAN SYSTEMS
IN THE HUMAN BODY
(40) DIGESTION, RESPIRATION,
REPRODUCTION, CIRCULATION,
EXCRETION, MOVEMENT,
CONTROL & COORDINATION,
PROTECTION FROM DISEASE
Cells are organized & serve the
needs cells have for oxygen, food,
and waste removal.
(41) HOMEOSTASIS
IT IS HOW WE “REGULATE”
OURSELVES  SWEATING,
DRINK WATER, EXCRETION
THE PROCESS OF MAINTAINING
A STABLE INTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT DESPITE
CHANGING CONDITIONS
(42) CIRCULATORY SYS
A TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MANY
SUBSTANCES; INTERACTS WITH
THE DIGESTIVE AND
RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS
MAJOR PARTS  HEART, VEINS,
ARTERIES AND CAPILLARIES,
BLOOD
(43) DIGESTIVE SYS
BREAKS DOWN FOOD INTO SMALLER
PIECES THAT CAN BE USED BY YOUR
CELLS; DIGESTION CAN HAPPEN TWO
WAYS: MECHANICALLY AND
CHEMICALLY
MAJOR PARTS  STOMACH, TONGUE, TEETH,
SALIVARY GLANDS, ESOPHAGUS, SMALL &
LARGE INTESTINES, LIVER, PANCREAS, GALL
BLADDER
(44) SKELETAL SYS
PROVIDES SUPPORT AND
STRUCTURE FOR THE BODY;
MUSCLE ATTACHES TO BONES
TO ALLOW FOR MOVEMENT
MAJOR PARTS  BONES,
CARTILAGE, TENDONS,
LIGAMENTS
(45) RESPIRATORY SYS
THE MOVEMENT OF AIR IN
AND OUT OF THE LUNGS
MAJOR PARTS  NOSE, TRACHEA,
BRONCHIAL TUBES, LUNGS,
ALVEOLI, DIAPHRAGM
(46) IMMUNE SYS
A COLLECTION OF CELLS AND
TISSUES THAT DEFEND THE
HUMAN BODY AGAINST OUTSIDE
INVADERS; TO PREVENT DISEASE
MAJOR PARTS  LYMPHATIC SYSTEM,
SPLEEN, TONSILS, BONE MARROW
MAKES WHITE BLOOD CELLS
(47) MUSCULAR SYS
USED TO MOVE THE BODY, HELP
CIRCULATE THE BLOOD AND
MOVE FOOD THROUGH THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
MAJOR PARTS  INVOLUNTARY
(SMOOTH), HEART (CARDIAC) AND
VOLUNTARY (STRIATED SKELETAL)
(48) NERVOUS SYS
THE CONTROL AND
COMMUNICATION NETWORK OF
THE BODY; IT DETECTS AND
RESPONDS TO STIMULI BOTH
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BODY
MAJOR PARTS  BRAIN, SPINAL CORD
AND NERVE CELLS
(49) EXCRETORY SYS
REMOVES WASTES FROM
THE BODY
MAJOR PARTS  URINARY TRACT
(KIDNEYS & BLADDER), SKIN AND
SWEAT GLANDS, BLOOD VESSELS
(50) REPRODUCTIVE SYS
NECESSARY FOR THE
CONTINUATION OF A SPECIES
HUMAN REPRODUCTION INVOLVES TWO
PARENTS, THE MALE AND THE FEMALE
FERTILIZATION HAPPENS WHEN THE SPERM
AND EGG UNITE
(51) EVOLUTION
ADAPTATION
NATURAL SELECTION
CHANGES OVER TIME
Examine evolution through
inherited characteristics
that promote ‘survival of
the fittest’.
(52) CHANGE OVER TIME
EXPLAIN THAT PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS
HAVE CHANGED OVER SUCCESSIVE
GENERATIONS
(I.E. DARWIN’S FINCHES & PEPPERED
MOTHS OF MANCHESTER)
(53) ADAPTATION =
EVOLUTION
DARWIN’S FINCHES
THE POPULATION OF FINCHES WAS
CHANGING OVER TIME BECAUSE OF
THEIR ENVIRONMENT
(54) EVOLUTION
THE FINCHES WHO WERE BORN WITH
THE TRAIT THAT IS FAVORED BY
THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL
PRESSURES SURVIVE AND PASS
THAT TRAIT ON TO THEIR
OFFSPRING
(55) SURVIVAL OF THE
FITTEST
THE FAVORED TRAIT BECOMES MORE
PRONOUNCED AND OTHER TRAITS
DISAPPEAR; THE SHARP BEAK WAS
A TRAIT THAT WAS SELECTED BY
NATURE TO THRIVE.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
DARWIN’S FINCHES …
(56) NATURAL SELECTION
DESCRIBE WAYS IN WHICH SPECIES
ON EARTH HAVE EVOLVED 
THE ORGANISMS BEST SUITED TO
THE ENVIRONMENT WILL MOST
LIKELY SURVIVE TO PRODUCE
MANY OFFSPRING
(57) ADAPTATIONS
CHARACTERISTICS THAT DETERMINE
THE PROBABILITY OF AN
ORGANISMS’ SURVIVAL;
CAN BE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL OR
BEHAVIORAL.
(58) MUTATIONS
RANDOM CHANGES IN DNA THAT
ACT AS ANOTHER WAY
ORGANISMS EVOLVE;
CAN BE BENEFICIAL, NEUTRAL OR
HARMFUL.
(59) PATTERNS OF
EVOLUTION
CONVERGENT  UNRELATED SPECIES CAN
DEVELOP SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS
DIVERGENT  MANY SPECIES DEVELOP
FROM A COMMON ANCESTOR
CO-EVOLUTION  TWO OR MORE
ORGANISMS CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO
EACH OTHER
(60) FOSSIL RECORD
ALL THE FOSSILS THAT HAVE BEEN
FOUND SINCE THE STUDY OF
FOSSILS BEGAN
(61) DETERMINING FOSSIL
AGE
RELATIVE DATING 
COMPARES INDEX FOSSILS, BASED ON
A FOSSIL’S POSITION WITHIN
SEDIMENTARY ROCK LAYERS
ABSOLUTE DATING 
MEASURES THE AGE OF FOSSILS OR
ROCKS IN YEARS, BASED ON
RADIOACTIVE DECAY
(62) CLASSIFICATION
GROUPING SIMILAR THINGS
TOGETHER
TAXONOMY  CLASSIFY ORGANISMS BASED
ON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS USING A
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
(63) DICHOTOMOUS KEY
A SERIES OF PAIRED CHOICES THAT EVENTUALLY
IDENTIFIES THE PLANT, ANIMAL OR OBJECT.
SCIENTISTS CLASSIFY THINGS TO MAKE THEM
EASIER TO STUDY, OBSERVE AND WRITE ABOUT.
DEVELOP A DICHOTOMOUS KEY USING THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS: BLUE JEANS, DRESS PANTS,
PLAID SKIRT, AND JOGGING SHORTS.
(64) SIX KINGDOMS
PROKARYOTES  NO NUCLEUS
ARCHAEBACTERIA
EUBACTERIA
EUKARYOTES  ‘TRUE’ NUCLEUS
PROTIST
FUNGI
PLANTS
ANIMALS
(65) KING PHIL CAME OVER
FOR GOOD SPAGHETTI
KINGDOM
PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS
SPECIES
(66) ECOLOGY
Examine the
dependence of
organisms on one
another and their
environment.
(67) FOOD WEB
SYMBIOSIS . . .
Changes in
environmental
conditions can affect
survival of species.
(68) THE ENERGY CYCLE
(69) FOOD CHAIN
ENERGY FLOW THROUGH AN
ECOSYSTEM OCCURS IN
FOOD CHAINS, WITH ENERGY
PASSING FROM ONE
ORGANISM TO ANOTHER
(70) PRODUCERS = PLANTS
THE PRODUCERS OF AN
ECOSYSTEM USE ABIOTIC
(NON LIVING) FACTORS TO
OBTAIN AND STORE ENERGY
FOR THEMSELVES OR THE
CONSUMERS THAT EAT THEM
(71) CONSUMERS = ANIMALS
EACH TIME AN ANIMAL
CONSUMES ANOTHER
ORGANISM (FOOD), ENERGY
TRANSFERS TO THE
CONSUMER
(72) WHAT DIFFERENT
CONSUMERS EAT …
HERBIVORE - - Eat only plants.
OMNIVORE - - Eat both plants
and other animals.
CARNIVORE - - Eat only other
animals.
(73) FOOD WEB
MOST PRODUCERS AND
CONSUMERS INTERACT WITH
MANY OTHERS, FORMING A
COMPLEX FOOD WEB OUT OF
SEVERAL SIMPLE FOOD
CHAINS
(74) PREDATOR + PREY =
ECOLOGICAL BALANCE
BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY AS
A WHOLE, BUT CAN BE
EITHER HELPFUL OR
HARMFUL DEPENDING UPON
WHETHER THEY ARE THE
PREDATOR OR THE PREY
(75) ENERGY PYRAMID
USED TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY
THAT MOVES FROM ONE TROPHIC LEVEL
TO THE NEXT . . .
 SOME ENERGY IS LOST TO THE
ENVIRONMENT AS HEAT
 ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE ENERGY AT ONE
LEVEL IN A FOOD WEB IS PASSED ON TO
THE NEXT LEVEL
(76) ENERGY PYRAMID with
TROPHIC LEVELS
(77) WHAT DETERMINES
THE CARRYING
CAPACITY OF A GIVEN
POPULATION?
THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT A
GIVEN ENVIRONMENT
CAN SUPPORT.
(78) LIMITING FACTORS
A POPULATION CANNOT
CONTINUE TO GROW WITHOUT
REACHING SOME
ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS, SUCH
AS LACK OF NUTRIENTS,
ENERGY, DISEASE, LIVING SPACE
AND OTHER RESOURCES
(79) POPULATION
DYNAMICS
GROWTH RATE : CHANGE IN
POPULATION SIZE PER UNIT OF
TIME (zero, negative or positive).
IMMIGRATION (birth)—MOVE INTO
EMIGRATION (death)—MOVE OUT OF
DENSITY : THE NUMBER OF
ORGANISMS PER UNIT AREA.
(80) SYMBIOSIS, COMPETITION,
& PARASITISM
CATEGORIZE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN ORGANISMS THAT
ARE COMPETITIVE OR
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
(81) SYMBIOSIS—3 TYPES
A LONG-TERM ASSOCIATION
BTWN TWO MEMBERS OF A
COMMUNITY IN WHICH
ONE OR BOTH PARTIES
BENEFIT …
(82) SYMBIOSIS –
A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH …
MUTUALISM
BOTH SPECIES
BENEFIT
(BEES & FLOWERS)
COMMENSALISM
ONE SPECIES
BENEFITS
(BARNACLES &
WHALES)
PARASITISM
ONE ORGANISM LIVES ON OR
INSIDE ANOTHER
(PARASITE & HOST)
(83) WATER CYCLE
(84) CARBON CYCLE
(85) ECOLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION
DIVISIONS OF THE BIOSPHERE …
BIOSPHERE  BIOMES 
ECOSYSTEMS  COMMUNITIES
 POPULATION  INDIVIDUAL
(86) BIOMES
SPECIFIC REGIONS OF THE EARTH
THAT HAVE UNIQUE CLIMATE
DEMANDS FOR LIVING THINGS;
HAS A DOMINANT FORM OF
PLANT LIFE
(87) ECOSYSTEM
HOW THE PLANTS & ANIMALS
RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER AND
HOW BOTH INTERACT WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH
THEY LIVE
(88) COMMUNITIES
WHERE CERTAIN TYPES OF
PLANTS OR ANIMALS LIVE IN
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH
OTHER; VARIOUS SPECIES MUST
INTERRELATE WITH EACH OTHER
(89) POPULATIONS
THE COMMUNITY IS DIVIDED INTO
POPULATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL
SPECIES (A GROUP OF SIMILAR
ORGANISMS THAT CAN BREED
WITH ONE ANOTHER TO
PRODUCE FERTILE OFFSPRING)
(90) HABITAT & NICHE
WHERE THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS
LIVE AND EAT; PROVIDES FOOD
AND SHELTER
EACH SPECIES OF THE
COMMUNITY HAS ITS OWN JOB
(91) BIOMES
Describe the
characteristics of
terrestrial biomes &
aquatic
communities.
(92) BIOMES
TELL HOW THEY ARE
DIFFERENT !
Tropical rain forest,
savanna, temperate,
desert, taiga,
mountain.
(93) BIOMES OF THE EARTH
TERRESTRIAL (LAND) AQUATIC







TUNDRA
RAIN FOREST
SAVANNA—GRASSLAND
DESERT
TAIGA (CONIFEROUS)
MOUNTAIN (ALPINE)
TEMPERATURE FOREST
(DECIDUOUS)






MARINE ZONES
FRESHWATER
ESTUARY
WETLAND—MARSH &
SWAMP
CORAL REEFS
Pg. 536 … … …
(94) MARINE ECOSYSTEM
PG. 536  THE LIFE IN A MARINE
ECOSYSTEM DEPENDS ON WATER
TEMPERATURE, WATER DEPTH,
AND THE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT
THE AREA RECEIVES
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS