Scientific Method
A procedure used to test a hypothesis.
Experiment
A characteristic of an organism, such as flower color or blood type.
Traits
An individual living thing.
Organism
The body system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates undigested material.
Digestive System
The smallest unit of life.
Cells
A possible explanation that can be tested.
Hypothesis
The passing of genetic information from parents to offspring.
Heredity
The production of new organisms.
Reproduction
The body system that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide with the environment.
Respiratory system
The theory that all organisms consist of cells, cells are the basic units of life, and cells come from existing cells.
Cell theory
Information gathered using the senses or scientific tools.
Observation
The allele combination an organism has for a gene or set of genes.
Genotype
The maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite outside changes.
Homeostasis
The body system that moves blood to transport gases, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.
Circulatory system
Made of many cells.
Multicellular
Measurements and observations collected during an investigation.
Data
Having two identical alleles for a gene, such as BB or bb.
Homozygous
Changes in an organism’s form and function during its life.
Development
The body system that receives information, processes it, and coordinates rapid responses.
Nervous system
A firm layer outside the cell membrane that provides support and protection in plants and certain other organisms.
Cell wall
A comparison group that does not receive the treatment being tested.
Control group
An inheritance pattern in which a heterozygote has a phenotype intermediate between the two homozygotes.
Incomplete dominance
A change in an organism’s internal or external environment that can trigger a response.
Stimulus
The skin, hair, nails, and associated glands that protect the body and help regulate temperature.
Integumentary system
The process that uses light energy to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen.
Photosynthesis