1 • Key Terms 29
Key Terms
abstract opening section of a scientific paper that introduction opening section of a scientific paper,
summarizes the research and conclusions which provides background information about what
applied science form of science that aims to solve was known in the field prior to the research reported
real-world problems in the paper
atom smallest and most fundamental unit of matter life science field of science, such as biology, that
that retains the properties of an element studies living things
basic science science that seeks to expand macromolecule large molecule, typically formed by
knowledge and understanding regardless of the the joining of smaller molecules
short-term application of that knowledge materials and methods section of a scientific paper
biochemistry study of the chemistry of biological that includes a complete description of the
organisms substances, methods, and techniques that the
biology the study of life researchers used to gather data
biosphere collection of all the ecosystems on Earth microbiology study of the structure and function of
botany study of plants microorganisms
cell smallest fundamental unit of structure and molecular biology study of biological processes and
function in living things their regulation at the molecular level, including
community set of populations inhabiting a particular interactions among molecules such as DNA, RNA,
area and proteins
conclusion section of a scientific paper that molecule chemical structure consisting of at least
summarizes the importance of the experimental two atoms held together by one or more chemical
findings bonds
control part of an experiment that does not change natural science field of science that is related to the
during the experiment physical world and its phenomena and processes
deductive reasoning form of logical thinking that neurobiology study of the biology of the nervous
uses a general inclusive statement to predict system
specific results organ collection of related tissues grouped together
descriptive science (also, discovery science) form of performing a common function
science that aims to observe, explore, and organ system level of organization that consists of
investigate functionally related interacting organs
discussion section of a scientific paper in which the organelle small structures that exist within cells and
author interprets experimental results, describes carry out cellular functions
how variables may be related, and attempts to organism individual living entity
explain the phenomenon in question paleontology study of life’s history by means of
ecosystem all the living things in a particular area fossils
together with the abiotic, nonliving parts of that peer-reviewed manuscript scientific paper that a
environment scientist’s colleagues review who are experts in the
eukaryote organism with cells that have nuclei and field of study
membrane-bound organelles phylogenetic tree diagram showing the evolutionary
evolution the process of gradual change in a relationships among various biological species
population or species over time based on similarities and differences in genetic or
falsifiable able to be disproven by experimental physical traits or both; in essence, a hypothesis
results concerning evolutionary connections
homeostasis ability of an organism to maintain physical science field of science, such as geology,
constant internal conditions astronomy, physics, and chemistry, that studies
hypothesis suggested explanation for an observation, nonliving matter
which one can test plagiarism using other people’s work or ideas
hypothesis-based science form of science that without proper citation, creating the false
begins with a specific question and potential impression that those are the author’s original ideas
testable answers population all of the individuals of a species living
inductive reasoning form of logical thinking that uses within a specific area
related observations to arrive at a general prokaryote single-celled organism that lacks
conclusion organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by
Key Terms
abstract opening section of a scientific paper that introduction opening section of a scientific paper,
summarizes the research and conclusions which provides background information about what
applied science form of science that aims to solve was known in the field prior to the research reported
real-world problems in the paper
atom smallest and most fundamental unit of matter life science field of science, such as biology, that
that retains the properties of an element studies living things
basic science science that seeks to expand macromolecule large molecule, typically formed by
knowledge and understanding regardless of the the joining of smaller molecules
short-term application of that knowledge materials and methods section of a scientific paper
biochemistry study of the chemistry of biological that includes a complete description of the
organisms substances, methods, and techniques that the
biology the study of life researchers used to gather data
biosphere collection of all the ecosystems on Earth microbiology study of the structure and function of
botany study of plants microorganisms
cell smallest fundamental unit of structure and molecular biology study of biological processes and
function in living things their regulation at the molecular level, including
community set of populations inhabiting a particular interactions among molecules such as DNA, RNA,
area and proteins
conclusion section of a scientific paper that molecule chemical structure consisting of at least
summarizes the importance of the experimental two atoms held together by one or more chemical
findings bonds
control part of an experiment that does not change natural science field of science that is related to the
during the experiment physical world and its phenomena and processes
deductive reasoning form of logical thinking that neurobiology study of the biology of the nervous
uses a general inclusive statement to predict system
specific results organ collection of related tissues grouped together
descriptive science (also, discovery science) form of performing a common function
science that aims to observe, explore, and organ system level of organization that consists of
investigate functionally related interacting organs
discussion section of a scientific paper in which the organelle small structures that exist within cells and
author interprets experimental results, describes carry out cellular functions
how variables may be related, and attempts to organism individual living entity
explain the phenomenon in question paleontology study of life’s history by means of
ecosystem all the living things in a particular area fossils
together with the abiotic, nonliving parts of that peer-reviewed manuscript scientific paper that a
environment scientist’s colleagues review who are experts in the
eukaryote organism with cells that have nuclei and field of study
membrane-bound organelles phylogenetic tree diagram showing the evolutionary
evolution the process of gradual change in a relationships among various biological species
population or species over time based on similarities and differences in genetic or
falsifiable able to be disproven by experimental physical traits or both; in essence, a hypothesis
results concerning evolutionary connections
homeostasis ability of an organism to maintain physical science field of science, such as geology,
constant internal conditions astronomy, physics, and chemistry, that studies
hypothesis suggested explanation for an observation, nonliving matter
which one can test plagiarism using other people’s work or ideas
hypothesis-based science form of science that without proper citation, creating the false
begins with a specific question and potential impression that those are the author’s original ideas
testable answers population all of the individuals of a species living
inductive reasoning form of logical thinking that uses within a specific area
related observations to arrive at a general prokaryote single-celled organism that lacks
conclusion organelles and does not have nuclei surrounded by
