Biology
Scientific study of life
Reductionism
An approach that reduces complex systems to simple components (makes it easy to study)
Emergent properties
Result from the arrangement and interaction of parts as complexity increases
Systems biology
Analysis of interactions among the parts of a biological system
Cell
Smallest unit of organization that can perform all activities required for life
Cell theory
Theory that states that all living organisms are made from cells
Prokaryotic cells
Cells without membrane-enclosed organelles (bacteria and archaea)
Eukaryotic cells
Cells with membrane-enclosed organelles
Genes
Are the unit of inheritance
Gene expression
The process of converting information from a gene to a cellular product
Genome
An organism’s entire “library” of genetic instructions
Genomics
The study of whole sets of genes in one or more species
Proteomics
The study of whole sets of proteins and their properties
Proteome
Entire set of proteins expressed by a given cell, tissue, or organ
Bioinformatics
The use of computational tools to process large volumes of data rapidly
Consumers
Organisms that feed on other organisms or their remains
Feedback Regulation
The output (product of a process) regulates that very process
Negative feedback
Reduces the initial stimulus
Positive feedback
The end product speeds up its own production
Evolution
Concept that living organisms are modified descendants of common ancestors
Natural selection
Theory developed by Charles Darwin that states that the natural environment “selects” for the propagation of beneficial traits, resulting in the adaptation of organisms to circumstances or way of life and environment
Inquiry
Search for information and explanations for natural phenomena
Data
Recorded observations
Hypothesis
An explanation based on observations and assumptions that leads to a testable prediction
