Science: is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the

natural world.

Biology: is the science of the living world around us or the study

of life.
Organism: individual living thing

Scientific method: The scientific method is a process for

experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer
questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause
and effect relationships in nature. They design an experiment so
that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a
predictable way.
Hypothesis: possible explanation for a set of observations or
possible answer to a scientific questions.

Manipulated (independent) variable: the variable that is

deliberately changed
Responding or (dependent) variable: the variable that is
observed and changes in response to the manipulated variable.

Experiment: tests a hypothesis preferably in a controlled manner.

Control: sets conditions that can be repeated again for each
experiment

Variable: a controlled, responding or manipulated part of an

experiment

Theory: a hypothesis that is very well supported by other

scientists.

Homeostasis: the internal balance of an organism.

Observation: the process of gathering information about events in

a careful and orderly way.

Inference: logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and

experience
 Data: evidence, information gathered from observations

Metabolism: set of chemical reactions through which an organism

builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life
processes.

Evolve/ evolution: change in a kind of organism over time.

Ecology: scientific study of interactions among organisms and
between organisms and their environment.
Biosphere : part of Earth in which life exists including land, water
and air.
Species : group of similar organisms that breed and produce fertile
offspring.
Population : group of individuals from same species that live in
same area
community : group of different populations that live together in a
defined area.
Ecosystem: collection of all the organisms that live in a particular
place.
biome : group of ecosystems that have same climate & dominant
communities.
Autotroph / producer : organism that can capture energy from
sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from
inorganic compounds.
Photosynthesis: process by which plants use light to convert water
& CO2 into oxygen & carbohydrates
Heterotroph / consumer: organism that relies on other organisms
for its energy & food supply.
Herbivore: organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
Carnivore : organism that obtains energy by eating animals
Omnivore : organism that obtains energy by eating animals and
plants
decomposer : organism that breaks down and obtains energy from
dead organic matter.
food chain : series of step sin which organisms transfer energy by
eating and being eaten
food web: network of interactions formed by feeding relationships
among organisms
tropic level step in food chain or food web
ecological pyramid : diagram that shows the relative amounts of
energy or matter within each trophic level in a food chain.
biomass: total amount of living tissue within a given tropic level.
biogeochemical cycle: process in which elements , chemical
compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one
organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another.
Nutrient chemical substance that organisms need to live