-
Archaea
One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Bacteria
-
bioinformatics
The use of computers, software, and mathematical models to process and integrate biological information from large data sets
-
controlled experiment
An experiment in which an experimental group is compared with a control group that varies only in the factor being tested.
-
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double-stranded helix, in which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
-
eukaryotic cell
A type of cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with eukaryotic cells (protists, plants, fungi, and animals) are called eukaryotes.
-
genomics
The study of whole sets of genes and their interactions within a species, as well as genome comparisons between species
-
inductive reasoning
A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations.
-
hypothesis
A testable explanation for a set of observations based on the available data and guided by inductive reasoning. A hypothesis is narrower in scope than a theory.
-
model organism
A particular species chosen for research into broad biological principles because it is representative of a larger group and usually easy to grow in a lab.
-
inquiry
The search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions.
-
prokaryotic cell
A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles. Organisms with prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea) are called prokaryotes
-
negative feedback
A form of regulation in which accumulation of an end product of a process slows the process; in physiology, a primary mechanism of homeostasis, whereby a change in a variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change.
-
natural selection
A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
-
science
An approach to understanding the natural world.
-
system biology
An approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems based on a study of the interactions among the system's parts.
-
theory
An explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.
-
technology
The application of scientific knowledge for a specific purpose, often involving industry or commerce but also including uses in basic research.
|
|