Project ENABLE

Definition: A pure substance that is made of only one type of atom. Elements cannot be broken down into any simpler substance.

"Elements are made up of a group of atoms that are all the same, just like a field of corn is made up of many individual corn plants."

Definition: A change in a living body that prevents it from functioning normally.

"When many think about diseases we first think about cancer or the flu. However, it is important to not forget about mental health diseases like depression or anxiety."

Definition: The process of passing on illness or disease.

"One individual corn plant will produce between two and four ears of corn."

abiotic factor

Definition: Any non living factor that impacts an ecosystem. For example, temperature.

"Plant growth can be affected by abiotic factors like sunlight, water, and temperature."

Definition: A state of balance or stable situation where opposite effects cancel each other out and no changes are occuring.

"A see-saw is in equilibrium when both kids are perfectly balanced on it."

energy

Definition: The ability to do work, produce change, or create heat. There are many types of energy. For example, heat energy (also known as thermal energy) is created when molecules move around quickly and randomly within a substance, which releases heat. Chemical energy is what holds atoms of a molecule or molecules of a substance together. When these groups of atoms or molecules are separated during a chemical reaction, chemical energy is released, often as heat. When organisms photosynthesize or digest food, chemical reactions provide chemical energy for their growth and development.

"The sun is a source of heat energy because it warms the earth. Plants convert light from the sun into chemical energy through photosynthesis."

Definition: An inherited behavior by animals that is not learned

"Building a nest is an instinct; birds know how to build nests without being taught."

Definition: Chemical substances that act as messenger molecules in the body. After being made in one part of the body, they travel to other parts of the body where they help control how cells and organs do their work

"Type II diabetes is a result of being unable to regulate blood sugar levels because the body doesn't respond to a hormone called insulin correctly."

Definition: The outermost layer of cells of any multicellular organism

"Your skin is your epidermis and it protects the inside of your body from harm."

Definition: An organ that forms the outer protective layer of the body.

"Our skin protects our organs from the environment by blocking moisture, preventing heat loss, and protecting us from pathogens. Repeated sun exposure is a major cause of skin cancer."

Definition: A network of lipids and proteins that forms the boundary between the inside of an organelle and the rest of the space within the cell.

"The plasma membrane is like the "skin" of organelles like mitochondria. It separates the inside of the organelle from the surrounding environment."

Definition: Any organic material that does not dissolve in water but will dissolve in organic materials. They are often used to make cell membranes.

"Butter, lard, and oil are examples of lipids, which make up our cell membranes."

Definition: The allele that only determines the phenotype when the organism has two copies of it. Compare with dominant.

"You have two copies of each chromosome. Sometimes there is a recessive allele on one chromosome and a dominant allele on the other. The recessive allele is the one that will not influence the phenotype."

Definition: When a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. This is how gametes are made.

"Scientists are concerned that climate change could cause a mass extinction event, similar to the one that occurred after the last Ice Age."

Definition: The male sex cell, or gamete in animals. Compare with egg.

"In many species, males pass on their DNA to their offspring through their sperm cells."

Definition: The process of combinine the male sperm with the female egg to produce a cell called a zygote.

"Most of the living things you see around you, including all plants and animals, are eukaryotes."

Definition: A haploid reproductive cell that joins with another haploid reproductive cell of the opposite sex to form a diploid zygote.

"Sperm and eggs are examples of haploid cells."

Definition: Any area defended by an organism or a group of similar organisms for their own use

"When you boil water, the water molecules will start to move around quickly as they absorb thermal energy from the burner."

Definition: Any longǫterm physical relationship between individuals of two different species, including mutualism and parasitism.

"Scientists who study taxonomy found that whales are more closely related to animals on land (including humans) than they are to fish."

ancestor

Definition: One from whom an individual is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any number of generations.

"Your grandfather, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother are all your ancestors."

Definition: The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element, consisting of a nucleus containing combinations of neutrons and protons and one or more electrons

"All matter is made up of atoms just as a crowd is made up of people. Matter can be composed of different types of atoms, or elements, just like the people in a crowd can be men or women, old or young, and short or tall."

Definition: The components of an atom that have a negative charge

"Electrons are the glue that hold atoms together when they combine to form a molecule."

Definition: The components of an atom that have a positive charge

"The number of protons an atom has is its atomic number. A nitrogen atom has 7 protons while an oxygen atom has 8 protons."

Definition: Atom or molecule with an electric charge

"A neutral atom has equal amounts of positive and negative charges, but an atom that becomes more positively or negatively charged is an ion."

Definition: Network of lipids and proteins that forms the boundary between the inside of a cell and the environment that surrounds it.

"The cell membrane is like the "skin" of the cell. It separates the inside of the cell from the surrounding environment."

Definition: The organ in the body which controls the functions of the body, interprets and stores information, and affects intelligence and emotion.

"Your brain gives you the ability to think, speak, move, and remember."

Definition: Structure that begins at the the brain and continues down the spine and carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

"Starch is found in corn, potatoes, rice, and pasta. When you eat these foods, the starch is broken down into sugar."

Definition: A material formed from the decomposing organisms that can release energy as heat or be used for work. These fuels are found within the Earth and exist in limited quantities. Examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

"Oil, gas, and coal are called fossil fuels because they are made from the carbon and hydrogen of living things from millions of years ago. Power plants release carbon dioxide when they burn fossil fuels, which contributes to climate change."

Definition: Cells, tissues, or organs in a body that have no apparent function and is similar to a functioning organ or structure in an ancestor.

"The wisdom teeth of our ancestors would replace any teeth that fell out or were removed. Now, our wisdom teeth are vestigial traits because we have better mouth hygeine and dental care."

Definition: Occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake

"Sometimes your body's immune system mistakes your own cells as pathogens, this can cause autoimmune disease."

Definition: A square drawing used to show the different genotypes possible in the offspring when two individuals reproduce

"By drawing a punnet square, doctors can easily show new parents what blood types their children could have."

Definition: A protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances. The plural of antibody is antibodies.

"Antibodies are used by your body to defend itself against things like viruses, bacteria, or even cancer cells that may cause you harm."

Definition: Two nucleotides (also known as bases) that combine and join to make DNA. Base A combines with T and base G combines with C.

"DNA is shaped like a spiral staircase. Like pieces of a puzzle, only certain base pairs can fit together to make the steps of the staircase."

amino acid

Definition: The building block of protein. There are ą) amino acides, and each is specified by a DNA segment of three nucleotides (bases).

"Different kinds of amino acids create proteins of many shapes and functions, just as different kinds of building materials can be used to make anything from a castle to a school to a shed."

Definition: A substance that becomes more positively or negatively charged during a chemical reaction and accepts hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

"Many toothpastes include a base like baking soda as an ingredient because it can prevent bacteria from growing in your mouth."

cell

[sel]

Definition: The cell is the smallest unit with the basic properties of life, such as growth, sensing the environment, and reproduction.

"Your body is composed of around 37 trillion cells! That is a big number but there are even more bacteria cells that live on and in you: around 100 trillion."

cell

[sel]

Definition: The cell is the smallest unit with the basic properties of life, such as growth, sensing the environment, and reproduction.

"Your body is composed of around 37 trillion cells! That is a big number but there are even more bacteria cells that live on and in you: around 100 trillion."

Definition: The formation of new cells when an existing cell divides.

"Bacteria like E. coli reproduce by cell division, where one cell copies itself and splits into two cells."

anaphase

Definition: The stage of cell division in mitosis or meiosis in which the doubled set of chromosomes separates into two identical groups that move to opposite ends of the cell

Definition: Principal molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells.

"Cells use the food you eat to make adenosine triphosphate, which stores chemical energy that can be used to do work like move molecules or grow."

Definition: How an organism's body functions or the scientific study of how organisms function

"You are studying physiology when you study how blood moves through the heart or nutrients move through a plant."

Definition: A trait of an individual that can be observed or measured

"Your hair color is an example of your phenotype."

Definition: An organism whose internal temperature can be contantly maintained and does not depend on the temperature of their surrounding environment

"You are an endotherm! Endotherms often have hair or feathers to help keep warm and may sweat or pant to cool down. These adaptations help them maintain a constant temperature."

Definition: A substance that is needed for healthy growth, development, and function

"Foods like vegetables and meats are high in nutrients and will help you grow. Foods like potato chips and candy provide few nutrients to help sustain your body."

Definition: A group of tissues in the body that has a specific form and function

"Your eyes are organs that help you see, while your heart is an organ that helps circuluate your blood throughout your body."

Definition: The internal hard structure that supports the body of a living thing

"Without a skeleton, our body would have no shape and we would be unable to move in a coordinated way. We would look like a pile of organs."

Definition: An object or molecule has a charge if it has an unequal number of protons and electrons.

"An element has a neutral charge if it has an equal number of protons and electrons. It has a +1 positive charge if it has one more proton than electron. It has a -1 negative charge if it has one more electron than proton."

acid

Definition: A substance that becomes more positively or negatively charged during a chemical reaction and releases hydrogen ions (protons) when dissolved in water.

"An acid - like lemon juice or vinegar - is useful in a marinade because it breaks down the tissue and allows flavor and oil to enter."

Definition: Cells that carry electrical charges through the body and are part of the nervous system. Also known as a nerve cell.

"Neutrons have the same weight as protons but have no charge. Together with protons, they form the nucleus of the atom and determine its weight."

Definition: Nerves are a collection of neurons that carry signals throughout the body

"Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system that occurs when neurons start to die, which affects the body's movement"

Definition: The brain, spinal cord, and nerves of an animal that together receive messages from other parts of the body and control how the body functions

"Each of your fingertips has over 3,000 neurons which send signals to your brain about the things you touch or feel."

Definition: The cell that forms after gametes are joined.

"The zygote forms once the sperm cell enters the egg cell and they become one cell. Identical twins are a result of a zygote splitting into two cells."

Definition: The female sex cell, or gamete. Compare with sperm.

"In many species, females pass on their DNA to their offspring through their egg cells."

Definition: Changes in the frequency of alleles over generations

"Over the course of evolution, birds like ostriches lost the ability to fly as they evolved to survive well without flight."

ancestor

Definition: One from whom an individual is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any number of generations.

"Your grandfather, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother are all your ancestors."

Definition: Two or more atoms that are joined because they share electrons

"Water is a molecule because it is made when two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combine together."

Definition: This type of energy (also known as heat energy) is created when molecules move around quickly and randomly within a substance, which releases heat.

"When you boil water, the water molecules will start to move around quickly as they absorb thermal energy from the burner."

Definition: When a resource from the environment is not used faster than it is produced in nature.

"We have a symbiosis with the bacteria that live in our gut. Our stomach and intestines give these bacteria a place to live and food to eat. In turn, the bacteria help us digest our food and protect us from pathogens in our food."

Definition: A highly reactive substance that causes obvious damage to living tissue

"Many household cleaners like bleach are corrosive because they can start to burn and harm your skin when left on the surface for too long."

Definition: Any substance that increases the rate of a reaction without itself being consumed

"A catalyst makes an unlikely reaction more likely. For example, lactase is an enzyme catalyst that increases the rate that lactose, found in dairy products, is turned into two types of sugar that our bodies can use."

Definition: The allele that determines the phenotype when present in a homozygote or heterozygote. Compare with recessive.

"An individual with one allele for type-O blood and one allele for type-B blood will have type-B blood because the allele for type-B blood is dominant to the allele for type-O blood."

Definition: An inherited characteristic that appears in an offspring if it is received from a parent through a dominant allele. Compare with recessive trait.

"A dominant trait is determined by a dominant allele. For example, if you have an allele for light eyes and an allele for dark eyes you will have dark eyes because that allele is dominant over the allele for light eyes."

Definition: A collection of cells and organs that help to defend an organism against pathogens.

"Someone who has the flu is infectious for the first couple of days because they can give the flu to others."

Definition: The available facts or information that indicate a belief or statement is true or valid

Definition: A collection of facts, such as numbers, words, measurements, observations or descriptions of thing

"When you write notes about something you see, like the number of petals on a flower, you are collecting data."

Definition: An inherited characteristic that appears in an offspring if it is received from a parent through a recessive allele. Compare with dominant trait.

"A recessive trait is determined by a recessive allele. For example, if you have an allele for light eyes and an allele for dark eyes you will have dark eyes because the allele for light eyes is recessive."

Definition: A negative interaction that occurs whenever two or more organisms require the same limited resource

"In the winter when there are few plants, the deer are in competition with one another for who gets to eat them."

Definition: In organisms, chemical reactions that help sustain life and allow cells to grow

"When you eat food, your body converts it into energy through a biochemical reaction called metabolism."

Definition: An organelle that takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy (ATP) for the cell

"Power plants supply electricity to your home, just like the mitochondria supplies energy to the cell."

Definition: When organisms disguise their appearance to blend in with their surroundings

"Jackrabbits are brown so that they camouflage with the dirt and avoid being seen by predators."

Definition: An organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy (compare with heterotroph)

"You've never seen pine trees eat food because they are autotrophs and use light, water, and carbon dioxide to gain energy."

Definition: Any animal lacking a spinal cord (also known as a backbone). Compare with vertebrate.

"Worms, bees, and snails are all invertebrates."

Definition: An animal that has a spinal cord and a skeleton. Compare with invetebrate.

"Humans, horses, and birds are vertebrates, but an octopus has no bones or spinal cord and is thus an invertebrate."

Definition: The process of creating offspring without exchanging genetic information with another organism through sex.

"A bacteria cell can make a copy of itself by splitting into two cells. When something reproduces without a partner, it is called asexual reproduction."

Definition: An explanation for why things work or how things happen that is supported by a large amount of scientific evidence

"Cell theory states that all organisms are made up of cells and that all new cells are produced by existing cells. We know that this is true because we can see cells under a microscope and can trace the origin of new cells back to the cells they came from. There is no evidence to suggest this theory is incorrect."

allele

Definition: A particular version of a gene.

"You have two copies of each gene in your genome. If the copies are different, you have two alleles of that gene."

Definition: A section of DNA that is the unit of heredity for a trait.

"In cats, fur length is determined by one gene, but body size is influenced by many genes."

Definition: A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence

"Mutations are common. Every person has a lot of mutations, but most of them are not harmful."

Definition: An individual who has two of the same alleles for a gene. Compare with heterozygote.

"Individuals who have two sickle cell alleles are homozygotes at that locus and will display sickle cell disease."

Definition: An individual who has two different alleles of a gene. Compare with homozygote.

"Individuals who only have one sickle cell allele are heterozygotes at that locus and will not display sickle cell disease."

Definition: The study of genes and inheritance in living organisms

"A scientist who studies corn genetics researches how traits and diseases are inherited and affect yield."

Definition: All of the alleles of all the genes in a population of a specific species at a given time.

"A species with red and orange flowers has alleles for red and orange flower color in its gene pool."

adaptation

Definition: A heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual with that trait compared to individuals without that trait in a particular environment.

"The Jackrabbit's large ears are an adaptation that helps them hear better and stay cool in the hot desert."

Definition: The passing on of traits from parents to offspring through genetic information.

"Scientific discoveries about heredity allow scientists to identify the causes of many genetic disorders."

Definition: To receive a particular characteristic from a parent, usually through genes that are passed from parent to offspring.

"When somone notices that siblings look alike, they are seeing similar traits that the siblings inherited from their parents."

Definition: The components of an atom that have no charge

"The nitrogen cycle describes the way nitrogen atoms move around the Earth. Nitrogen atoms move around when organisms decompose, when bacteria absorb and release nitrogen, and when fertilizer used on crops washes into rivers and streams."

amphibian

Definition: A vertebrate animal whose internal temperature depends on the environment (ectotherm). Most live in the water when young and live on land as adults. Examples include frogs, toads, and salamanders.

"Frogs are amphibians that live as tadpoles in the water when they are young, and are able to walk on land as an adult after they grow legs."

Definition: The movement of individuals out of a particular population or area to other populations or areas. Compare with immigration.

"You could say that when you leave your classroom and walk out into the hall that you are emigrating from your classroom."

Definition: An organism capable of photosynthesis

"Plants live in a variety of different environments. For example, pecan trees grow where it's warm, seaweed grow in the ocean, and piñon trees grow in or near the desert."

Definition: An animal that eats both plants and animals

"People are ominvores because we can eat both meat and vegetables."

Definition: The process by which green plants and certain other organisms turns energy from the sun into chemical energy

"When plants photosynthesize, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen that we can breathe."

Definition: A chain of amino acids that can fold into a specific shape

"Hemoglobin is the protein in a red blood cell that carries oxygen to different parts of your body."

Definition: Represents multiple pathways through which energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. It includes many intersecting food chains. It demonstrates that most organisms eat, and are eaten, by more than one species.

"Eagles eat mice, mice eat grain, and these three species form a food chain."

Definition: A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another

"A large, healthy deer that mates often will have higher fitness than a small, unhealthy deer that doesn't mate as often."

Definition: The simple sugar that is the main source of energy. Glucose is found in the blood and is the main sugar that the body makes.

"Someone with diabetes needs to monitor their glucose levels, which is the amount of sugar that is in their bloodstream."

Definition: The organs that take in food and liquids and break them down into substances that the body can use for energy, growth, and tissue repair. Waste products the body cannot use leave the body through bowel movements

"Your digestive system includes your mouth, stomach, and intestines. All of these organs play a role in breaking down food you can absorb nutrients and energy."

Definition: A substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms, regulating the rate at which chemical reactions proceed without itself being altered in the process

"People that are lactose intolerant cannot make the enzyme called lactase which prevents them from digesting lactose in milk."

Definition: Small animals with six legs and a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton.

"A ladybug is an insect because it has six legs and an outer shell; however, a tick is not an insect because it does not have six legs."

Definition: A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.

"When harmful bacteria make you sick, the doctor may give you antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria."

Definition: Microscopic single celled organisms.

"Even if your hands look clean it is important that you wash them to remove any harmful bacteria."

Definition: An organism too small to be seen without a microscope

"Sperm and egg cells are created through meiosis."

Definition: The ability of an organism to withstand harmful effects

"Animals with thick fur have a resistance to cold temperatures."

Definition: Body fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports waste away those cells

"Your body will stop functioning if it loses too much blood, because blood contains the oxygen and nutrients your body needs."

ABO blood type

Definition: A system used to group human blood into different types, based on the presence or absence of certain characteristics on the surface of red blood cells. The four main blood types are A, B, O, and AB

"If you have surgery, it is important to know your blood type. If you lose a lot of blood, doctors find a match for your ABO blood type so that your body accepts the donated blood."

Definition: The non-cellular portion of blood

"Plasma makes up about half of our blood and has important salts, proteins, and antibodies that help fight infection."

Definition: The blood cells that carry oxygen

"Anemia occurs when someone doesn't have enough red blood cells. It can cause people to feel tired, dizzy, or short of breath."

Definition: Cells that are part of the body's immune system that help the body fight infection and other diseases.

"White blood cells are part of the immune system. There are many different types of white blood cells circulating in your blood and each type has a specific role in fighting infections."

Definition: Living organisms that get their nutrients by absorbing them.

"The green or white patches on old bread are a type of fungi called mold."

Definition: Made of non-living materials. Compare with organic.

"Inorganic substances like metal and turquoise can be used to make a turquoise bracelet."

Definition: When the outcome of a process reduces further change and the process becomes stable

"The thermostat functions as a negative feedback loop because it keeps the temperature within a building stable by turning on the air conditioning if the temperature gets too hot or turning it off if it gets too cold."

Definition: The situation where closely related species are unable to reproduce because of differences in location, mating time, behavior, or changes in anatomy.

"Two populations of squirels on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon experienced reproductive isolation for so long that they are now two different species."

Definition: A device that makes very small objects or organisms larger so that they can be observed

"You need a microscope to see cells dividing."

Definition: The species that appear first in a habitat or after a disturbance.

"After a forest fire, the first species to reappear is a pioneer species."

Definition: A testable statement that explains a set of observations.

"You think bees prefer sunny days over cloudy days because it is unlikely to rain on sunny days. You test your hypothesis by comparing the number of bees visiting flowers on both sunny and cloudy days."

Definition: The data measured or seen, often during an experiment

"You are making an observation when you feel a change in the weather, see a cloudy sky, or hear thunder."

Definition: A substance that has a constant composition and characteristic properties.

"Did you know water is a chemical? Each molecule of water contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom that bond together, which is why it is called H20."

Definition: The chance that something will happen or of a hypothesis being correct

"When you role a six-sided die, the probability of rolling a three is 1/6, or 16.7%."

Definition: A natural, internal process that regulates daily cycles of sleep or inactivity and wakefulness or activity

"The circadian rhythm of sunflowers lets them anticipate the timing and direction of the sunrise each morning so that they can face their flowers towards the sun."

Definition: An inorganic substance that occurs naturally

"Precious stones like onyx and turquiose are minerals."

Definition: All of the alleles in a given individual's genome

"A sheep's genotype may include alleles for white wool and black wool, but because the black allele is dominant, the sheep's phenotype will be black wool."

Definition: A state in which an animal’s body processes are slower than usual, its body temperature falls, and its activities are limited, usually during winter or when food is scarce.

"Many animals that live in the mountains hibernate because there is little food in the cold winter months."

Definition: A species that requires specific environmental conditions or specific types of resources. Compare with generalist.

"Yucca plants are specialists that are only pollinated by specific species of moths. These moths are also specialists because they can only lay their eggs in yucca flowers."

Definition: The system that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, waste, and other materials throughout the body. The circulatory system includes the heart, arteries, and veins

"When you have high blood pressure, your circulatory system doesn't function as well becuase your heart has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body."

cell

[sel]

Definition: The cell is the smallest unit with the basic properties of life, such as growth, sensing the environment, and reproduction.

"Your body is composed of around 37 trillion cells! That is a big number but there are even more bacteria cells that live on and in you: around 100 trillion."

Definition: A group of cells that perform a similar function

"Gum disease causes your gum tissue to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. You can prevent gum disease by frequently brushing and flossing your teeth."

Definition: The first stage of mitosis or meiosis where chromosomes are compressed

Definition: Organisms that consist of one cell. Compare with multicellular.

"Bacteria are unicellular organisms because they are made of one cell."

cell

[sel]

Definition: The cell is the smallest unit with the basic properties of life, such as growth, sensing the environment, and reproduction.

"Your body is composed of around 37 trillion cells! That is a big number but there are even more bacteria cells that live on and in you: around 100 trillion."

Definition: When a single cell divides into two identical cells

"As we grow, our cells divide through mitosis to create new cells."

Definition: The time during mitosis or meiosis where copies of chromosomes line up in the center of a cell

Definition: The part of the cell that controls the functions of the cell and where DNA is found within a plasma membrane

"Most cells of organisms that are eukaryotes have a nucleus in their cells. In animals, red blood cells do not have a nucleus."

Definition: Located or occurring within a cell or cells. Compare with intercellular.

"If the rooms of your house are cells, the hallways between the rooms are like intercellular space."

Definition: A structure within a cell that is enclosed within its own membrane and has a function

"Organelles in a cell are like organs in a body. Cell organelles include the nucleus and mitochondria."

Definition: All of the contents of a cell excluding the nucleus

"If we think of a cell as a jello salad, the cytoplasm is like the jello because it suspends and holds the contents inside."

Definition: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosome

"Most cells in our body are diploid and have a copy of each chromosome from both of our parents."

Definition: The period of time when a cell grows and copies of DNA are made.

"Cells spend most of their time in interphase, before making preparations to divide."

Definition: All of the organisms born and living at about the same time. In humans, mother and daughters represent two generations

"During elementary school, all the kids in your class are a part of your generation because all of you have similar ages."

Definition: A living thing

"Animals, fungi, bacteria, and plants are all examples of organisms."

Definition: How an organism acts

"A spider building a web, a dog wagging its tail, or a bird calling for a mate are all examples of these organism's behavior."

Definition: A species that was introduced to an ecosystem that was not there before and that causes hardship to other organisms Haa

"Russian olive trees and buffelgrass are invasive species that outcompete native species and negatively affect of the environment."

Definition: Any living thing that has an effect on another organism, population, community, or ecosystem

"Plant growth can be affected by biotic factors like herbivores and pathogens."

Definition: The variety of life and its processes, including the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur

"The biodiversity in a desert includes the cacti, bats, lizards, hummingbirds, and beetles that live there."

Definition: Association between organisms of two different species in which each benefits

"A mutualism occurs between people and the bacteria that live in our intestines. The bacteria gain nutrients while they help us digest food."

Definition: The act or process of a species becoming extinct

"There are very few black footed ferrets still alive and they are at risk for extinction."

Definition: A characteristic of an organism that can be observed.

"Hair color, eye color, and nose size are all traits you inherit from your parents."

Definition: The thin zone surrounding Earth where all life exists

"The biosphere includes all of the places on Earth where organisms can live."

Definition: All of an organism's DNA

"We can compare the genomes of different people to see if we can identify which alleles cause diseases."

Definition: Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus. Compare with prokaryote.

"Most of the living things you see around you, including all plants and animals, are eukaryotes."

Definition: A unicellular organism that does not have a nucleus and has few organelles. Compare with eukaryote.

"The bacteria in your gut are prokaryotes that help you digest food and defend against pathogens."

Definition: An environment including every living organism and non-living factor that is contained within it

"Deserts, rain forests, and and coral reefs are all ecosystems with distinct climates and species."

Definition: Place where an organism or a community of organisms lives, including all living and nonliving factors or conditions of the environment

"Some animal species can only survive in a specific habitat, like roadrunners that live in the deserts, brushlands, and grasslands of North America."

Definition: A hard covering on the outside of the body used for support, protection, and muscle attachment. Examples include the shells of snails and the outer covering of beetles.

"Scorpions have an exoskeleton that protects them from predators."

Definition: Made of or made by living organisms. Compare with inorganic.

"Organic substances like wood and animal hides can be used to make a drum."

Definition: A fossil forms over a very long time as holes left in sediment by living tissue or bones are replaced with hard minerals.

"Dinosaur bones are fossils and they tell us when and where dinosaurs used to live."

Definition: An organism that eats plants or animals for energy and nutrients (compare with autotroph)

"People, insects, fish, and birds are examples of heterotrophs because they must eat plants and animals to survive."

Definition: An organism's position along a food chain

"Plants are at the base of each food chain. Animals that eat plants, like deer, are one trophic level above plants. Animals that eat deer, like mountain lions, are one trophic level above deer."

Definition: A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another and produce fertile offspring

"All dogs are the same species, but a dog and a cat are different species because they cannot mate and produce offspring together."

Definition: The breakdown of dead organism through the action of bacteria and fungi

"The mold we see on old fruit is a type of fungus that decays the fruit."

Definition: The process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic material

"The leaves that fall on the ground during autum are important because they decompose and become a part of the soil, which helps other plants grow."

Definition: A microorganism that causes, or can cause, disease or harm in the organism it lives in or on (its host)

"The pathogen COVID-19 affects your lungs which can give you a fever and make it hard to breathe."

Definition: When one organism looks, sounds, or behaves like another species.

"Stick insects use mimicry to trick predators into thinking they are twigs."

Definition: Organisms that consist of more than one cell. Compare with unicellular.

"Horses, mushrooms, and cacti are multicellular organisms because they are made of many cells."

Definition: Maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment

"If you use too many apps on your cell phone at once, it will slow down or stop working. Similarly, the environment has a carrying capacity and can only support a certain number of organisms, otherwise the population size will decrease."

Definition: Occurs when there are no more individuals of that species alive anywhere in the world

"Wooly mammoths died thousands of years ago and this species is now extinct."

adult

Definition: An organism that has reached sexual maturity.

"A cat is an adult once it can have kittens."

Definition: A species that can thrive in many different environmental conditions or use different types of resources. Compare with specialist.

"A raccoon is an example of a generalist. It lives in a variety of habitats, from cities to forests, and it eats a lot of different types of food."

Definition: The process where organisms with the highest fitness in an environment survive and reproduce and their phenotypes become more common in the next generation. At the same time, organisms with the lowest fitness fail to survive or reproduce less and their phenotypes become less common in the next generation.

"Natural selection will favor desert mice with light fur because they are less likely to be seen by predators."

Definition: Organisms that are capable of photosynthesis and are the basis of a food chain. Also called primary producer.

"A common food chain in a field includes grass, which are producers that can be eaten by grasshoppers, which then can be eaten by other animals."

Definition: The ability of an individual to successfully produce offspring compared to other individuals of the same species.

"In many species, organisms pass on their DNA to their offspring when an egg and sperm cell combine during fertilization."

Definition: Barren area of land where little precipitation occurs

"The Sonoran Desert is found in the southwestern United States and the species that live in it can survive long periods of time with little to no rain."

Definition: The male sex cell, or gamete in animals. Compare with egg.

"Car accidents are the leading cause of injuries to the spinal cord. If damaged, the spinal cord cannot repair itself. This is why it is important to wear your seatbelt."

Definition: A regional or global land area that is characterized by the plants, animals and climate in that area

"A desert is a biome that has plants and animals that live successfully with little or no rainfall."

Definition: A long molecule that contains our unique genetic information. It holds the instructions for making all of the proteins in our bodies.

"Construction workers need instructions to know how to build a building. Cells use DNA as instructions to tell them what to do and how to make things."

Definition: The process by which DNA is copied during cell division

"In humans, DNA is about 6 billion base pairs long. DNA needs to be copied accurately each time a cell divides. Sometimes there can be an error in the DNA replication process. This is one way mutations can arise."

Definition: Similarity of DNA or RNA sequences, proteins, or traits due to shared ancestry

"Bees, ants, and wasps share a homologous trait of three-part bodies (abdomen, thorax, and head) because they have shared ancestry."

Definition: The building blocks of the RNA and DNA, also known as 'bases'. The symbols for the four bases are A, T, G, and C.

"The nucleus of an oxygen atom contains 8 protons and 8 neutrons."

Definition: A structure made up of DNA tightly coiled many times around proteins

"Humans have two copies of 23 chromosomes. People who have an extra copy of one or part of their 21st chromosome are born with a condition called Down Syndrome."

Definition: A disease that is caused by a change (mutation) in an individual's DNA sequence

"A disease like xeroderma pigmentosum makes you sensitive to sunlight and is a genetic disorder because it can be inherited from your parents."

Definition: The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by changing its DNA or RNA

"There are types of corn that have had their DNA genetically engineered so that they can resist insect herbivores. Organisms that have had their DNA engineered are called genetically modified organisms (GMOs)."

Definition: A cell or organism having a single set of chromosomes

"Unlike most cells in our body, egg and sperm cells are haploid and have one copy of each chromosome."

Definition: A gene that is located on a sex chromosome

"Humans have two sex chromosomes called X and Y. The genes that cause red-green color blindness are sex-linked genes because are passed down on the X chromosome. Males inherit only one X chromosome, and all alleles on that chromosome act as dominant alleles. This is why red-green color blindness is more common in men."

Definition: The scientific study of life and living organisms

"In biology class, you learn how all of life functions and changes over time, from the smallest celled organisms to vast ecosystems."

Definition: The introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

"Car exhaust is a type of pollution that can cause lung damage when animals breathe it in."

agriculture

Definition: The art, science, or practice of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock

"Successful agriculture depends on farmers knowing the right time of year to plant their seeds, the correct soil, and how much water their plants need to grow."

Definition: The female sex cell, or gamete. Compare with sperm.

Definition: The movement of individuals in and out of a population or area

"To find food, geese migrate to the north during the summer and migrate back to the south during the winter."

Definition: The air, water, and land in or on which all living organisms live

"Cacti can survive in hot and dry environments because they are good at storing and conserving water."

Definition: The number of total deaths in comparison to the total population size in a specified community or area over a specified period of time

"If 20 cows die on a farm with 100 total cows, then we could say that 0.2 cows die for every cow on the farm (20 cows / 100 cows = 0.2 cows)."

Definition: An important nutrient used as energy by the body and made mostly of sugars

"Your body can use the carbohydrates in foods like bread and potatoes as sources of energy."

Definition: The main form of stored carbohydrates in plants.

"Traditional buffalo hunting was once a sustainable hunting method because hunting buffalo did not negatively affect their population."

Definition: The organs that remove waste from the body.

"The urinary system is the filter of the bloodstream as it captures waste and releases it from the body."

Definition: A large group of multicellular eukaryotic organisms.

"People, butterflies, fish, and cats are all examples of animals."

Definition: The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their environment

"Emissions from coal plants can affect the ecology of an ecosystem by polluting the environment and affecting how organisms survive and interact with each other."

Definition: Animals that eat other animals

"Mountain lions have very sharp teeth because they are carnivores and need to tear apart the animals they eat."

Definition: The scientific study of animals

"Ranchers use their zoology knowledge to breed sheep so their offspring have more meat or fluffier wool."

Definition: An organism whose internal temperature depends on the temperature of their surrounding environment

"Ectotherms, like lizards, can't control their body temperature and often lay in the sun to warm up."

Definition: A large group of multicellular eukaryotic organisms.

"People, butterflies, fish, and cats are all examples of animals."

Definition: Animals that eat plants

"Rabbits are herbivores that only eat leaves, seeds, twigs, and other parts of plants."

Definition: The creation of new knowledge or the use of existing knowledge in a new way so as to create new concepts, methods, and understandings

"Decades of scientific research on vaccine ingredients and side effects has shown that vaccines do not cause autism."

Definition: A way for scientists to study and learn things. In the first step, a problem is identified, then a hypothesis is made from existing information, and then the hypothesis is tested with an experiment.

"Scientists have hypothesized that plants can absorb metal contamination. Following the scientific method, they conducted an experiment to test their hypothesis and observed that metal contaminants can be found in plant tissues."

Definition: A place for science experiments, teaching, or the making of medicine or chemicals

"Any space set aside for performing science experiments is a laboratory. This could even include your own backyard."

Definition: People who discover new things and research how things work. They observe, measure, and communicate results

"Not all scientists work in a lab. Anyone who uses observations and research to answer a question is a scientist. That can even include you!"

Definition: A small parasite that lives within the cells of other organisms, cannot reproduce without the help of the cell it lives inside of, and causes disease.

"Hantavirus is a virus that causes serious lung disease. You can catch hantavirus from the saliva, urine, or droppings of deer mice and other rodents."

Definition: An illness caused by a pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite.

"Our immune system is made up of white blood cells and tissues like our skin which can protect us from bacterial and viral infections"

Definition: An organism that lives mostly by killing and eating other animals

"Mountain lions are predators because they must hunt other animals to survive."

Definition: The killing and eating of one organism (the prey) by another (the predator)

"Predation occurs when a lizard eats a fly, a cat eats a mouse, or a bear eats a fish."

Definition: A drawing that shows how ancestors and descendents are related

"You can track the pedigree of a horse if you know who the parents and grandparents were. This information lets you keep your horses from interbreeding."

Definition: The increase in the Earth's average temperature. Recently, temperatures are rising rapidly due to increases in the levels of greenhouse gases.

"One of the results of burning fossil fuels is global warming, which is causing a rise in the average temperature of the planet."

Definition: The cycle in which nitrogen, carbon, and other inorganic elements of the environment are converted into the organic substances of animals or plants and released back into the environment

"The water cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the way water moves around the Earth. It includes clouds forming, rain falling, plants absorbing water from the soil, and water evaporating from rivers and lakes."

Definition: The science that deals with the earth's physical structure, the materials it is made of, its history, and the processes that act on it.

"A scientist who studies geology can research how structures like mountains and canyons were formed."

Definition: The scientific study of plants

"You are studying botany when you learn about how plants function, grow, and reproduce."

Definition: A structural layer surrounding cells of plants, bacteria, and other non-animal cells, found just outside the cell membrane

"Penicillin is an antiobitic that can kill bacteria by stopping them from making cell walls. This is why doctors prescribe it when you have an infection."

Definition: The process through which cells convert sugars into ATP (energy)

"Cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria and it produces the energy needed for cells to function properly."

Definition: Any green molecule that converts light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis

"Plants use different colored pigments, such as chlorophyll, to absorb light and turn it into chemical energy, just as solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity."

Definition: A cell organelle that contains chlorophyll, which produces energy through photosynthesis

"If we think of chlorophyll as the solar panels of the plant cell, then chloroplasts are like a field that contains many solar panels."

Definition: The data measured or seen, often during an experiment

Definition: An organism that is hunted or caught for food, usually by a predator.

"Deer are prey for many animals including mountain lions and people."

Definition: The number of total live births in comparison to the total population size in a specified community or area over a specified period of time

"If 20 calves are born on a farm with 100 total cows, then we could say that 0.2 calves are born for every cow on the farm (20 calves / 100 cows = 0.2 calves per cow)."

Definition: The change in global or regional weather patterns over time. This occured naturally over time, but recently increased levels of carbon dioxide due to the use of fossil fuels from the mid to late 20th century onwards has caused climate change to occur faster.

"Climate change is causing weather extremes, such as increasing temperatures and making droughts more common in the southwest United States."

Definition: A chemical element that is essential for life on earth

"Oxygen is a part of the air that we breathe and the water that we drink."

Definition: The movement of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere, living organisms, and land and acquatic ecosystems.

"The carbon cycle describes the way carbon atoms move around the Earth. Carbon atoms move around when animals decompose, plants grow, fossil fuels are burned, and oceans absorb carbon dioxide (CO2)."

Definition: Any gas that can absorb heat from Earth's surface and keeps it from leaving the atmosphere into space.

"Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping heat instead of letting it escape from the atmosphere."

Definition: The group of organs involved in the exchange of gas between an organism and the environment to make energy (respiration).

"In vertebrates, the lungs are an important part of respiratory system as they bring oxygen into the body when we breathe in, and release carbon dioxide when we breathe out."

Definition: The movement of nitrogen through living organisms, the atmosphere, and the ground.

"The order of nucleotides in a strand of DNA and RNA determines the protein produced."

Definition: The movement of molecules from an areas where there are many to where there are fewer

"As you add tea leaves to hot water, the tea will start to spread through the water. This is an example of diffusion."

Definition: The combination of different gametes to form unique offspring that are genetically different from their parents.

"When a male and a female lizard mate, they produce offspring by sexual reproduction."

Definition: The group of organs involved in reproduction

"The reason that female animals get pregnant is because their reporductive system has specialized organs for carrying offspring."

Definition: The period of time in which an unborn offspring is carried within the body.

"In African elephants, pregnancy can last up to 22 months while pregnancy in cats is about 9 weeks."

Definition: A picture that represents how much energy, initially from the sun, is retained or stored in living organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem

Definition: Light, heat, and other kinds of energy given off by the Sun

"The function of solar panels are to capture solar energy and convert it to a usable electricity."

Definition: When the outcome of a process reduces further change and the process becomes stable

"When you get near a hot stove, your skin sends signals to your brain through your nerves to warn you to move away."

Definition: A single, separate organism distinguished from others of the same kind

"Type II diabetes is a result of being unable to regulate blood sugar levels because the body doesn't respond to a hormone called insulin correctly."

Definition: Extinction of a large number of species within a short period of time

"Mammals live in a variety of different environments. For example, horses run on land, whales swim in the ocean, and bats fly through the sky."

Definition: Cells that create their own energy and biological materials from inorganic chemicals

"Most chemotrophs live in harsh environments like hot spring pools or near thermal vents at the bottom of the ocean."

Definition: To study or examine something in detail, in order to discover more about it

"When you are confused about an object or idea and you want to know how it works, you will analyze it to better understand it."

Definition: This type of energy is what holds atoms of a molecule or molecules of a substance together. When these groups of atoms or molecules are separated during a chemical reaction, chemical energy is released, often as heat. When organisms photosynthesize or digest food, chemical reactions provide chemical energy for their growth and development.

"The battery in your car or phone uses checmical energy from the battery to function."

Definition: When the outcome of a process causes further change and the process increases or decreases

"Climate change is accelerating because of a positive feedback loop. Increased carbon dioxide concentrations cause global temperatures to rise. As oceans warm, they can't absorb as much carbon dioxide, which further warms the climate."

Definition: Any process in which substances combine or are broken down into other substances when chemical bonds between atoms are formed or broken

"Jewlery that is made of nickel and silver can produce a chemical reaction with oxygen that will turn your skin green."

Definition: A test done in order to learn something or to discover whether something works or is true.

"If you have dipped your toe into water to see if it was warm enough for you to swim, then you have conducted an experiment!"

Definition: The ability of the body or a cell to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

"You sweat when it is hot and shiver when it is cold because of homeostasis. This is your body's way of staying at a constant temperature."

Definition: A group of individuals of the same species living and reproducing within a given area

"The people in your town, the pine trees in a forest, and the trout in a lake are examples of populations."

Definition: The number of individuals of the same species living within a given area

"Albuquerque has a higher population density than Window Rock. About 3,000 people live in each square mile within Albuquerque while Window Rock has 589 people per square mile."

Definition: Interacting group of various species in a common location

"Hummingbirds and fields of flowers are in the same community because the hummingbirds need the flowers for nectar and the flowers need hummingbirds to spread their pollen."

algae

Definition: Unicellular or multicellular organisms occurring in fresh or salt water or moist ground, that have chlorophyll and other pigments but lack true stems, roots, and leaves

"Algae can grow as single cells or large green clumps and sometimes appear to cover the entire water surface if enough of them grow. They are similar to plants because they also use the sun to make their own food."

Definition: The movement of water on, above, or below the surface of our planet.

"The water cycle describes how water moves around the earth. Water moves around when it rains, when rivers transport it long distances, when it evaporates from the surface of leaves, or when ocean currents move it around the globe."

Definition: Molecules and surfaces that do interact with water

"Salt is hydrophilic; it is easily dissolved when it is mixed with water."

Definition: Molecules and surfaces that do no interact with water

"Oil is hydrophobic; it will not dissolve when mixed with water."

Definition: An organism that lives on or in another organism (its host).

"You could get a parasite like a tapeworm in your gut when you eat undercooked meat from infected animals."

Definition: The practice of living as a parasite in or on another organism

"After they hatch from eggs, ticks survive through parasitsm where they eat blood from mammals."

Definition: The movement of individuals into a particular population or area from other populations or areas. Compare with emigration.

"When you get a cut it is important to wash it with soap and water so you do not get an infection."

Definition: The science of naming and describing organisms.

"A wolf pack has a large territory of up to 1000 square miles that it defends from other wolves. If let outside, a house cat will defend a small territory of less than 10 square miles and will kill both pests and beneficial wildlife."