References

Talktalk.co.uk

Wikipedia.org

about.com

chemmybear.com

dictionary.reference.com

britannica.com

biology-online.org

 yieldengineering.com

zoology.ubc.ca

learner.org

library.thinkquest.org

bcb.uwc.ac.za

emc.maricopa.edu

nature.com

science.jrank.org

sciencedaily.com

Trait

Eye color is trait.

A trait is an observable feature of an organism. A genotype genetically determines the outcome of the trait and the phenotype physically displays it. The information is contained in the DNA, which can then either follow the processes of transcription and translation by transferring to mRNA, base-pairing, and forming protein molecules or it can travel from cell to cell. The final products of the cells are released into the tissues and affect the makeup of the organism. Examples: eye color, hair color, and body shape.

Population

A population of Babie dolls that live in my house (and Lamby).

A population is a group of one type of species living in one geographical area. The species must be capable breeding with one another and live near each other to be defined as a population. A population undergoes three phases throughout its lifespan: growth, stability, and decline. It will both increase and decrease over time due to a change in the amount of resources or a change in neighboring populations. If the number of resources exceeds the number of organisms or an opposing population is at a decline, the population will grow. Once the population has surpassed the spare resources, it will stabilize. Eventually the population will decline when resources have become more limited or the opposing population is stronger. There are many other factors that may determine deterioration in population count such as human impact, pollution, and new species. Examples: number of gumballs in a gumball machine, number of people in the United States, and number of socks in a dryer.

Monocot and Dicot



A monocot, or monocotyledon, is a flowering plant with one seed leave. This characteristic forms the foundation of many other characteristics: the flower parts of a monocot grow in multiples of three, its veins extend in a parallel direction up and down the leaves, it has a single-pollen structure, and its vascular system is unorganized and does not have a cortex or stele. Examples: bananas, wheat, corn, rice, ginger, onions, sugarcane, lilies, and daffodils.

A dicot, or dicotyledon, is a flowering plant with two seed leaves. Like the monocot, the number of seed leaves also determines many of its other characteristics: its flower parts grow in multiples of four or five, the veins of its leaves are reticulated, it has a three-pollen structure, and its vascular system contains a cortex and stele and is arranged in rings. Examples: peas, beans, peanuts, mint, and grass.

Epithelial Tissue

Epithelial tissue is more commonly called skin.

Epithelial tissue is the outer covering of the surface of the body. It can either be described as simple epithelium, meaning its layers are one cell thick, or stratified epithelium, where its layers are two or more cells thick. Each division is subdivided into three subdivisions determined by the shape of the cells: squamous, cuboidal, and columnar. Squamous cells have a flat, thin shape and are found lining the surfaces of certain organs. Cuboidal cells have a cube-like shape and are found on absorptive organs and glands. Columnar cells look like vertically lengthened cuboidal cells and are usually specialized as sensory receptors. A unique classification of simple epithelium is pseudostratified, where the location of the nuclei of simple columnar cells are irregular, so they appear to be stratified. The functions of epithelial tissue are sensation, protection of core tissue from damage, secretion of substances, absorption of nutrients and moisture, excretion of wastes, and the diffusion of gases.

Artificial Selection

This dog is a miniature schnauzer. It's an example of artificial selection because it was specifically bred apart from the standard schnauzer for its smaller size.

Artificial selection is the intentional breeding of traits. The term “artificial selection” was first used by naturalist Charles Darwin, to distinguish the process from natural selection, in which organisms develop naturally to adapt to a particular environment. This artificial selection is practiced to encourage human influence in the development of plants and animals and to acquire a desired characteristic or function. The conflict that arises with this form of breeding is the susceptibility to disease or environmental changes and the extinction of the stronger natural species. Examples: livestock bred to increase meat production, thouroughbred animals, flowers bred for a specific color.

Homologous Structures

A dog's paw and a human's hand have similar bone structure.

Homologous structures are anatomical similarities shared between species that indicate a common ancestor. Some homologous structures are not functional or are naturally lost throughout development. Homology is the opposite of analogy, where although the structures or abilities of the organisms are similar, they have evolved separately from their common ancestors to a point where they are unrelated. Examples: humans, dogs, birds, and whales all have similar skeletal structure of the forelimbs.

Thermoregulation

In the winter, people wear thicker, warmer clothing to stay warm. In the summer, people wear thinner, lighter clothing and to stay cool.

Thermoregulation is one form of homeostasis, where an organism adapts to the temperature of its surroundings. If the environment is warmer than the body temperature of the organism, the organism can transfer its heat externally to cool off through conduction, convection, radiation, or evaporation. If the environment is cooler, the organism can take in heat internally to become warmer through conduction or convection. Examples: wearing a jacket in the winter, shivering, hair lifting upright, sweating, and panting.

Cohesion and Adhesion

The molecules of this liquid form a bubble because they are alike.

Cohesion is the intermolecular attraction between similar molecules. This force is strongest in solids, weaker in liquids, and weakest in gases. Examples: droplets of water and gas clouds.


Duct tape is an example of chemical adhesion.

Adhesion is the intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules. Mechanical adhesion refers to two materials sticking together through interconnecting surfaces. Chemical adhesion occurs when the surfaces of two materials combine through its molecules exchanging or sharing electrons. The two surfaces of a chemical bond must be brought and held close together. Electrostatic adhesion is the attraction between two surfaces with different electrical charges. Dispersive adhesion is explained through van der Waals forces, that molecules may be held together if they are positively and negatively charged. Diffusive adhesion is the joining of molecules that are soluble in each other. Example: duct tape, paste, Velcro, and paper sticking to a television.

Exothermic Reactions

A burning candle gives off light and heat.

An exothermic reaction is a reaction that gives off light or heat energy (negative heat flow). After the required amount of energy for the reaction to occur is acquired, the extra energy is released and the temperature increases. Examples: burning of substances and digestion.

Endothermic Reactions

An ice pack absorbs heat from the body.

An endothermic reaction is a reaction that takes in heat energy from the surroundings (positive heat flow). This results in the breakage of chemical bonds and a decrease in temperature. Examples: photosynthesis, evaporation of water, and a cold pack.

Storage Roots

A storage root is the organ of the plant specially modified to store food and water. The roots also absorb water and nutrients, anchor the plant to the ground, and prevent soil erosion. They grow from the tip at the apical meristem by the division of molecules and grow in any direction that will meet the plant’s needs. Examples: carrots, parsnips, horse radishes, and beets.

Heterotrophs



A dog is an example of a heterotroph because it can't produce its own energy.

A heterotroph is an organism that must feed off of the organic material of other organisms to obtain energy and nutrition. Heterotrophs are the consumers of the food chain because they cannot produce its own food and cannot take in carbon from carbon dioxide. Examples: animals, fungi, and many bacteria.

Autotroph

This autotroph is a bamboo plant that requires water and sunlight.

An autotroph is an organism that is able to produce its own organic energy from raw inorganic material. Autotrophs are known as the producers in the food chain, as they use their environments to produce energy and provide for the consumers. Through primary production, they form carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that consumers obtain during intake. Through photosynthesis, they release oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Examples: plants and algae.

Fungi




A fungus is a eukaryotic organism. Heterotrophic fungi obtain nutrients through absorption, saprophytic fungi break down dead organic matter in recycling, and parasitic fungi obtain nutrients from living hosts. Fungi can either reproduce sexually, by fusing together while keeping the nuclei separate, or asexually, when a single fungus produces several spores. The fungi kingdom is grouped into four categories: chytrids, zygomycetes, ascomycetes, and basidiomycetes. Chytrids release enzymes that are able to break down molecules of other organisms. Zygomycetes are the fungi found on breads, fruits, vegetables, and decaying organisms. Ascomycetes include a variety of edible fungi and form roots to aid in the growth of plants. Basidiomycetes are the most common form of fungi and are referred to as “club fungi” due to their shape.

Aggregate, Simple, and Multiple Fruit

Strawberries are aggregate fruits.

An aggregate fruit results from a single flower that has more than one pistil, each forming a small fruit. The four types of aggregate fruits include achene, follicles, drupelets, and berries. Examples: strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.



A tomato is a simple fruit.

A simple fruit is developed from a single flower with one pistil. They can either be fleshy, with a soft and pulpy center, or they can be dry, with a hard texture. Examples: cherries, apples, and tomatoes.

A pineapple is a multiple fruit.

A multiple fruit is a single body formed from several flowers. Examples: pineapples, mulberries, and figs.

Cellular Respiration

This diagram demonstrates the process of cellular respiration.

Cellular respiration is a process for prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to harvest energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cellular respiration has three stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain. During glycolysis, oxygen is used for to glucose split into two molecules of pyruvic acid, two molecules of ATP, two molecules of NADH, and two molecules of water. During the citric acid cycle, or Krebs cycle, compounds called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are produced along with two molecules of ATP. These compounds are reduced and are capable of carrying high energy electrons to the next stage, electron transport. Protons pass through the membrane to the intermembrane space while electrons pass along the inside of the membrane through protein carriers until they combine with oxygen and produce ATP.