Core vocabulary of biology.
Foundational
- Cell — the basic structural and functional unit of life
- DNA — the molecule encoding genetic information
- Enzyme — a protein that catalyzes a specific chemical reaction
- Gene — a segment of DNA encoding a functional product
- Metabolism — the chemical reactions sustaining life
- Organism — a discrete, self-maintaining living system
- Photosynthesis — the conversion of light energy into chemical energy
- Reproduction — the production of new individuals
- Species — a group of organisms sharing common ancestry and reproductive compatibility
Processes and relations
- Adaptation — a trait shaped by natural selection for a particular function
- Homeostasis — dynamic maintenance of internal conditions through feedback
- Phenotype — the observable characteristics of an organism
- Symbiosis — persistent intimate association between organisms of different species
- Tropism — directional growth or movement in response to environmental signals
Ecological
- Ecosystem — organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system