Glossary

• Experimental
1. Independent variable - the factor that is changed in the experiment to compare the differences on the dependent variable.
2. Dependent variable - the measurable outcome obtained by changing the independent variable.
3. Control variable - factors which are controlled or held constant throughout an investigation so as not to affect the outcome.
4. Qualitative variable - (or discrete variable) variables who differ in type instead of magnitude.
5. Quantitative variable - (or continuous variable) variables whose values result from counting or measuring.
6. Hypothesis - A supposition or tentative explanation for (a group of) phenomena, (a set of) facts, or a scientific inquiry that may be tested, verified or answered by further investigation or methodological experiment.
• Cells
1. Prokaryotes - a group of organisms whose cells lack cell nucleus, mitochondria, or any other membrane-bound organelles.
2. Eukaryotes - an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. 
• Classification and Diversity
1. Taxonomy - is the subject of defining groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared characteristics and giving names to those groups.
2. Taxon - a group of one (or more) populations of organism(s), which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit.
3. Binomial Nomenclature in Classification - a formal system of naming speciesof living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, the genus and species, both of which use Latin grammatical forms.
• Ecology




1. Abiotic factors - non-living and physical factors in the environment (e.g. light, temperature, humidity, brightness etc.)
2. Biotic factors - the living factors in the environment (i.e. all the populations of organisms)
3. Habitat - the place where a certain population lives. A habitat is self-sustainable and it provides the entire population with the basic necessities for survival.
4. Ecosystem - the biotic and abiotic factors of a habitat.
5. Population - A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.
6. Community - all the populations of organisms that live in a particular habitat interacting with each other.
7. Niche - the position or status of an organism within its environment and community
8. Biome - A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
9. Biosphere - The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth or other planet occupied by living organisms.
10. Pyramid of numbers - a graphical representation of the population of each level in a food chain. Usually the producers take up the greatest population because more producers are needed to support the large carnivores at the top of the food chain.
11. Pyramid of biomass - a graphical representation of biomass showing the relationship between biomass and trophic level by quantifying the amount of biomass present at each trophic level of an ecological community at a particular moment in time. Typical units for a biomass pyramid could be grams per meter², or calories per meter². 
12. Biomass - the total dry weight of all organisms in a particular sample, population, or area.
13. Predator-prey relationship - relationship between a predator and its prey.
14. Commensalism - a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one is neither benefited nor harmed.
15. Amensalism - a symbiotic relationship where one organism is harmed by another, who is neither benefited nor harmed.
16. Mutualism - a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from each other
17. Symbiosis - a general term for mutualism, commensalism and parasitism, where at least one organism benefits from the relationship. The ecological relationships predation and competition are not generally considered to be symbiotic.
18. Parasitism - a symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits and one (the host) is harmed. 
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