| A | B |
|---|
| Irreducible complexity | When a system is made up of several interacting components, each of which is necessary for the system to function, and none of which can be made by modifying an already-existing component |
| Metabolism | The sum of all chemical reactions occurring in an individual cell to sustain life |
| Catabolism | The chemical reactions occurring in an individual cell that break down complex molecules into simple ones, releasing energy that the organism can use |
| Anabolism | The chemical reactions that build complex molecules from simple ones, ususally requiring the input of energy |
| Homeostasis | The ability of an organism to maintain a constant internal temperature |
| Symbiosis | A long-tern relationship between organisms of different species |
| Asexual reproduction | A mode of reproduction in which the offspring comes from only one organism |
| Sexual reproduction | A mode of reproduction which combines genetic information from a male individual and a female individual to produce offspring |
| Differentiation | The process by which a cell becomes specialized to perform a specific set of tasks |
| Taxonomy | The science of classifying things, such as organisms |
| Prokaryotic cell | A cell without membrane bound organelles |
| Eukaryotic cell | A cell with membrane bound organelles |
| Energy | The ability to do work |
| Producers | Organisms that can produce energy-rich molecules as their food source |
| Consumers | Organisms that must eat other organisms for food |
| Decomposers | Organisms that decompose dead organisms |
| Natural selection | The process by which organisms better adapt to an environment will be more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those adaptations to their offspring |
| Mutation | A change in an organism's DNA that alters the information contained in the DNA |
