the double-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that contains the genetic information used to form and maintain the cell and passes that information to offspring cells

A gene is a segment of DNA involved in producing a polypeptide chain.

the capacity to do work, associated with matter and radiation

There are many forms of energy, including kinetic energy, potential energy, and chemical energy.

anything that uses energy from the environment by eating or breathing or photosynthesizing, makes copies of itself, can change characteristics to adapt to its changing environment over many generations and can regulate internal conditions to maintain a stable state

The first forms of life were most likely similar to bacteria.

chemical reactions inside a living organism that turn food into energy

Your metabolism changes and generally slows down as you grow older.

the process by which living organisms produce young or copy themselves

Reproduction is a crtical biological process that allows our species to continue for generations.

the single-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that is essential for converting proteins in living organisms

RNA helps to deliver genetic information from DNA to the cells of a living organism.

the continued process of self-protection and avoiding environmental hazards, predators, and disease by an organism

An organism's genome continuously works to instruct self-generation and self-maintenance.