Unit 3 Vocab Guide
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDEUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Big History Vocab Guide”, OER Project, www.oerproject.com/Lesson 3.1DNADefini&on the double-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that contains the gene6c informa6on used to form and maintain the cell and passes that informa6on to offspring cellsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceYo u h ave D NA—the blueprint of life—from both your parents.energyDefini&on the ability to do work, associated with heat and lightPart of speechnounUse in sentenceThereare many forms of energy, including kine6c energy, poten6al energy, and chemical energy.lifeDefini&on anythingthat uses energy from the environment by ea6ng or breathing or photosynthesizing, makes copies of itself, can adapt to its changing environment over many genera6ons and can regulate internal condi6ons to maintain a stable statePart of speechnounUse in sentenceThefirst forms of life were most likely similar to bacteria.metabolismDefini&on chemical reac6ons inside a living organism that turn food into energyPart of speechnounUse in sentenceYo u rmetabolism changes and generally slows down as you grow older.
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDE2reproductionDefini&on the process by which living organisms produce young or copy themselvesPart of speechnounUse in sentenceReproduc6onis a cri6cal biological process that allows our species to con6nue for genera6ons.RNADefini&on the single-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that is essen6al for conver6ng proteins in living organismsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceRNA helps to deliver gene6c informa6on from DNA to the cells of a living organism.self-maintenanceDefini&on how organisms regulate their systems to survive and func6on properlyPart of speechnounUse in sentenceSelf-maintenancefor humans can include things like swea6ng to deal with heat.Lesson 3.2biomeDefini&on largegeographic regions defined by similar climate, plant, and animal lifePart of speechnounUse in sentenceRainforest,tundra, freshwater, and coral reefs are types of biomes on Earth.
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDE3biosphereDefini&on the en6re network of life on Earth; the region of Earth in which living organisms can be foundPart of speechnounUse in sentenceLivingorganisms live in the comfort zone of Earth that we call the biosphere.DNADefini&on the double-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that contains the gene6c informa6on used to form and maintain the cell and passes that informa6on to offspring cellsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceYo u h ave D NA—the blueprint of life—from both your parents.ecosystemDefini&on smallerhabitats within biomes such as ponds and forestsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceBigjungles, oceans, or mountain ranges can be ecosystems.metabolismDefini&on chemical reac6ons inside a living organism that turn food into energyPart of speechnounUse in sentenceYo u rmetabolism changes and generally slows down as you grow older.reproductionDefini&on the process by which living organisms produce young or copy themselvesPart of speechnounUse in sentenceReproduc6onis a cri6cal biological process that allows our species to con6nue for genera6ons.
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDE4Lesson 3.3adaptationDefini&on theprocess by which living organisms change from genera6on to genera6on to become beLer suited to their environmentPart of speechnounUse in sentenceAdapta6onhas helped bacteria become resistant to an6bio6cs over 6me.DNADefini&on the double-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that contains the gene6c informa6on used to form and maintain the cell and passes that informa6on to offspring cellsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceYo u h ave D NA—the blueprint of life—from both your parents.evolutionDefini&on the process by which living organisms develop and change over 6mePart of speechnounUse in sentenceTheevolu6on of an6bio6c-resistant bacteria has been challenging for doctors and pa6ents.geneDefini&on a segment of DNA that is the blueprint for how an organism will grow, look, and func6onPart of speechnounUse in sentenceWe share a mix of genes from each of our parents.mutationDefini&on changesin the structure of a gene that take place in the copying of DNA
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDE5Part of speechnounUse in sentenceThemuta6on of finches beaks on the Galapagos Islands helped Darwin's research.RNADefini&on the single-stranded molecule, present in all living cells, that is essen6al for conver6ng proteins in living organismsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceRNA helps to deliver gene6c informa6on from DNA to the cells of a living organism.speciesDefini&on the most specific category in biological classifica6on; organisms can be of the same species if they can mate and produce fer6le offspringPart of speechnounUse in sentenceWeknow that species of plants and animals adapt to their environments.Lesson 3.4asteroidDefini&on smallrocky, icy, and metallic celes6al bodies leR over from the forma6on of the Solar SystemPart of speechnounUse in sentenceScien6ststhink that a giant asteroid crashing to Earth led to the ex6nc6on of the dinosaurs.biosphereDefini&on the en6re network of life on Earth; the region of Earth in which living organisms can be foundPart of speechnoun
OER PROJECT:BIG HISTORYUNIT 3 VOCAB GUIDE6Use in sentenceLivingorganisms live in the comfort zone of Earth that we call the biosphere.de-extinctionDefini&on the process of recrea6ng organisms by using the DNA of ex6nct speciesPart of speechnounUse in sentenceScien6stsrecently used ex6nct woolly mammoth DNA to create a new species called the woolly mouse.ecosystemDefini&on smallerhabitats within biomes such as ponds and forestsPart of speechnounUse in sentenceBigjungles, oceans, or mountain ranges can be ecosystems.extinctionDefini&on the act or process of becoming or making ex6nct, or of being ended or puSng an end toPart of speechnounUse in sentenceTheex6nc6on event that ended the dinosaurs’reign on Earth was caused by an asteroid crashing to Earth.photosynthesisDefini&on the conversion of light energy to chemical energy, which is stored in sugars or other organic compounds, and is performed by plants, algae, and a few other organismsPart of speechnounUse in sentencePhotosynthesissupplies most of the energy necessary for life within the biosphere and is the source of most of the atmosphere's oxygen.