Grade 11 Nelson Biology Definitions
SBI 3U1 – 07: Biology Examination Definitions
Unit 1: Diversity of Living Things
➢ Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring.
➢ Morphology: the branch of biology that deals with the structure or form of organisms.
➢ Phylogeny: the evolutionary history of a species.
➢ Taxonomy: the branch of biology that identifies, names, and classifies species based on natural features.
➢ Binomial nomenclature: the system of giving a two-word Latin name to each species – the first part if the genus and the second part is the species.
➢ Genus (plural genera): taxonomic group of a closely related species.
➢ Classification: the grouping of organisms based on a set of criteria that helps to organize and indicate evolutionary relationships.
➢ Hierarchal classification: the method of classifying organisms in which species are arranged in categories from most general to most specific.
➢ Rank: a level in a classification scheme, such as phylum or order.
➢ Taxon (plural taxa): a named group of organisms such as phylum Chordata or order Rodentia.
➢ Ancestor: an organisms (or organisms) from which other groups of organisms are descended.
➢ Anatomy: the branch of biology the deals with structure and form, including internal systems.
➢ Physiology: the branch of biology dealing with physical and chemical functions of organisms, including internal processes.
➢ Phylogenetic tree: a branching diagram used to show the evolutionary relationships among species.
➢ Structural diversity: a type of biological diversity that is exhibited in the variety of structural forms in living things, from internal cell structure to body morphology.
➢ Prokaryotic: a smaller, simple type of cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus.
➢ Eukaryotic: a larger complex type of cell that does have a membrane-bound nucleus.
➢ Dichotomous key: an identification tool consisting of a series of two-part choices that lead the user to a correct
Unit 1: Diversity of Living Things
➢ Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring.
➢ Morphology: the branch of biology that deals with the structure or form of organisms.
➢ Phylogeny: the evolutionary history of a species.
➢ Taxonomy: the branch of biology that identifies, names, and classifies species based on natural features.
➢ Binomial nomenclature: the system of giving a two-word Latin name to each species – the first part if the genus and the second part is the species.
➢ Genus (plural genera): taxonomic group of a closely related species.
➢ Classification: the grouping of organisms based on a set of criteria that helps to organize and indicate evolutionary relationships.
➢ Hierarchal classification: the method of classifying organisms in which species are arranged in categories from most general to most specific.
➢ Rank: a level in a classification scheme, such as phylum or order.
➢ Taxon (plural taxa): a named group of organisms such as phylum Chordata or order Rodentia.
➢ Ancestor: an organisms (or organisms) from which other groups of organisms are descended.
➢ Anatomy: the branch of biology the deals with structure and form, including internal systems.
➢ Physiology: the branch of biology dealing with physical and chemical functions of organisms, including internal processes.
➢ Phylogenetic tree: a branching diagram used to show the evolutionary relationships among species.
➢ Structural diversity: a type of biological diversity that is exhibited in the variety of structural forms in living things, from internal cell structure to body morphology.
➢ Prokaryotic: a smaller, simple type of cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus.
➢ Eukaryotic: a larger complex type of cell that does have a membrane-bound nucleus.
➢ Dichotomous key: an identification tool consisting of a series of two-part choices that lead the user to a correct