Biology 8th Grade

  1. What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
  2. What is respiration? Respiration is the process by which living organisms convert oxygen and glucose into energy.
  3. What is mitosis? Mitosis is the process by which cells divide into two identical daughter cells.
  4. What is meiosis? Meiosis is the process by which cells divide into four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
  5. What are genes? Genes are segments of DNA that carry genetic information and determine traits such as eye color, hair color, and height.
  6. What is DNA? DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms.
  7. What are ecosystems? Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment.
  8. What are food chains? Food chains show how energy flows through an ecosystem from one organism to another.
  9. What are biomes? Biomes are large regions of the world with similar climate, plants, and animals.
  10. What is adaptation? Adaptation is a process by which an organism becomes better suited to its environment over time.
  11. What is a cell? A cell is the basic unit of life, which is capable of carrying out all the functions of an organism.
  12. What is an organelle? An organelle is a specialized structure within a cell that performs specific functions, such as the mitochondria that generate energy for the cell.
  13. What is the difference between a plant and an animal cell? Plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplasts, while animal cells do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts.
  14. What is the function of chloroplasts? Chloroplasts are organelles in plant cells that carry out photosynthesis and produce food for the plant.
  15. What is the function of mitochondria? Mitochondria are organelles that generate energy for the cell through cellular respiration.
  16. What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction? Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes, while asexual reproduction involves the production of offspring without the involvement of gametes.
  17. What is the difference between dominant and recessive traits? Dominant traits are expressed in an individual when there is at least one dominant allele present, while recessive traits are only expressed when both alleles are recessive.
  18. What is an enzyme? An enzyme is a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
  19. What is the function of the nervous system? The nervous system is responsible for receiving and transmitting information throughout the body and coordinating responses to stimuli.
  20. What is the function of the circulatory system? The circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, and waste products throughout the body.
  21. What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? Prokaryotic cells are simple in structure and lack a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and are more complex.
  22. What is a virus? A virus is a small infectious agent that can only replicate inside living cells.
  23. What is the difference between a vaccine and an antibiotic? A vaccine is a substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against a specific pathogen, while an antibiotic is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
  24. What is natural selection? Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
  25. What is the difference between an herbivore and a carnivore? Herbivores are animals that eat only plants, while carnivores are animals that eat only meat.
  26. What is the difference between a producer and a consumer? Producers, such as plants, are organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis, while consumers, such as animals, obtain their food by consuming other organisms.
  27. What is the difference between a food web and a food chain? A food chain shows a single pathway of energy transfer from one organism to another, while a food web shows multiple interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.
  28. What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem? Decomposers break down dead organisms and organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to sustain the ecosystem.
  29. What is the greenhouse effect? The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm up.
  30. What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem? Biotic factors are living organisms that make up an ecosystem, while abiotic factors are nonliving physical and chemical components of the ecosystem, such as sunlight and water.
  31. What is the difference between a predator and a prey? A predator is an animal that hunts and kills other animals for food, while prey is an animal that is hunted and killed by predators.
  32. What is the difference between a herb and a spice? A herb is a plant used for cooking or medicinal purposes, while a spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, or bark used to flavor food.
  33. What is the function of the respiratory system? The respiratory system is responsible for breathing, which involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.
  34. What is the function of the skeletal system? The skeletal system provides support and structure to the body, protects internal organs, and produces blood cells.
  35. What is the difference between a dominant and a recessive gene? Dominant genes are expressed over recessive genes when both are present, while recessive genes are only expressed when both genes are recessive.
  36. What is the difference between DNA and RNA? DNA is a double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information, while RNA is a single-stranded molecule that is involved in protein synthesis.
  37. What is the function of the digestive system? The digestive system breaks down food into smaller molecules and absorbs nutrients into the body.
  38. What is the function of the excretory system? The excretory system eliminates waste products from the body, including urine and feces.
  39. What is the difference between a pathogen and a non-pathogen? A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease, while a non-pathogen is a microorganism that does not cause disease.
  40. What is the difference between an endothermic and an ectothermic animal? Endothermic animals regulate their body temperature internally, while ectothermic animals rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.
  41. What is the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction? Asexual reproduction involves a single organism reproducing without the involvement of gametes, while sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes from two organisms.
  42. What is the difference between a habitat and a niche? A habitat is the physical location where an organism lives, while a niche is the role that an organism plays in the ecosystem.
  43. What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food through photosynthesis, while heterotrophs must obtain their food by consuming other organisms.
  44. What is the function of the circulatory system? The circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body, as well as removing waste products.
  45. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Aerobic respiration requires oxygen to produce energy, while anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen and produces less energy.
  46. What is the difference between an ecosystem and a biosphere? An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment, while a biosphere includes all of the ecosystems on Earth.
  47. What is the difference between a parasite and a host? A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and benefits at the expense of the host, while a host is the organism that the parasite lives on or in.
  48. What is the difference between a prokaryote and a eukaryote? Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus, while eukaryotes are multicellular organisms with a nucleus.
  49. What is the difference between a trophic level and a food chain? A trophic level is a level of the food chain that represents a group of organisms that obtain energy in a similar way, while a food chain is a linear pathway that shows the transfer of energy between organisms.
  50. What is the difference between an enzyme and a hormone? Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in the body, while hormones are chemical messengers that regulate bodily functions.
  51. What is the difference between a vaccine and an antibiotic? A vaccine is a substance that stimulates the immune system to prevent infectious diseases, while an antibiotic is a drug used to treat bacterial infections.
  52. What is the difference between active transport and passive transport? Active transport requires energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient, while passive transport does not require energy and moves molecules with their concentration gradient.
  53. What is the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell? Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole, while animal cells do not have a cell wall, chloroplasts, or a large central vacuole.
  54. What is the difference between a food web and a food pyramid? A food web shows the complex network of interactions between different species in an ecosystem, while a food pyramid shows the trophic levels and energy flow between different species in a simplified manner.
  55. What is the function of the nervous system? The nervous system is responsible for receiving and processing sensory information, as well as controlling bodily functions and movements.
  56. What is the difference between a homologous and an analogous structure? Homologous structures have a similar origin but different functions, while analogous structures have a different origin but similar functions.
  57. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype? A genotype refers to an organism’s genetic makeup, while a phenotype refers to an organism’s physical characteristics.
  58. What is the difference between a catalyst and an inhibitor? A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction, while an inhibitor slows down or stops a chemical reaction.
  59. What is the function of the endocrine system? The endocrine system is responsible for producing and regulating hormones, which control various bodily functions and processes.
  60. What is the difference between a renewable and a nonrenewable resource? A renewable resource can be replenished naturally over time, while a nonrenewable resource cannot be replenished and is finite.
  61. What is the difference between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell? Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler, lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex, containing a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
  62. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Aerobic respiration requires oxygen to produce energy, while anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen.
  63. What is the function of the circulatory system? The circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, and other substances throughout the body.
  64. What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction? Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes to create genetically diverse offspring, while asexual reproduction involves the creation of genetically identical offspring.
  65. What is the difference between a dominant and recessive trait? A dominant trait is expressed when only one copy of the gene is present, while a recessive trait is expressed only when two copies of the gene are present.
  66. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web? A food chain shows a linear relationship between organisms in an ecosystem, while a food web shows a complex network of relationships.
  67. What is the function of the respiratory system? The respiratory system is responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment.
  68. What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, while climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather in a region.
  69. What is the difference between a producer and a consumer in an ecosystem? Producers (such as plants) produce their own food through photosynthesis, while consumers (such as animals) obtain their food by eating other organisms.
  70. What is the function of the excretory system? The excretory system is responsible for removing waste products from the body.
  71. What is an enzyme? An enzyme is a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.
  72. What is the function of the nervous system? The nervous system is responsible for transmitting signals throughout the body, allowing organisms to respond to stimuli and coordinate their activities.
  73. What is the difference between a predator and a prey in an ecosystem? A predator is an organism that hunts and kills other organisms for food, while a prey is an organism that is hunted and killed by other organisms.
  74. What is a mutation? A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can alter the expression of genes and potentially lead to new traits or diseases.
  75. What is the difference between a vertebrate and an invertebrate? Vertebrates have a backbone and include animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, while invertebrates do not have a backbone and include animals such as insects, worms, and mollusks.
  76. What is the function of the immune system? The immune system is responsible for defending the body against infections and foreign substances.
  77. What is the difference between a herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore? A herbivore eats only plants, a carnivore eats only other animals, and an omnivore eats both plants and animals.
  78. What is the difference between a pathogen and a parasite? A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease, while a parasite is an organism that lives on or within another organism (the host) and feeds on its tissues.
  79. What is the function of the endocrine system? The endocrine system is responsible for producing and secreting hormones, which regulate various bodily functions and processes.
  80. What is the difference between a primary and secondary consumer in a food chain? A primary consumer eats producers (plants), while a secondary consumer eats primary consumers (herbivores).
  81. What is the difference between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell? Prokaryotic cells are simple cells that do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
  82. What is the role of chloroplasts in plant cells? Chloroplasts are organelles in plant cells that are responsible for carrying out photosynthesis, which converts sunlight into energy.
  83. What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? An autotroph is an organism that can make its own food using sunlight or chemical energy, while a heterotroph must obtain food by consuming other organisms.
  84. What is the difference between a dominant and recessive trait? A dominant trait is a genetic trait that is expressed even when an organism only inherits one copy of the gene, while a recessive trait is only expressed when an organism inherits two copies of the gene.
  85. What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis? Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, while osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration.
  86. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and produces more energy than anaerobic respiration, which does not require oxygen.
  87. What is the role of the ribosome in cells? Ribosomes are organelles that are responsible for making proteins.
  88. What is the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction? Asexual reproduction involves one parent and produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent, while sexual reproduction involves two parents and produces offspring with genetic diversity.
  89. What is the difference between the circulatory and respiratory systems? The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood and nutrients throughout the body, while the respiratory system is responsible for bringing in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.
  90. What is the difference between a habitat and niche in an ecosystem? A habitat is the physical environment in which an organism lives, while a niche is the role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions with other organisms and its use of resources.