Microorganisms and Plant Biology

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to microorganisms, plants, and fungi, based on the lecture notes provided.

Prokaryotes

Microscopic single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Shapes of Prokaryotes

Common shapes include cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirilla (spiral-shaped).

Biofilm

A dense, structured community of microorganisms attached to a surface, often encased in a protective layer.

Unique feature of Archaea

Archaea have distinct membrane lipids and ribosomal RNA sequences that differentiate them from bacteria.

Helpful bacteria

Bacteria that play critical roles in processes such as nitrogen fixation, decomposition, and digestion.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease in its host.

Endosymbiosis

The evolutionary theory that certain organelles within eukaryotic cells originated as free-living bacteria.

Characteristics of Protists

Eukaryotic, mostly unicellular organisms that are diverse in form and function; examples include amoebas and algae.

Origins of multicellular organisms

Multicellularity likely evolved from groups of unicellular organisms that formed colonies.

Definition of a plant

A multicellular organism that performs photosynthesis and has specialized tissues.

Types of vascular tissue

Xylem (transports water) and phloem (transports nutrients and sugars).

Transpiration

The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, crucial for nutrient transport.

Plant organs

Organs include roots, stems, and leaves, each serving specific functions vital to plant life.

Plant tissues

Tissues include dermal, vascular, and ground tissues, each with distinct roles in plant structure and function.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular plants like mosses that do not have true roots, stems, or leaves.

Ferns

Vascular, seedless plants that reproduce via spores and have true leaves called fronds.

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants that have seeds unprotected by an ovary or fruit, such as conifers.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within a fruit.

Alternation of generations

The life cycle of plants involving a multicellular diploid (sporophyte) and multicellular haploid (gametophyte) stage.

Parts of a flower

Key parts include sepals, petals, stamens (male reproductive), and carpels (female reproductive).

Fruit

A mature ovary of a flower that contains seeds.

Seed

The fertilized ovule that contains the plant embryo.

Characteristics of fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic, have cell walls made of chitin, and reproduce via spores.

Types of fungi

Three main types include molds, yeasts, and mushrooms.

Reproduction in fungi

Fungi reproduce both sexually (via spores) and asexually (via budding or fragmentation).

Roles of fungi

Fungi can act as decomposers, pathogens, or mutualistic partners with other organisms.