General Zoology (ZOO 201) Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic terminology, characteristics of life, branches of zoology, taxonomy, domains, cell structure, and mechanisms of evolution from General Zoology (ZOO 201).

Zoology

The study or science of animals, derived from the Greek words "zoion" (meaning animal) and "logia" (meaning study or science).

Animal (Etymology)

Derived from the Latin word "animalis" (meaning having breath or living being), which comes from "anima" (meaning breath or soul).

Physiology

The branch of zoology that investigates the functions of animal bodies, including how organs, tissues, and cells work across processes like respiration, digestion, circulation, and reproduction.

Ethology

The branch of zoology focused on the study of animal behavior in their natural habitats, including social structures, communication methods, mating rituals, and survival strategies.

Ecology

The study of interactions between animals and their environment, including how animals find food, avoid predators, compete for resources, and function in ecosystems.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying animals into different groups based on their shared characteristics.

Systematics

A broad field of zoology that encompasses taxonomy and the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among animal groups.

Homeostasis

The ability of living organisms to maintain a stable internal environment, regulating factors like temperature, pH, and water balance despite external changes.

Metabolism

All the chemical reactions that occur within an organism to acquire and use energy for life processes, comprising catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism

The metabolic process of breaking down food to convert it into energy within an organism.

Anabolism

The metabolic process of using energy to build cellular components within an organism.

Invertebrates

Animals that do not possess a backbone, representing about 95% of all known animal species.

Exoskeleton

A hard outer covering present in many invertebrates for support and protection, such as the shells of mollusks or chitinous coverings of insects.

Vertebrates

Animals that possess a backbone consisting of a series of vertebrae forming a spinal column.

Endoskeleton

An internal skeleton made of bone or cartilage that encloses organs, provides body support, and allows muscle attachment in vertebrates.

Prokaryotic Cell

A structurally simpler cell type that lacks a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, storing its genetic material as a single circular chromosome in a nucleoid region.

Eukaryotic Cell

A complex cell type containing a true nucleus that houses DNA as multiple linear chromosomes, along with various membrane-bound organelles.

Nucleus

The control center of a eukaryotic cell that contains DNA and governs cellular activities.

Mitochondria

Membrane-bound eukaryotic organelles known as the powerhouses of the cell, responsible for generating ATP as a source of chemical energy.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of cellular membranes involved in protein and lipid synthesis, categorized as rough when studded with ribosomes or smooth when lacking them.

Golgi Apparatus

A eukaryotic organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Lysosomes

Organelles containing enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris, functioning as the recycling centers of eukaryotic cells.

Domain Bacteria

A primary domain composed of single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Domain Archaea

A domain of prokaryotic microorganisms distinct from Bacteria in genetics and biochemistry, frequently containing extremophiles.

Extremophiles

Organisms, such as many archaea, that thrive in extreme environments like hot springs, salt flats, and deep-sea vents.

Kingdom Protista

A highly diverse eukaryotic kingdom consisting primarily of unicellular organisms (and some colonial or multicellular forms) that do not fit into fungi, plants, or animals.

Kingdom Fungi

A kingdom of heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms with cell walls made of chitin that absorb nutrients from their surroundings and act as major decomposers.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom of multicellular, autotrophic eukaryotic organisms with cell walls made of cellulose that produce food via photosynthesis.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom of multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that typically ingest their food, lack cell walls, and display motility during at least one life stage.

Natural Selection

An evolutionary mechanism where individuals with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce at higher rates, passing advantageous traits to future generations.

Genetic Drift

An evolutionary process consisting of random changes in trait frequencies within a population by chance, having a significantly stronger effect in small populations.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic variation between populations through the migration and interbreeding of individuals.

Mutation

A change in an organism's DNA, serving as the ultimate source of all new genetic variation.