Compare and contrast all topics for BIOLOGY exam

Plantae

Kingdom of eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that are autotrophs and have cell walls made of cellulose.

Archaea

Kingdom of prokaryotic, unicellular organisms that live in extreme environments and lack peptidoglycan in their cell walls.

Eubacteria

Kingdom of prokaryotic, unicellular organisms with peptidoglycan in their cell walls, found in normal environments.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms, mostly multicellular, heterotrophic, and with cell walls made of chitin.

Animals

Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic organisms with no cell walls.

Protista

A diverse kingdom of mostly unicellular eukaryotes that may be autotrophic or heterotrophic.

4 chambered hearts

Heart structure found in birds and mammals that completely separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood for efficient circulation.

Allopatric speciation

Formation of new species due to geographic isolation.

Sympatric speciation

Formation of new species without geographic isolation, often due to behavioral or genetic differences.

Disruptive selection

Type of natural selection that favors individuals with extreme traits at both ends of the spectrum.

Stabilizing selection

Type of natural selection that favors the average trait and reduces variation.

Directional selection

Type of natural selection that favors one extreme trait over others.

Monocots

Plants with one seed leaf, parallel veins, scattered vascular bundles, and flower parts in multiples of 3.

Dicots

Plants with two seed leaves, net-like veins, vascular bundles in a ring, and flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5.

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction involving one parent that produces genetically identical offspring.

Sexual reproduction

Reproduction involving two parents, resulting in genetically varied offspring.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart under high pressure.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart and often contain valves to prevent backflow.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues.

Prokaryotes

Cells without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria.

Eukaryotes

Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, found in all kingdoms except bacteria and archaea.

Prezygotic isolating mechanisms

Barriers that prevent mating or fertilization from occurring between species.

Postzygotic isolating mechanisms

Isolation that occurs after fertilization, resulting in sterile or non-viable offspring.

Systemic circulation

Part of the circulatory system that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body and returns deoxygenated blood.

Pulmonary circulation

Circulatory loop that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart.

Esophagus

Muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach.

Trachea

Tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs; also known as the windpipe.

Pulmonary arteries

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

Mechanical digestion

Physical breakdown of food by chewing and churning.

Chemical digestion

Enzymatic breakdown of food into smaller molecules for absorption.

Root hairs

Extensions of root epidermal cells that increase surface area for water and nutrient absorption in plants.

Microvilli

Tiny projections on the surface of small intestine cells that increase surface area for nutrient absorption.

Xylem

Tissue in plants that transports water and minerals from roots to leaves.

Phloem

Tissue in plants that transports sugars and nutrients throughout the plant.

Microevolution

Small-scale evolutionary changes within a population over a short period.

Macroevolution

Large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over long periods and result in new species.

Binary fission

Asexual reproduction method in prokaryotes where one cell divides into two identical cells.

Conjugation

Genetic exchange process in bacteria where DNA is transferred through a pilus.

Incomplete dominance

Genetic pattern where neither allele is fully dominant, resulting in a blended phenotype.

Codominance

Genetic pattern where both alleles are fully expressed in the phenotype.

Dominant allele

An allele that is expressed when at least one copy is present in the genotype.

Recessive allele

An allele that is only expressed when two copies are present in the genotype.

Meiosis

Cell division that produces four genetically unique haploid gametes for sexual reproduction.

Mitosis

Cell division that produces two identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair.