Biological Classification & Diversity Flashcards

Flashcards on Biological Classification & Diversity, Viruses, Kingdoms, and Animal Phyla

Biological Diversity

Diversity of life in all its forms, levels, and combinations.

Ecosystem Diversity

Variety and frequency of different ecosystems.

Species Diversity

Frequency and diversity of different species.

Genetic Diversity

Genetic differences between individuals within a population and between populations of a single species.

Species

A group of closely related organisms which are able to interbreed to produce a fertile offspring.

Taxonomy

The science of classification.

Nomenclature

Linnaeus' Binomial system used to classify species based on physical characteristics, consisting of the Genus and species.

Systematics

Placing organisms within different groupings known as Taxa.

Virus

A microscopic infectious agent that can only reproduce inside a host cell.

Virion

Viruses outside host cells.

Capsid

Protein coat enclosing the genetic material of a virus.

Bacteriophage

A DNA virus which infects bacteria and has a lytic life cycle.

Retrovirus

An RNA Virus which has the enzyme RNA Transcriptase and has a lysogenic life cycle, example HIV

Lytic Life Cycle

Host cell divides and releases viruses.

Lysogenic Life Cycle

Viral DNA integrates in the host cell DNA.

Prokaryote

Small organisms such as Bacteria and blue green algae, cells lacking membrane bound organelles.

Plasmid

Circular piece of DNA consisting of genes which allow resistance to pathogens.

Murein

Peptidoglycan cell wall which is present in bacteria.

Flagellin

Protein that makes up the flagellum. Flagellum spins like a propeller – it rotates to move the cell forward.

Binary Fission

Asexual reproduction in bacteria.

Gram Positive Bacteria

Single layer of thick cell wall which retains a violet dye with the Gram staining procedure, killed by Penicillin and lysozyme.

Gram Negative Bacteria

Multi-layered cell wall which does not retain the violet dye with the Gram staining procedure, not killed by Penicillin and lysozyme.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Explains how eukaryotic cells evolved from an ancestral prokaryotic cell.

Eukaryote

Cell having membrane bound organelle.

Kingdom Protoctista

Kingdom defined by exclusion. Eukaryotes which are unicellular or simple multicellular.

Photoautotroph

Algae Protoctista: Have photosynthetic pigments which absorb light energy and use inorganic carbon and convert it to chemical energy.

Phylum Chlorophyta

Green algae, unicellular or multicellular species having chlorophyll A and B, and beta carotene.

Phylum Phaeophyta

Brown Algae, much larger than green algae. Contain chlorophyll A and C masked by fucoxanthin and carotenoids.

Heterotroph

Protozoan that obtains carbon from other organisms

Phylum Rhizopoda

Protozoan that move by means of pseudopodia, example Amoeba.

Phylum Ciliophora

Protozoan that have microtubules and beat back and forth to enable movement, example Paramecium.

Saprotroph

Fungi that Live on dead material and are important to decompose and recycle nutrients in the soil.

Hyphae

Thread like structures consisting of many cells in Fungi whose function is to secrete extra cellular enzymes onto food and extracellular digestion occurs.

Kingdom Animalia

Cells without cell walls, Heterotrophic method of nutrition, Mobile.

Cephalization

Concentration of sensory organs at the anterior end of the body.

Blastula

Hollow ball of cells.

Radial Symmetry

Organism can be divided along several planes around a central axis to obtain identical halves.

Diploblastic Organization

Have two primary germ layers, an ectoderm and an endoderm with a mesoglea.

Gastrovascular Cavity

Cavity where food is digested.

Cnidocyte

Stinging cell which discharges thread-like organelle (cnida) once the trigger (cnidocil) is stimulated.

Polymorphic

The occurrence of two or more clearly different phenotypes within the same population of a species.

Bilateral Symmetry

An organism can be divided along one plane of axis to get equal halves.

Triploblastic Acoelomate

Has three primary germ layers – ectoderm mesoderm and endoderm. Only group which are acoelomate – NO coelom.

Protonephridia

Excretory structures with flame cells excretory cells with a bunch of cilia that expels wastes to the outside.

Metameric segmentation

Repetition of body segments.

Hydrostatic skeleton

Coelomic fluid is under pressure within the coelom and therefore provides support for internal organs.

Tagmata

Fusion of body segments forming a head, thorax, and abdomen.

Haemolymph

Circulatory fluid in arthropods.

Haemocoel

Main body cavity in arthropods.

Radula

Rasping tongue consisting of microscopic teeth used by molluscs to gut food before entering their gullet.

Visceral Mass

Site where there are digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems in molluscs.

Dermal skeleton

Skeleton is in the dermis, so they have an endoskeleton, example in Echinodermata.

Ossicles

Elements made from calcium carbonate which provide support and protection in Echinodermata.

Water vascular system

System that Transports of nutrients, water, locomotion and respiration and consists of tube feet, example Echinodermata.