Diversity of Life - Differentiating Organisms

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary and concepts related to the diversity of life and the differentiation of organisms in biology.

Monocot

A group of flowering plants that have one cotyledon, parallel leaf venation, floral parts in sets of three, and a fibrous root system.

Dicot

A group of flowering plants that have two cotyledons, netted leaf venation, floral parts in sets of four or five, and a taproot system.

Monocot

A group of flowering plants that have one cotyledon, parallel leaf venation, floral parts in sets of three, and a fibrous root system.

Dicot

A group of flowering plants that have two cotyledons, netted leaf venation, floral parts in sets of four or five, and a taproot system.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within a fruit.

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants that do not form flowers or fruits, with seeds often exposed on cones.

Vascular Plants

Plants that have specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.

Nonvascular Plants

Plants that do not have specialized tissues for transporting water and nutrients, typically low-growing and found in moist environments, such as mosses.

Pollinators

Organisms, especially insects, that facilitate the transfer of pollen from male to female parts of flowers, aiding in plant reproduction.

Alternation of Generations

The life cycle of plants that alternates between a haploid gametophyte stage and a diploid sporophyte stage.

Bryophytes

A group of nonvascular plants including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, typically requiring moist environments.

Sporophyte

The diploid phase of a plant's life cycle that produces spores through meiosis.

Gametophyte

The haploid phase of a plant's life cycle that produces gametes (sperm and eggs) through mitosis.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis, believed to have evolved from a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic bacteria.

Echinoderms

Marine animals characterized by radial symmetry and a hard, spiny covering, such as starfish and sea urchins.

Nematoda

A phylum of roundworms, often parasitic, with a simple body plan and a complete digestive system.

Arthropoda

The largest phylum of animals, including insects, crustaceans, and arachnids, characterized by jointed limbs and an exoskeleton.

Porifera

The phylum of sponges, simple animals that filter feed and have no true tissues.

Cnidarians

A phylum that includes jellies, corals, and sea anemones, characterized by stinging cells called nematocysts.

Comb Jellies

Gelatinous marine animals of the phylum Ctenophora that are distinguished by their eight rows of cilia used for locomotion.

Tetrapods

Vertebrates that have four limbs and have adapted to living on land, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Symbiosis

A close biological interaction between two different biological organisms, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to one.