Biology Study Guide: Taxonomy, Viruses, and Plant Anatomy

Taxonomy

Classifies organisms based on shared characteristics and gives them names according to a hierarchical system.

Cladistics

Classifies organisms based on common ancestry and evolutionary relationships (uses cladograms).

Domains

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

Bacteria

Unicellular, prokaryotic, diverse metabolism.

Archaebacteria

Unicellular, prokaryotic, extreme environments.

Protista

Mostly unicellular, eukaryotic.

Fungi

Multicellular (mostly), decomposers, chitin cell walls.

Plantae

Multicellular, photosynthetic, cellulose cell walls.

Viruses

DNA or RNA, protein coat, infect all life forms.

Viroids

Small circular RNA molecules, no protein coat, infect plants.

Prions

Misfolded proteins, no nucleic acids, cause degenerative brain diseases in animals.

Prokaryotes

No nucleus, small/simple, no membrane-bound organelles, includes Bacteria and Archaea.

Eukaryotes

Have nucleus, larger/more complex, have organelles, includes Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals.

Archaea

Extremophiles, unique membranes and genes, no peptidoglycan in cell wall.

Bacteria

Found everywhere, cell walls contain peptidoglycan.

Xylem

Transports water.

Phloem

Transports sugars.

Seeds

Protect and nourish embryo.

Fruits

Aid in seed dispersal.

Roots

Anchor plant, absorb water/nutrients.

Stems

Support plant, transport materials.

Monocots

Plants with fibrous roots, scattered vascular bundles, parallel veins, flowers in multiples of 3, and one cotyledon.

Dicots

Plants with taproot system, vascular bundles in a ring, net-like veins, flowers in multiples of 4 or 5, and two cotyledons.

Comparative Anatomy

Look for similarities and differences in structural features like leaf shape and venation, root and stem arrangement, flower anatomy, and cell types and organization.

Anther

Male part of the flower where sperm (pollen) are produced by meiosis

Filament

Supports the Anther

Ovary

A flower structure that encloses and protects ovules and seeds as they develop.

Ovule

A structure that develops within the ovary of a seed plant and contains the female gametophyte.

Petal

A modified leaf of a flowering plant. Petals are the often colorful parts of a flower that advertise it to insects and other pollinators.

Sepal

A modified leaf in angiosperms that helps enclose and protect a flower bud before it opens.

Stamen

The pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an anther and a filament.

Stigma

The top of the central female part of a flower, where pollen is received.

Pistil

The female ovule-bearing part of a flower composed of ovary and style and stigma

Style

The narrow elongated part of the pistil between the ovary and the stigma