U3 Biology Unit 1: Diversity of Living Things

Biology

The study of life

Sexual reproduction

The production of offspring from the fusion of two sex cells (usually from two different parents); the genetic makeup of the offspring is different from that of either parent

Asexual reproduction

The production of offspring from a single parent; the genetic makeup is identical to that of the parent

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions

Cell respiration

The chemical process that occurs in cells to convert food into energy

Autotrophs

An organism that uses sources of energy to produce nutrients from water, gases, and/or minerals

Heterotrophs

An organism that obtains energy-rich nutrients by consuming living or dead organisms

Adaption

A characteristic or feature of a species that makes it well suited for survival or reproductive success in its environment

Evolution

A change that occurs in an entire population; usually over a long period of time

Morphology

The study of the physical appearance and characteristics of an organism

Phylogeny

The study of evolutionary relatedness between, and among, species

Dichotomous Key

Tool for identifying organisms or objects

Taxonomy

The study of classifying all organisms, both living and fossil

Prokaryote

A unicellular organism that does not contain membrane-bound organelles

Eukaryote

Any organism whose cells contain organelles; can be unicellular or multicellular

Species

Organisms of the same species can breed with each other, and produce reproductively capable offspring

Capsid

A protein coat that surrounds the DNA or RNA of a virus

Lytic Cycle

Viral reproduction cycle, which results in the destruction of the infected cell and its membrane

Vectors

Something that carries the virus from one host to another

Host Range

The spectrum of cell types and host species a virus is able to infect and reproduce from

Lysogenic Cycle

Viral reproduction where the virus binds to the DNA of the host cell

Microbes

Tiny living organisms that are too small to see without microscopes

Microbiome

A collection of microbes that naturally live on our bodies and inside us

Transformation

A process in which a bacterial cell takes in and uses pieces of DNA from its environment

Transduction

A type of gene transfer in which a virus transfers DNA from one bacterium to another

Conjugation

A form of sexual reproduction in which two cells join to exchange genetic information

Binary Fission

The division of one parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells; a form of asexual reproduction

Bacteriophages

Viruses that infect bacteria

Photoautotroph

An organism that obtains energy directly from light (usually the Sun)

Chemotroph

An organism that produces energy from chemical compounds without the Sun

Sprilla

A spiral-shaped bacterial cell

Bacilli

A rod-shaped bacterial cell

Cocchi

A round bacterial cell

Nucleoid

Region within prokaryotic cells that contain all/most of the genetic material

Plasmid

A small loop of DNA often found in prokaryotic cells; usually contains a few genes

Binomial Nomenclature

A formal system of naming species made of the genus and the species

Unicellular

An organism that consists of a single cell

Multicellular

An organism that consists of more than one cell

Organism

A living thing that functions as an individual

Bacteria

A prokaryotic cell which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus

Archaea

A prokaryotic cell that thrives in extreme environments

Animals

Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic and do not contain cell walls

Plants

Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are autotrophic and contain cell walls and chloroplasts

Protists

Eukaryotic, often aquatic, can be autotrophic or heterotrophic, can reproduce sexually or asexually

Fungus

Eukaryotic organisms with cell walls of chitin that are heterotrophic

Viruses

A small infectious particle containing genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA within a protein capsule

Biodiversity

The number and variety of species and ecosystems on Earth

Endosymbiosis

A relationship in which a single-celled organism lives within the cell(s) of another organism

Flagella

Hair-like structure that helps the cell move

Cilia

Tiny hair-like projections with many functions

Nucleus

The structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes

Species Diversity

The variety of species and relative abundance in a given area

Genetic Diversity

The different forms of genes present in a particular species

Ecosystem Diversity

A diverse range of habitats, the various organisms that live in the habitats, and the relationship that connect them

Host

A living organism that provides shelter and nourishment to another organism

Lyme Disease

A bacteria infection spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick

Reservoir

A population of organisms or environment that harbors a pathogen and transmits it to others