GenBio 2 Module 1: Taxonomy & Homeostasis

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering life properties, taxonomy, prokaryotic domains, plant types, and major animal phyla from GenBio 2 Module 1.

Homeostasis

The ability of living organisms to maintain a steady internal environment regardless of changes in their external environment.

Metabolism

The total of all processes in which an organism takes in and utilizes energy to carry out cell functions, consisting of anabolism and catabolism.

Taxonomy

The branch of science concerned with the naming and classification of organisms based on correct evolutionary relationships.

Phylogeny

A representation of evolutionary relationships showing how organisms evolved from a common ancestor.

Morphology

The form and structure of an organism, historically used as the primary data source for biological classification.

Domain Archaea

A domain consisting of single-celled prokaryotes that frequently inhabit extreme environments.

Domain Bacteria

A domain consisting of single-celled prokaryotic organisms.

Domain Eukarya

A domain consisting of organisms composed of eukaryotic cells, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Microbial Mats

Multi-layered sheets of prokaryotes, mainly bacteria and archaeans, bound together by a sticky extracellular matrix.

Methanogens

Archaea under Phylum Euryarchaeota that produce methane as a by-product of metabolism.

Halophiles

Archaea under Phylum Euryarchaeota that thrive in high-salt environments and typically contain pink/red pigments.

Sulfur Archaea

Archaea under Phylum Crenarchaeota that metabolize sulfur to extract energy.

Gram-negative Bacteria

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

Gram-positive Bacteria

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer and no outer membrane.

Kingdom Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that obtain nutrients through absorption and reproduce by releasing spores.

Kingdom Protista

A diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms that do not belong to the plant, animal, or fungal kingdoms.

Bryophytes

Small, non-vascular land plants that lack xylem, phloem, and true roots, living in moist environments and reproducing via spores.

Pteridophytes

Seedless vascular plants equipped with xylem, phloem, and roots that reproduce using spores.

Gymnosperms

Vascular plants with uncovered seeds that reproduce using seeds and pollen.

Angiosperms

Flowering vascular plants with covered seeds that reproduce using seeds and pollen.

Cephalization

An evolutionary concentration of nervous system tissues and sensory organs in the head region of an animal.

Coelom

A fluid-filled body cavity derived from the mesoderm that protects and cushions internal organs.

Phylum Porifera

Aquatic, porous sponges that are sessile in their adult stage, lack symmetry and cephalization, and feed via intracellular digestion.

Phylum Cnidaria

Radial-symmetric aquatic animals with a single gut opening acting as both mouth and anus, exhibiting polyp or medusa body forms.

Phylum Platyhelminthes

Flatworms with bilateral symmetry, cephalization, an acoelomate body plan (no true coelom), and protostome development.

Phylum Nematoda

Elongated, unsegmented roundworms with bilateral symmetry, cephalization, two gut openings, a pseudocoelom, and protostome development.

Phylum Mollusca

Bilateral, coelomate protostomes characterized by a muscular foot, visceral mass, mantle, and often a shell and radula.

Phylum Annelida

Segmented worms with bilateral symmetry, cephalization, a true coelom, repeating internal structures, external rings, and setae.

Phylum Arthropoda

Bilateral, coelomate protostomes characterized by segmented body plans, jointed appendages, and an exoskeleton composed of chitin and proteins.

Subphylum Hexapoda

Arthropods featuring six legs, three distinct body regions (head, thorax, abdomen), and evolved wings.

Subphylum Crustacea

Arthropods possessing two pairs of antennae and biramous (forked or branched) appendages.

Subphylum Chelicerata

Arthropods with chelicerae (fang-like mouthparts), two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen), and no antennae.

Subphylum Myriapoda

Highly segmented arthropods with one pair of antennae and one or two pairs of legs per segment.

Phylum Echinodermata

Aquatic deuterostomes exhibiting bilateral symmetry as larvae and radial symmetry as adults, capable of regeneration.

Phylum Chordata

Deuterostome animals possessing a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a postanal tail at some developmental stage.

Notochord

A flexible rod located between the digestive tube and nerve cord in chordates, which develops into a backbone in most vertebrates.

Pharyngeal Slits

Structures in chordates that allow water entering through the mouth to exit prior to the digestive tract, serving roles in gas exchange, jaw support, and hearing.

Subphylum Urochordata

Invertebrate chordates, such as tunicates, covered by an exoskeleton called a tunic made of tunicin.

Subphylum Cephalochordata

Invertebrate chordates, such as lancelets, that retain all key chordate characteristics throughout their entire lifespan.