Biology Key Concepts: DNA, Evolution, Anatomy, and Physiology

Molecule in boxes B and C

NAD+

Location of box D

Mitochondrial matrix

Scientist showing DNA replication is semi-conservative

Matthew Meselson and Frank Stahl

Long-winged Drosophila cross: homozygous long-winged offspring

74

Guinea pig black/rough × white/smooth F2 generation outcome

108 black & rough; 36 white & smooth

DNA fingerprint conclusion

Suspect is excluded as source of DNA

Paternity case: child inherited letters from father

C, E, M, O

Fingerprint conclusion

Not enough information to conclude

Test tube with starch

1

Test tube with sucrose

2

Test tube with egg albumin

3

Capacity to do work

Energy

Processes requiring oxygen

Aerobic

Kinetic energy associated with molecular motion

Heat

Measure of disorder

Entropy

Individual with different alleles

Heterozygous

Sum of all chemical reactions in organism

Metabolism

Energy available to do work after reaction

Free energy

Processes requiring energy input to build larger molecules

Anabolism

Genetic inheritance where ≥2 genes interact

Epistasis

Series of linked reactions producing a product

Pathway

Measurement of kinetic energy due to motion of molecules

Temperature

Nonprotein organic molecules aiding enzyme action

Cofactor

Organism producing organic molecules from inorganic nutrients

Autotroph

Movement of H+ creating electrochemical gradient

Chemiosmosis

Processes not requiring oxygen

Anaerobic

Breaking down large molecules into smaller ones

Catabolism

Chromosomes not determining sex

Autosomes

Individual with identical alleles

Homozygous

Alleles always expressed in phenotype

Dominant

Evolution

Change in heritable traits of a population over time.

Paleontology

Study of fossils that results in knowledge about the history of life.

Catastrophism

Periods of catastrophic extinctions occurred, after which repopulation of surviving species took place.

Uniformitarianism

Geological forces act at a continuous, uniform rate.

Biogeography

Study of geographic distribution of organisms.

Speciation

Origin of new species due to the evolutionary process of descent with modification.

Taxonomy

Branch of science associated with the identification and classification of organisms.

Blastula

Hollow ball of cells occurring during animal development.

Fitness

The reproductive success of an individual relative to other members of a population.

Germ layers

Layers of cells in an embryo that give rise to all tissues and organs.

Homologous

A structure that is similar in different types of organisms because these organisms descended from a common ancestor.

Morphology

Physical characteristics that contribute to the appearance of an organism.

Analogous

Structures with similar function but different evolutionary origins.

Hox

Genes that control the development of the body plan in all animals.

Macroevolution

Evolutionary changes at or above the species level.

Population

A group of organisms of a single species living together in the same geographical area.

Gene pool

All alleles of all genes in all individuals in a population.

Biological Concept

A species concept defined based on the potential of individuals to interbreed and that are reproductively isolated from other groups.

Vertebrates

Animals with backbones.

Sexual dimorphism

Physical differences between males and females of a species.

Territory

An area that is defended against competitors.

Heterozygote advantage

Occurs when the heterozygote is favored over the two homozygotes.

Monophyletic

A group consisting of the ancestral species and all its descendants.

Polyphyletic

A group composed of unrelated organisms descended from more than one ancestor.

Dominant

An allele that expresses its trait even when heterozygous.

Adaptive radiation

Rapid evolution of several species from a common ancestor.

Reinforcement

Strengthening of reproductive barriers between populations.

Convergent evolution

Independent evolution of similar traits in distantly related species.

Tetrapod

Vertebrates with four limbs.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen from male to female reproductive structures.

Mollusca

Soft-bodied animals, often with a shell; includes clams, snails, squids.

Annelida

Segmented worms, including earthworms and leeches.

Nematoda

Pseudocoelomates; roundworms.

Arthropoda

Animals with exoskeleton and jointed appendages.

Cnidaria

Animals with tentacles and stinging cells; includes jellyfish and coral.

Porifera

Animals that lack muscle and nerve tissues; sponges.

Gastropod

Mollusks like snails and slugs.

Cephalopoda

Squid, octopus, nautilus, cuttlefish.

Bivalves

Mollusks with two-part shells, like clams and oysters.

Chitons

Mollusks with a dorsal shell composed of plates.

Crustacean

Arthropods including lobsters, crabs, and shrimp.

Reptilia

Scaly-skinned vertebrates; includes snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Chordata

Animals with a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail.

Amphibia

Animals living in both water and land during their life cycle.

Mammalia

Animals producing milk to nourish their young.

Myriapoda

Arthropods with many legs, like centipedes and millipedes.

Cheliceriformes

Arthropods with fangs or pincers; includes spiders and scorpions.

Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fish, like sharks and rays.

Platyhelminthes

Flatworms, including parasitic tapeworms and flukes.

Echinodermata

Prickly-skinned animals with a water vascular system; includes sea stars and sea urchins.

Epithelial

Covers surfaces; protection, secretion, absorption.

Connective

Binds/supports; includes bone, blood, cartilage, adipose.

Muscle

Movement; smooth (involuntary), skeletal (voluntary), cardiac (heart).

Nervous

Communication; neurons + neuroglia.

Integumentary

Protection, temperature control.

Homeostasis

Maintained by negative feedback loops (e.g., body temp, blood pH, glucose).

Plasma

Liquid portion of blood containing water, proteins, nutrients.

RBCs

Carry oxygen via hemoglobin.

WBCs

Immune defense.

Platelets

Blood clotting.

Arteries

Carry blood away from heart; thick, muscular walls.

Veins

Carry blood to heart; thinner walls with valves.

Capillaries

Exchange site; one cell thick.

Heart chambers

Left/right atria, left/right ventricles.

Valves

AV (tricuspid, bicuspid/mitral), semilunar (pulmonary, aortic).

SA node

Natural pacemaker of the heart.

AV node & Purkinje fibers

Coordinate heart contraction.