Biology Unit 1 - Taxonomy, Diversity, and Classification Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering taxonomy, phylogeny, levels of classification, domains of life, kingdom characteristics, protist types, cell wall compositions, and genetic/ecosystem diversity from Biology Unit 1.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying living things.

"taxis"

Greek root meaning arrangement.

"nomos"

Greek root meaning law.

Phylogeny

The history of the evolution of a species, based on evidence from anatomy, development, biochemistry (proteins), and DNA.

Dichotomous key

A two-part key used to identify an organism.

Carl Linnaeus

Scientist who developed the modern classification system based on physical and structural features, operating on the belief that more shared features mean organisms are more closely related.

Binomial nomenclature system

System that names organisms using Genus species (for example, Homo sapiens or H. sapiens).

Levels of Taxonomy (DKPCOFGS)

The levels of taxonomy in hierarchical order: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Ancestor

An organism(s) from which other groups of organisms are descended.

Physiology

The study of physical and chemical functions of organisms, such as internal processes and types of proteins they make.

Phylogenetic Trees

A branching diagram used to show the evolutionary and genetic relationship among species.

Common Ancestor

An ancestor that two or more descendants have in common.

Most Recent Common Ancestor

The most recent individual from which all the organisms of the set are descended.

Anatomy

The physical structures/body parts of an organism.

Three Domains of Life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya (EUKARYOTES), separated generally by their cell type.

Prokaryotes

Organisms (bacteria & archaea) whose cells have no nucleus, DNA loose in the cytoplasm, no complex organelles, and reproduction involving DNA rings called plasmids.

Plasmids

Rings of DNA present during reproduction in prokaryotes.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus storing DNA in strands called chromosomes during reproduction, averaging $1000$ times larger than prokaryotic cells.

Chromosomes

Strands of DNA present during reproduction in eukaryotes.

Kingdom Archaea

Prokaryotic, unicellular organisms (heterotrophs/autotrophs) that reproduce asexually, many of which are extremophiles.

Extremophiles

Organisms that can survive in extreme environments such as underwater hydrothermal vents, oil wells, volcanic hot springs, acidic mine drainage, and very salty conditions.

Thermophiles

Extremophiles that survive very high temperatures, such as in volcanic hot springs.

Acidophiles

Extremophiles that survive very acidic conditions, such as in acidic mine drainage.

Halophiles

Extremophiles that survive high salt concentrations.

Kingdom Bacteria

Prokaryotic, unicellular organisms (heterotrophs/autotrophs) that reproduce asexually using one parent.

Kingdom Protista

Eukaryotic organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophs/autotrophs, reproduce asexually or sexually, and can be plant-like, animal-like, or fungi-like.

Algae

Plant-like protists.

Green algae

Plant-like protists that live in shallow water because they need lots of sunlight, and likely led to land-based plant life.

Green bubble algae

One of the largest unicellular organisms, measuring about $5\,\text{cm}$.

Red algae

Plant-like protists that live in deeper water.

Brown algae

The largest and most complex multicellular algae, which includes most seaweeds.

Protozoans

Animal-like protists that get energy by consuming other organisms (heterotrophic) and can move using specialized structures such as flagella.

Slime Moulds

Fungi-like protists that can move around, are sometimes brightly coloured, and can form fruiting bodies that look like mushrooms.

Kingdom Plantae

Eukaryotic, multicellular autotrophs that reproduce sexually and have a cell wall made of cellulose.

Cellulose

Substance composing the cell wall in organisms belonging to Kingdom Plantae.

Kingdom Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms (unicellular or multicellular) that are heterotrophs, reproduce sexually, and have a cell wall made of chitin.

Chitin

Substance composing the cell wall in organisms belonging to Kingdom Fungi.

Gene pool

The sum of all the versions of all the genes in a population.

Genetic diversity

Variation in genes within a species or population that helps populations survive and adapt to diseases and environmental changes.

Ecosystem diversity

The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere.

Biotic factors

Living factors in an ecosystem, including interacting populations of species.

Abiotic factors

Non-living factors in an ecosystem, such as climate, soil nutrients, light, geology, altitude, and latitude.

Biomes

Large areas containing ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests or Canada's boreal forest in a given area.