Eukaryotes and Plant Evolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the origin of eukaryotes and plant evolution, aiding in exam preparation.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within membranes.

Nuclear envelope

The membrane that surrounds the nucleus in eukaryotic cells.

Mitochondria

Organelles in eukaryotic cells where cellular respiration occurs.

Chloroplasts

Organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells.

Infolding hypothesis

Theory suggesting the nuclear envelope originated from the infoldings of the plasma membrane.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside the other, such as how mitochondria originated.

Paraphyletic

A group of organisms that includes a common ancestor but not all of its descendants.

Amoeboid motion

Movement of protists like amoebas via pseudopodia.

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic protists that drift in water, forming the basis of aquatic food chains.

Zooplankton

Drifting organisms that are usually microscopic and feed on phytoplankton.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for nutrients.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Ingestive feeding

Eating live or dead organisms by engulfing them.

Absorptive feeding

Nutrients are taken up directly from the environment.

Symbiotic mutualism

A type of interaction where both species benefit from the relationship.

Cilia

Short, hair-like structures that aid in movement of some protists.

Flagella

Long, whip-like structures that help some protists swim.

Diatoms

A type of algae with a silica cell wall, important in aquatic ecosystems.

Dinoflagellates

Photosynthetic protists with cellulose plates, involved in harmful algal blooms.

Foraminiferans

Protozoans with a shell, often made of calcium carbonate.

Secondary endosymbiosis

Process in which a eukaryotic protist engulfs another eukaryote, leading to double-membraned organelles.

Primary endosymbiosis

Initial capture of cyanobacteria that evolved into chloroplasts.

Eukarya

One of the three domains of life, consisting of all eukaryotic organisms.

Plasmodium

A protist responsible for malaria, affecting humans.

Toxoplasma

A parasitic protist that can infect humans and other animals.

Giardia

A protist that causes gastrointestinal illness in humans.

Leishmania

A genus of parasitic protists transmitted by sand flies that causes leishmaniasis.

Phytophthora

A genus of pathogenic protists known for causing late blight in potatoes.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide composed of glucose, forming the cell walls of plants.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment essential for photosynthesis, found in chloroplasts.

Alternation of generations

Life cycle pattern in plants that alternates between haploid and diploid stages.

Vascular tissue

Plant tissue involved in the transport of water and nutrients.

Stomata

Small openings on leaves that allow for gas exchange.

Cuticle

A protective coating that minimizes water loss in plants.