EDUC 224 - Living Systems

anerobic

reaction that does not use oxygen as an electron acceptor (ex: fermentation)

annelids

invertebrates that have segmented, typically elongated, bodies and live in damp soil or in marine or freshwater habitats (ex: earthworms, leeches, polychaetes)

light-independent reaction

reactions that can occur without light being present

echinoderms

spiny, marine invertebrates that display five-sided radial symmetry (ex: starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, sea cucumbers)

vascular plants

plants with true roots, leaves, and stems that transport water, minerals, and food through tube-like structures, allowing plants to grow tall (ex: trees, bushes, grasses, cacti)

stomata

small openings on plant leaves that water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen pass through during photosynthesis. regulate the amount of air and water that enter and exit the leaf cell

chloroplast

organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place; contain chlorophyll

crustaceans

hard-shelled, generally aquatic invertebrates that typically have antennae and 10 jointed appendages (ex: crab, shrimp, lobster, krill, barnacles)

lysosome

organelle in animal cells that contains enzymes to break down large molecules. it breaks down the cell when it dies

form

the shape of an object or part of a system (ex: the shape of a bird’s wings)

ginkgos

vascular plants that use seeds encased in a fleshy coating to reproduce (ex: gingko tree)

cell

smallest unit of all living organisms (ex: nerve cell)

leaflets

leaf-like parts of a leaf that make a compound leaf

vesicle

organelle that transport materials throughout the cell

digestive system

breaks down food that is eaten through physical and chemical reactions, then either absorbs it (small intestine) or passes it from the body (rectum) (ex: stomach)

compound leaves

multiple leaflets branching off of a stem (ex: ash, chestnut, acacia)

nervous system

detects and processes information and activates body responses to that information (ex: brain)

spore

specialized cells that are dispersed by air and mature into adult plants (ex: ferns and mosses use spores to reproduce)

arachnids

generally carnivorous, wingless invertebrates with two body segments and 8 jointed appendages (ex: spiders, scorpions, ticks)

transpiration

process of evaporation in which water exits as vapor from the surface of plant leaves

non-vascular plant

very small plants without true roots, leaves, or stems that absorb nutrients and water directly into their cell (ex: mosses, hornworts, liverworts)

ribosome

organelle that makes proteins for the cell

conifers

vascular plants that use seeds stored in cones to reproduce (ex: spruce, pine)

cellular respiration

the manner in which organisms convert glucose into usable energy

lobed

leaves that have rounded or pointed sections that stick out from the main section of the leaf (ex: oak, maple)

xylem

transports water in vascular plants from the roots to the leaves

non-flowering plants

plants that do not produce flowers or fruit (ex: conifers, mosses, hornworts, liverworts)

flowering plants

vascular plants that produce flowers, fruit, and seeds (ex: apple trees, blueberry bushes, rose bushes, grasses, cacti)

reptiles

cold-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates with scales or plates on skin and at least one lung (ex: lizards, turtles, snakes, crocodiles)

fetus

an unborn child from month 2 of conception until birth

unlobed

leaves that do not have lobes

muscular system

moves body parts working with the skeletal system (ex: leg) or materials (ex: food via intestine, blood via heart) (ex: bicep muscle)

reproductive system

creates gametes (male: sperm , female: eggs) and facilitates creating offspring (ex: ovaries)

seed

multiple cells encased in seed coats that mature into adult plants (ex: beans, nuts, rice, wheat, corn)

endoplasmic reticulum

organelle that makes proteins (rough endoplasmic reticulum) and lipids (smooth endoplasmic reticulum). Rough ER has ribosomes attached, while smooth ER does not

cycads

vascular plants that use seeds contained in a cone-like structure to reproduce (ex: Sago Palm)

urinary system / excretory system

controls water balance and removes wastes from the bloodstream (ex: kidneys)

organ system

a group of various organs combined to perform a function or functions (ex: nervous system)

glycolysis

a process in which glucose is broken down into pyruvate, and energy and carbon dioxide are released

homeostasis

process by which an organism maintains stable internal conditions (ex: sweating to stay cool)

organ

group of various tissue types combined to perform a function (ex: brain)

respiratory system

brings oxygen into the bloodstream and releases carbon dioxide from the bloodstream (ex; lungs)

cristae

inner folds of the mitochondria where the ETC is located

metabolism

the sum of chemical reactions in an organism, such as converting food

light-dependent reaction

a reaction that requires light to occur (ex: during photosynthesis, sunlight is converted into chemical energy)

osmosis

the net movement of water (a solvent) from low solute concentration to high solute concentration. Does not require a cell to use energy (ex: if there is a higher concentration of sugar molecules outside of the cell, there will be net movement of water molecules out of the cell until the two sides are in equilibrium)

plasma membrane / cell membrane

a soft membrane that encloses the cytoplasm of a cell. Movement of molecules in and out of the cell is regulated by proteins within this membrane

calvin cycle

stage of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide is synthesized into sugar

photsynthesis

process by which plants use light, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food (sugar) and oxygen

mitochondria

organelle that converts chemical energy to ATP ; often known as the “powerhouse” of the cell

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

particle in the cell that captures released energy from cellular respiration and delivers it where needed

cytoskeleton

threadlike proteins that give a cell its shape and allows it to move (ex: microtubules)

leaves

primary site of photosynthesis in plants

tissue

a group of similar cells (ex: nerves)

golgi complex / golgi apparatus

organelle that takes in proteins, makes sure they aren’t defective, and “packages” them in vesicles to send them to other parts of the cell

centrioles

the cell organelles which organize the spindle and pull chromosomes apart during mitosis. found only in animal cells

endocrine system

produces hormones that are used by other parts of the body to regulate, react, or grow (ex: pituitary gland)

coefficient (in a reaction)

a number placed in front of a chemical symbol or formula that indicates the number of atoms or molecules needed for a reaction (ex: 2H)

cardiovascular / circulatory system

transports material (ex: oxygen) throughout the body (ex: heart)

mammals

warm-blooded vertebrates with hair or fur, lungs, and mammary glands that typically birth live offspring (ex: humans, sheep, elephants, kangaroos, rabbits, whales)

amphibians

cold-blooded vertebrates capable of aquatic gill-breathing during early development and terrestrial lung-breathing and/or transdermal gas exchange during adulthood; hatch from eggs laid in water (ex: frogs, toads, salamanders, newts)

organelle

membrane-bound structures with specific roles. found in all eukaryotic cells (ex: nucleus)

kreb’s cycle

a process in which pyruvate is broken down and carbon dioxide and energy are released

skeletal system

protects the organs, gives the body structure and support, works with the muscular system for movement, and stores essential minerals like calcium (ex: femur bone)

nucleus (of the cell)

organelle that contains DNA and can control cellular activity by turning genes in DNA on and off

cell wall

a rigid outer membrane that gives the cell their shape and offers support for growth. in plants, it is made of cellulose. in bacteria, it is made of peptidoglycan

chlorophyll

pigments that capture energy from solar radiation and power the chemical process

aerobic

reaction that requires oxygen as an electron acceptor (ex: aerobic respiration)

electron transport chain (ETC)

a cluster of proteins that transfer electrons through a membrane to form a gradient of protons that drives the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

function

the job or purpose of an object or part of a system (ex: the purpose of a bird’s wings [flight])

classify

to arrange or group things into categories (classes) based on shared characteristics

passive transport / diffusion

the net movement of solutes (particles in a solution) from high concentration to low concentration. does not require a cell to use energy (ex: if there is a higher concentration of Na+ ions outside of the cell, there will be net movement of the ions into the cell until the two sides are equilibrium)

vertebrate

animals that have a bony or cartilageneous vertebral column (backbone) along the spinal cord (ex: fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds)

stem

a plant structure that supports the leaves

invertebrates

animals that do not have a vertebral column (backbone) (ex: mollusks, annelids, echinoderms, arachnids, insects, crustaceans)

mollusks

invertebrates that have unsegmented bodies and live in aquatic and/or damp habitats (ex: snails, slugs, mussels, octopuses)

embryo

the beginning stages of a fetus generally the first 2 months of conception

cytoplasm

clear, jelly-like substance in plant and animal cells made up mostly of water

lymphatic system / immune system

protects body from disease and infection and removes excess water from around the organs (ex; white blood cells)

phloem

transports food in vascular plants in all directions

integumentary system

protects the internal parts of the body from foreign matter, regulates body temperature, and gets rid of some wastes such as water and salt through perspiration (ex; skin)

lungs

Which organ facilitates the transferring of oxygen to blood?

a. heart

b. stomach

c. kidney

d. lungs

ask students to identify the function of chloroplasts and chlorophyll and whether all cells in the plant carry out this function. Have students view root cells under a microscope and tell whether or not these structures are present. Ask students to reflect on why.

After a quiz over plant systems, Mr. Wyatt sees that most of his students believe that all plants cells have chloroplasts and chlorophyll. Which of the following activities would best correct this misconception?

a. ask students to identify the function of chloroplasts and chlorophyll and whether all cells in the plant carry out this function. Have students view root cells under a microscope and tell whether or not these structures are present. Ask students to reflect on why.

b. show students a short video about pollination and explain that this does not require chloroplasts

c. tell students that each part of the plant carries out a different function, so cells from different parts of the plant have different organelles

d. correct the question on students’ quizzes and provide written feedback so students may refer back to it

ribosome

Which cell structure is responsible for the assembly of proteins?

a. ribosome

b. mitochondrion

c. chloroplast

d. golgi apparatus

scorpion: invertebrate, arachnid

Which of the following animals is categorized correctly?

a. squid: vertebrate, mollusk

b. salamander: vertebrate, reptile

c. scorpion: invertebrate, arachnid

d. leech: invertebrate, echinoderm

cell - tissue - organ - organ system - organism

Which of the following correctly sequences the levels of organization for all living things?

a. cell - organ system - organism - organ - tissue

b. cell - tissue - organism - organ system - organ

c. cell - organ system - organ - organism - tissue

d. cell - tissue - organ - organ system - organism

organ

Plant leaves are composed of many smaller components. Xylem carries water, phloem carries food, and the leaf is covered in a waxy, protective epidermis. What is the structural level of organization of a plant leaf?

a. tissue

b. cell

c. organ

d. organism

chloroplast

Which plant organelle is responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy?

a. golgi apparatus

b. vacuole

c. chloroplast

d. mitochondria

cellular respiration and photosynthesis are nearly reciprocal processes

Which of the following is true of cellular respiration and photosynthesis?

a. both processes produce carbon dioxide

b. cellular respiration and photosynthesis are nearly reciprocal processes

c. both processes occur in the mitochondria of a cell

d. all plants and animals perform cellular respiration and photosynthesis

nucleus

In which organelle is the cell’s genetic information stored?

a. golgi apparatus

b. cell membrane

c. nucleus

d. cytoskeleton

movement

Which of the following is not a required criterion for defining something as living?

a. is made of cells

b. reproduces

c. maintains stable internal conditions

d. movement

chloroplast

In which organelle does photosynthesis take place?

a. chloroplast

b. centriole

c. chlorophyll

d. cytoplasm

ovaries

In which of the following organs are female reproductive cells, eggs, produced?

a. ovaries

b. fallopian tubes

c. uterus

d. cervix

they will turn a light red color

A bundle of fresh-cut white roses is placed in a container. Water is then poured into the container so that the bottom third of the stems are immersed in water. Then red dye is added to the water. Over the next 24 hours, what is most likely going to happen to the white rose petals?

a. they will turn a light red color

b. they will wilt and die

c. they will remain white and alive

d. they will turn completely red

cell wall

Which of the following cell organelles is not present in animal cells?

a. cell wall

b. nucleus

c. smooth endoplasmic reticulum

d. lysosome

muscle cells expend a lot of energy

Which of the following is the best reason that each muscle cell has many mitochondria organelles present?

a. muscle cells expend a lot of energy

b. all animal cells have many mitochondria

c. muscle cells are very long

d. muscle cells come together to form muscle tissue

producing chemical energy

Which of the following is the role of the mitochondria in animal cells?

a. disposing of waste

b. assembling proteins

c. producing chemical energy

d. packaging and transporting proteins

skin

Which of the following is a major organ of the integumentary system?

a. heart

b. skin

c. liver

d. large intestine

transpiration of water out of the leaves

Which of the following functions are performed by a plant’s stomata?

a. absorption of minerals and water from the soil

b. transport of glucose through the stem

c. transpiration of water out of the leaves

d. absorption of light energy through the leaves

the animal has eight legs and no wings

A teacher wants his students to classify a newly discovered animal. Which of the following pieces of information would best help classify the animals as either an insect or an arachnid?

a. the animal has a segmented body and lives in the water

b. the animal has eight legs and no wings

c. the animal has a hard shell and multiple legs

d. the animal has a backbone and lays eggs