Apologia Biology Modules 9-16 (Final Exam)

The Immutability of Species

The idea that each individual species on the planet was specially created by God and could never fundamentally change

Microevolution

The theory that natural selection can, over time, take an organism and transform an organism into a more specialized species of the organism

Macroevolution

The hypothesis that processes similar to those at work in microevolution can, over eons of time, transform an organism into a completely different kind of organism

Strata

Distinct layers of rock

Fossils

Preserved remains of once-living organisms

Paleontology

The study of fossils

Structural Homology

The study of similar structures in different species

Ecology

The study of the interactions between living and nonliving things

Population

A group of interbreeding organisms coexisting together

Community

A group of populations living and interacting in the same area

Ecosystem

An association of living organisms and physical environment

Biome

A group of ecosystems classified by climate and plant life

Primary Consumer

An organism that eats producers

Secondary Consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers

Tertiary Consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers

Ecological Pyramid

A diagram that shows the biomass of organisms at each trophic level

Biomass

A measure of the total dry mass of organisms within a particular region

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of plant

Watershed

An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases (primarily water vapor, methane and carbon dioxide) trap heat that would otherwise escape and radiate into space

Invertebrates

Animals that lack a backbone

Vertebrates

Animals that possess a backbone

Spherical Symmetry

An organism possesses __________ symmetry if it can be cut into two identical halves by any cut that runs through the organism's center

Radial Symmetry

An organism possesses __________ symmetry if it can be cut into two identical halves by any longitudinal cut through its center

Bilateral Symmetry

An organism possesses __________ symmetry if it can only be cut into two identical halves by a single longitudinal cut along its center which divides it into right and left halves

Epidermis

An outer layer of cells designed to provide protection

Mesenchyme

The jellylike substance that separates the epidermis from the inner cells in a sponge

Collar cells

Flagellated cells that push water through a sponge

Amoebocytes

Cells that move using pseudopods and preform different functions in different animals

Gemmule

A cluster of cells encased in a hard, spicule-reinforced shell

Polyp

The sessile, tubular form of a cnidarian with a mouth and tentacles at one end and a basal disk at the other

Medusa

A free-swimming cnidarian with a bell-shaped body and tentacles

Epithelium

Animal tissue consisting of one or more layers of cells that have only one free surface, because the other surface adheres to a membrane or other substance

Mesoglea

The jellylike substance that separates the epithelial cells in a cnidarian

Nematocysts

Small capsules that contain a toxin which is injected into prey or predators.

Testes

Organs that produce sperm

Ovaries

Organs that produce eggs

Anterior End

The end of an animal that contains its head

Posterior End

The end of an animal that contains its tail

Circulatory System

A system designed to transport food and other necessary substances throughout a creature's body

Nervous System

A system of sensitive cells that respond to stimuli such as sound, touch and taste

Ganglia

Masses of nerve cell bodies

Hermaphroditic

Possessing both the male and female reproductive organs

Regeneration

The ability to regrow a missing part of the body

Mantle

A sheath of tissue that encloses the vital organs of a mollusk, makes the mollusk's shell and preforms respiration

Shell

A tough, multilayered structure secreted by the mantle, generally used for protection but sometimes for body support

Visceral Hump

A hump that contains a mollusk's heart, digestive and excretory organs.

Foot

A muscular organ that is used for locomotion and takes a variety of forms depending on the animal

Radula

An organ covered with teeth that mollusks use to scrape food into their mouths

Univalve

An organism with a single shell

Bivalve

An organism with two shells

Exoskeleton

A body covering, typically made of chitin, that provides support and protection

Molt

To shed an old outer covering so that it can be replaced with a new one

Thorax

The body region between the head and the abdomen

Abdomen

The body region posterior to the thorax

Cephalothorax

A body region composed of the head and thorax fused together

Compound Eye

An eye made of many lenses, each with a very limited scope

Simple Eye

An eye with only one lens

Open Circulatory System

A circulatory system that allows the blood to flow out of the blood vessels and into various body cavities so that the cells are in direct contact with the blood

Statocyst

The organ of balance in a crustacean

Gonad

A general term for the organ that produces gametes

Complete Metamorphosis

Insect development consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Insect development consisting of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult

Vertebrae

Segments of bone or some other hard substance that are arranged into a backbone

Notochord

A rod of tough, flexible material that runs the length of a creature's body, providing the majority of its support

Endoskeleton

A skeleton on the inside of a creature's body, typically composed of bone or cartilage

Bone Marrow

A soft tissue inside the bone that produces blood cells

Axial Skeleton

The portion of the skeleton that supports and protects the head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular Skeleton

The portion of the skeleton that attaches to the axial skeleton and has the limbs attached to it

Closed Circulatory System

A circulatory system in which the oxygen-carrying blood cells never leave the blood vessels

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart

Capillaries

Tiny, thin-walled blood vessels that allow the exchange of gases and nutrients between the blood and the cells of the body

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart

Olfactory Lobes

The lobes of the brain that receive signals from the receptors in the nose

Cerebrum

The lobes of the brain that integrate sensory information and coordinate the creature's response to that information

Optic Lobes

The lobes of the brain that receive signals from the receptors in the eyes

Cerebellum

The lobe that controls involuntary actions and refines muscle movement

Medulla Oblongata

The lobes that coordinate vital functions, such as those of the circulatory and respiratory systems, and transport signals from the brain to the spinal cord

Internal Fertilization

The process by which the male places sperm inside the female's body, where the eggs are fertilized

External Fertilization

The process by which the female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them once they are outside of the female

Oviparous Development

Development that occurs in an egg that is hatched outside the female's body

Ovoviviparous Development

Development that occurs in an egg that is hatched inside the female's body

Viviparous Development

Development that occurs inside the female, allowing the offspring to gain nutrients and vital substances from the mother through a placenta

Anadromous

A life cycle in which creatures are hatched in fresh water, migrate to salt water as adults, and then go back to fresh water in order to reproduce

Bile

A mixture of salts and phospholipids that aids in the breakdown of fat

Atrium

A heart chamber that receives blood

Ventricle

A heart chamber from which blood is pumped out

Ectothermic

Lacking an internal mechanism for regulating body heat

Hibernation

A state of extremely low metabolism and respiration, accompanied by lower-than-normal body temperatures

Botany

The study of plants

Perennial Plants

Plants that grow year after year

Annual Plants

Plants that live for only one year

Biennial Plants

Plants that live for 2 years

Vegetative Organs

The parts of the plant that are not involved in reproduction

Reproduction Plant Organs

The parts of a plant involved in reproduction

Undifferentiated Cells

Cells that have not specialized in any particular function

Xylem

Nonliving vascular tissues that carries water and dissolves minerals from the roots of a plant to it's leaves

Phloem

Living vascular tissue that carries sugar and organic substances throughout a plant

Leaf Mosaic

The arrangement of leaves on the stem of a plant

Leaf Margin

The characteristics of the leaf edge