biology exam gr11

Domain

The highest taxonomic rank in the biological classification system, grouping organisms based on fundamental differences.

Kingdom

A major taxonomic category that ranks above phylum and below domain, dividing life into distinct groups.

Phylum

A taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class, grouping organisms based on body plan and organization.

Class

A taxonomic rank below phylum and above order, grouping organisms that share similar characteristics.

Order

A taxonomic rank below class and above family, grouping organisms that are closely related.

Family

A taxonomic rank below order and above genus, grouping organisms that share common traits.

Genus

A taxonomic rank below family and above species, grouping together species that are closely related.

Species

The most specific taxonomic rank, grouping organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Domain Archaea

A domain of unicellular prokaryotes known for living in extreme environments and having distinct biochemistry.

Domain Bacteria

A domain of unicellular prokaryotes characterized by diverse shapes and modes of metabolism, some are pathogenic.

Domain Eukarya

A domain of organisms with eukaryotic cells, which may be unicellular or multicellular.

Kingdom Archaebacteria

A kingdom that includes prokaryotic microorganisms known for extreme habitats and unique cell wall composition.

Kingdom Eubacteria

A kingdom of true bacteria characterized by peptidoglycan in their cell walls and diverse metabolic pathways.

Kingdom Protista

A kingdom comprising mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms, including algae and protozoa.

Kingdom Fungi

A kingdom of eukaryotic organisms that are primarily multicellular decomposers with chitinous cell walls.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom consisting of multicellular autotrophic organisms that perform photosynthesis and have cellulose in cell walls.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom of multicellular heterotrophic organisms that lack cell walls, showing diverse forms and behaviors.

Meiosis

A two-stage cell division process that produces gametes with half the chromosome number, ensuring genetic diversity.

Karyotype

A visual representation of an individual's chromosomes arranged in pairs, used to identify chromosomal abnormalities.

Punnett Square

A diagram used to predict the genotype and phenotype combinations in genetic crosses.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features in different species that indicate a common ancestry.

Microevolution

Small-scale evolutionary changes in allele frequencies within a population over a short time.

Macroevolution

Large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over long periods, leading to the emergence of new species.

Xylem

Plant tissue that conducts water and minerals from roots to leaves.

Phloem

Plant tissue that transports organic nutrients produced during photosynthesis.

Tropism

A growth response by a plant to environmental stimuli such as light or gravity.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Avascular vs Vascular tissue

Avascular tissue lacks blood vessels; vascular tissue has xylem and phloem for transport in plants.

Digestion

The process by which food is broken down into substances the body can absorb.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable conditions.

Respiration

The biochemical process in cells to convert sugars into energy, involving oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

Osmoregulation

The control of water and salt concentrations in the body.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of organisms and their parts.

Physiology

The study of the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts.