Evolution and Classification of Organisms

Flashcards covering key concepts related to evolution, cellular biology, and classification of organisms.

Evolutionary Trees

Suggest that all life shares a single celled ancestor.

Protocells

Structures that represent the packing of macromolecules.

What makes something alive?

Ability to reproduce, made up of cells, metabolism, evolution, and response to stimuli.

Metabolism

Chemical reactions to get and use energy.

Prokaryote

Unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

Organism with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, can be multi or single celled.

Homeostasis

Maintaining stable internal conditions like temperature.

Catabolism

Breakdown of existing molecules.

Anabolism

Building larger molecules from smaller ones.

ATP

Energy carrier that powers the cells.

Diffusion

Movement of substance from a higher to a lower concentration.

Active Transport

Requires ATP to move molecules from lower to higher concentration.

Asexual Reproduction

Single parent reproducing genetically identical offspring.

Sexual Reproduction

Two haploid gametes forming a diploid zygote.

Diploid

Cell with two complete sets of chromosomes from different parents.

Haploid

Cell with one set of chromosomes.

Zygote

Diploid cell made by two haploid gametes during fertilization.

Genotype

Genetic material in an individual.

Mutation

Alterations in DNA.

Phenotype

Physical form of organism from genotype.

Mitosis

Process resulting in exact cell copies of the mother cell.

Meiosis

Process resulting in haploid daughter cells with crossing over.

Natural Selection

Survival of the fittest.

Phylogenetic tree

Diagram showing evolutionary history in a group of organisms.

Outgroup

Species related to, but not part of the ingroup.

Endosymbiosis

Unicellular organism merging with another cell to gain its function.

Phagocytosis

Cell engulfs particle to eat.

Cyst

Shutdown of metabolism that remains externally resistant.

Fimbriae

Hair-like structures that help cells stick to substrates.

Gram positive

Cell wall with a thick layer of peptidoglycan.

Gram negative

Cell wall with less peptidoglycan.