Plant Biology and Botany Exam Practice Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory plant biology, biological chemistry, cell structures, cell division, and plant tissues based on lecture material.

Plant Anatomy

The discipline of botany studying the internal structures of plants.

Plant Physiology

The discipline of botany pertaining to plant metabolism and other plant (chemical) processes.

Plant Taxonomy

The branch of botany that studies how plants are organized and classified into groups such as genus and family.

Plant Systematics

The field of botany dealing with plant evolutionary history/diversity and the development of methods for grouping plants based on the relationships between them.

Plant Geography

The discipline of botany concerned with the location that plants are situated and the reasons for their distribution.

Plant Ecology

The study of how plants interact with each other and with their surrounding environment.

Plant Morphology

The study of plant form, structure, and how plants grow and change over time (development).

Ethnobotany

The practical field examining the traditional and commercial uses of plants and plant products by humans.

Hypothesis

A tentative, unproven explanation for an observation formulated as a specific, testable statement. Good hypotheses have both null and alternative.

Null Hypothesis ($H\_0$)

A hypothesis stating that the independent variable is not connected to the dependent variable.

Alternative Hypothesis ($H\_A$)

A hypothesis stating that the independent variable is directly connected to the dependent variable.

Independent Variable (I.V.)

The portion of an experiment being actively manipulated and controlled by the experimenter, also referred to as the treatment.

Dependent Variable (D.V.)

The portion of an experiment responding to changes in the independent variable, also referred to as the response.

Controlled Variable (C.V.)

A specific aspect or factor that remains constant across all experimental and test groups.

Emergent Property

A characteristic present in larger levels of the biological hierarchy that emerges from the cooperation of levels beneath it.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which determines its chemical element and atomic properties.

Atomic Mass

The combined total number of protons and neutrons located within an atomic nucleus.

Isotope

An alternate expression (slightly different) of an element that differs in atomic mass.

Radioactive Decay

The predictable and constant process by which an unstable atomic nucleus degrades over time.

Ionic Bond

A polar chemical bond formed when one atom donates or steals an electron, holding the resulting charged ions together by opposite electrical charges.

Covalent Bond

A strong chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons to fill their valence electron orbitals.

Functional Group

An atom or molecular group covalently bonded to a carbon backbone in an organic compound that determines its pH, polarity, and chemical behavior.

Isomer

Molecules that share the exact same chemical formula but possess different structural arrangements.

Hydrolysis Reaction

A chemical reaction that changes molecules and requires water (Add water).

Condensation Reaction

A dehydration reaction that changes molecules and forms water (Extracting Water)

Carbohydrate

An organic molecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a $1:2:1$ ratio that acts as a fuel source, energy storage, and structural component.

Organic Molecules

Macromolecules composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Monosaccharide

The monomer and subunit of carbohydrates that serves as an easily accessible energy source and yields non-carbohydrate molecules when broken down.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate composed of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharide monomers linked into long chains.

Starch

A plant polysaccharide used for energy and sugar storage that serves as a primary fuel source for animals.

Glycogen

A highly branched sugar storage polysaccharide found in animal muscle and liver cells.

Cellulose

The most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, forming an indigestible, rigid structural framework in plant cell walls.

Chitin

An indigestible structural polysaccharide that forms the exoskeletons of arthropods.

Peptide Bond

A covalent chemical bond connecting amino acids together into polypeptide chains.

Denature

The loss of a protein's specific three-dimensional shape due to environmental effects, causing a loss or alteration of its biological function.

Triglyceride

A lipid macromolecule composed of a glycerol head bonded to $3$ fatty acid hydrocarbon tails.

Phospholipid

A lipid molecule consisting of a polar phosphate head and $2$ non-polar hydrocarbon (fatty acid) tails, forming cell membrane bilayers.

DNA & RNA Base Pairings

The specific pairing rules where DNA pairs Adenine with Thymine and Cytosine with Guanine ($A-T$, $C-G$), while RNA pairs Adenine with Uracil and Cytosine with Guanine ($A-U$, $C-G$).

Cell Theory

The foundational biological concept stating that all living organisms are composed of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and all cells arise from preexisting cells.

Volume grows much more than surface area as a cell increases in size. Larger surface area to volume ratio enables more efficient communication. Surface area affects volume.

Describe the Surface to Volume Ratio

Plasma Membrane

Selective phospholipid bilayer regulating substance entry and exit.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

Ribosome-studded organelle synthesizing and exporting proteins.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Endomembrane organelle synthesizing lipids/carbohydrates and detoxifying cells.

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that modifies, packages, and ships vesicles.

Peroxisome

Membrane sac containing catalase that breaks down fatty acids and toxic $H_2O_2$.

Central Vacuole

Large water-filled plant organelle generating hydrostatic turgor pressure for support.

Plastid

Plant organelle family for carbohydrate production or pigment storage.

The 3 Different Types of Plastids

Chloroplast, Chromoplast, Leucoplast.

Chloroplast

Photosynthetic double-membrane organelle containing chlorophyll, stroma, and thylakoids.

Chromoplast

Atype of plastid that contains pigments other than chlorophyll, contributing to the coloration of fruits and flowers. Red, orange, yellow.

Leucoplast

a type of plastid that is colorless and primarily involved in the storage of starches, proteins, and lipids in plant cells.

Cytoskeleton

Protein fiber network (actin, intermediate filaments, microtubules) maintaining cell shape and driving movement.

What are the different components of the Cytoskeleton?

Actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules.

Intermediate Filament

Cytoskeletal fiber ($8-11\,nm$) providing mechanical tensile strength.

Actin Filament

Microfilament ($7\,nm$) working with myosin for cell movement and structural support.

Microtubule

Hollow tubulin cylinder using motor proteins (kinesin/dynein) for transport and chromosome division.

Plasmodesmata

Membrane-lined wall channels connecting cytoplasm between adjacent plant cells.

Cell Cycle

Life cycle of a cell: Interphase ($G_1$, $S$, $G_2$) and Mitotic Phase (Mitosis, Cytokinesis).

Interphase

Cell cycle growth stage where organelle duplication and DNA replication occur.

Prophase

First mitotic stage: chromatin condenses, nuclear envelope degrades, and spindles attach.

Metaphase

Mitotic stage where chromosomes align along the equator (metaphase plate).

Anaphase

Mitotic stage where sister chromatids separate toward opposite poles.

Telophase

Final mitotic stage: nuclei reform, chromosomes uncoil, and spindles dissolve.

Cytokinesis

Cytoplasmic division yielding two daughter cells via a cleavage furrow (animals) or cell plate (plants).

Plant Tissues

Plant organizational levels categorized into Meristematic, Simple, and Complex tissues.

Apical Meristem

Undifferentiated tip tissue driving primary growth (length) in roots and shoots.

Protoderm

Primary meristem giving rise to dermal tissue (epidermis).

Procambium

Primary meristem differentiating into primary vascular tissues (xylem and phloem).

Primary vs. Secondary Growth

Primary growth increases length via apical meristems; secondary growth increases girth via lateral meristems.

Parenchyma

Versatile, thin-walled simple plant tissue used for storage, metabolism, and repair.

Collenchyma

Simple plant tissue with unevenly thickened primary walls offering flexible support.

Sclerenchyma

Rigid simple plant tissue with thick lignified secondary walls; dead at maturity.

Xylem

Vascular tissue (vessel elements, tracheids) conducting water and minerals upward.

Phloem

Vascular tissue (sieve tubes, companion cells) conducting sugars throughout the plant.

Cuticle

Waxy cutin layer on leaf/stem epidermis preventing water loss.

Stomata

Epidermal pores regulated by guard cells for gas exchange and transpiration.

Periderm

Protective suberin-rich woody outer layer replacing epidermis during secondary growth.

True or False: A hypothesis should always have both Null and Alternative Hypotheses.

True

Null Hypothesis ($H_0$) vs. Alternative Hypothesis ($H_A$)

Null ($H_0$) states no relationship between IV and DV; Alternative ($H_A$) states a relationship exists.

Components of an Experiment

Independent variable, dependent variable, controlled variables, experimental group, and control group.

Seven Disciplines of Botany

Plant Anatomy, Physiology, Taxonomy, Systematics, Geography, Ecology, and Morphology.

Five Major Roles of Plants

Oxygen production, food source, ecosystem habitat, societal impact, and environmental protection.

Six Ways Humans Depend on Plants

Food (agriculture), oxygen (respiration), textiles (clothing), medicine (drugs), energy (fuels), and soil protection.

Impact of Human Population Growth on Plants

Increases resource demands and environmental stress, requiring technological innovations.

Three Ways Humans Impact Plants

Environmental degradation (pollution/deforestation), causing extinction, and introducing invasive species.

Pollution

A large surge of a substance or contaminant into an environment.

Last Step of Scientific Method

Peer review.

Scientific Method Steps

Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Analysis, Conclusion, Report Results, Peer Review.

Experimental Group

Test group exposed to the independent variable.

Control Group

Baseline group not exposed to the independent variable.

Hierarchy of Life (Small to Large)

Atoms, Molecules, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere.

Variable

A specific factor altered in an experiment.

Principle

A generalization established through accumulated data.

Theory

A broad explanation backed by tested generalizations.

Cell Biology

Study of cell structure and function.

Plant Genetics

Study of plant heredity and variation.

Molecule

Two or more bonded atoms.

Compound

Substance composed of two or more different elements bonded together.

True or False: All molecules are compounds.

False

True or False: All compounds are molecules.

True