Classification study guide

cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms.

common ancestor

An ancestor that two or more descendant species have in common.

lungs

Respiratory organs that allow for the exchange of gases.

chitin

A polysaccharide that forms the cell wall in fungi.

virus

A microscopic infectious agent that requires a host cell to replicate.

fungi

A kingdom of usually multicellular organisms that decompose organic material.

Eukarya

A domain that includes all organisms with complex cells, including fungi, plants, and animals.

endosymbiotic theory

The theory that explains how certain organelles, like mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated through symbiotic relationships.

protein coat

The outer layer of a virus, composed of proteins, that encapsulates its genetic material.

peptidoglycan

A polymer that makes up the cell wall of bacteria.

aerobic bacteria

Bacteria that require oxygen for growth.

photosynthesis

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

membrane-bound organelles

Organelles that are enclosed by a lipid membrane.

prokaryote

A single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus.

multicellular heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for nutrition and have multiple cells.

reproduction

The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced.

homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions.

evolution

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

circular DNA

The form of DNA typically found in prokaryotic organisms.

molecular evidence

Biological data that provides evidence for the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

traits

Any characteristic of an organism.

Eubacteria

A domain of prokaryotic organisms that have peptidoglycan in their cell wall.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule essential for coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions.

cells

The basic structural and functional units of life.

stimuli

Any changes in the environment that can provoke a response from an organism.

anaerobic

Organisms that can survive without oxygen.

adaptation

A change by which an organism becomes better suited to its environment.

phylogenetics

The study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities.

invertebrates

Animals that lack a backbone.

vertebrates

Animals that have a backbone.

development

The process of changing from a fertilized egg into a mature organism.

eukaryotic cell

A cell that contains a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

prokaryotic cell

A cell without a nucleus.

traits of life

Basic features that define living organisms, such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli.

taxonomic classification

The process of classifying organisms into categories based on shared characteristics.

genetic material

The molecules responsible for heredity; includes DNA and RNA.

kingdom Fungi

One of the major kingdoms of life, characterized by eukaryotic organisms that are primarily decomposers.

organism

Any individual living entity.

symbiosis

The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical proximity.

eukaryotic domain

The taxonomic classification that encompasses all eukaryotic organisms.