BIO EXAM

types of interactions

protection, food supply, transportation, reproduction, hygiene, digestion,

are they a species? (questions)

can they mate naturally? do they produce viable offspring? are offsprings fertile?

6 kingdoms

eubacteria, archaebacteria, protista, fungi, plantae, animalia

levels of taxa

dear kevin please come over for gay sex (domain kingdom phyla class order family genus species)

biodiversity

the number and variety of species and ecosystems on earth

species

all organisms capable of breeding freely with eachother under natural conditions

hybridization

the cross-breeding of two different species

morphology

the physical appearance and characteristics of an organism; also the science of the study of these physical characteristics

evolutionary change

a change that occurs in an entire population; usually occurs over a long period of time

genetic diversity

the genetic variability among organisms; usually referring to individuals of the same species

heterotroph

an organism that obtains energy-rich nutrients by consuming living or dead organisms

autotroph

an organism that uses sources of energy to produce nutrients from water, gases, and/or minerals

species diversity

a measure of diversity that takes into account the quantity of each species present, as well as the variety of different species present

structural diversity

the range of physical shapes and sizes within a habitat or ecosystem

biological classification

the systematic grouping of organisms into biological categories based on physical and evolutionary relationships

taxonomy

the science of classifying all organisms

botanist

a scientist specializing in the study of plants

genus

a taxonomic level consisting of a group of similar species

binomial nomenclature

the formal system of naming species whereby each species is assigned a genus name followed by a specific name; the two words taken together form the species name

taxon

a category used to classify organisms

kingdom

the highest taxonomic level of the traditional Linnaean system of classification

dichotomous key

a series of branching, two-part statements used to identify organisms (or objects)

phylogeny

the study of the evolutionary relatedness between, and among, species

phylogenetic tree

a diagram depicting the evolutionary relationships between different species or groups

clade

a taxonomic group that includes a single common ancestor and all its descendants

prokaryote

a single-celled organism that does not contain membrane-bound organelles

eukaryote

any organism whose cells contain organelles; both uni and multi cellular

domain

the highest taxonomic level

pathogen

a disease-causing agent, often a virus or micro-organism

mutualism

a relationship between two species that live in very close association with each other, whereby each benefits from the association

antibiotic

a substance that can kill or weaken micro-organisms, natural antibiotics are produced by bacteria or fungi

plasmid

a small loop of DNA often found in prokaryotic cells; usually contains a small number of genes

capsule

an outer layer on some bacteria, provides some protection for the cell

coccus

a round bacterial cell

bacillus

a rod-shaped bacterial cell

spirillum

a spiral or cockscrew-shaped bacterial cell

obligate aerobe

an organism that cannot survive without oxygen

facultative aerobe

an organism that can live with or without oxygen

fermentation

an anaerobic process that releases chemical energy from food

obligate anaerobe

an organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen

binary fission

the division of one parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells; a form of asexual reproduction

conjugation

a form of sexual reproduction in which two cells join to exchange genetic information

transformation

a process in which a bacterial cell takes in and uses pieces of DNA from its environment

horizontal gene transfer

the transfer of genetic information from one species into a different species

endospore

a dormant structure that forms inside certain bacteria in response to stress; protects the cell’s chromosomes from damage

virus

a small infectious particle containing genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA within a protein capsule

capsid

a protein coat that surrounds the DNA or RNA of a virus

RNA

a nucleic acid found in all cells and some viruses; usually carries genetic information that provides instructions for synthesizing protein

epidemic

a large-scale outbreak of disease; usually confined to a limited geographic region

pandemic

an epidemic that occurs over a widespread geographic area, often globally

bacteriophage

a virus that infects bacteria

lysis

the rupturing of a cell; can occur when newly made viruses are released from a host cell

lysogeny

a state of dormancy in which viral DNA may remain within a host cell’s chromosome for many cell cycle generations

transduction

a type of gene transfer in which a virus transfers DNA from one bacterium to another

gene therapy

a method of treating disease in which genes are introduced into cells to replace, supplement, or repair a defective gene

viroid

a very small infectious piece of RNA responsible for some serious diseases in plants

prion

an abnormally shaped infectious protein responsible for some brain diseases of mammals, including humans

endosymbiosis

a relationship in which a single-celled organism lives within the cell(s) of another organism; recent findings suggest this may be very common

haploid

a cell containing half the usual complement of chromosomes (n)

zygote

a cell produced by the fusion of two gametes

diploid

a cell containing two copies of each chromosome (2n)

sporophyte

a diploid organism that produces haploid spores in an alternation of generations life cycle

spore

a haploid reproductive structure; usually a single cell; capable of growing into a new individual

gametophyte

a haploid organism that produces haploid sex cells in an alternation of generations life cycle

alternation of generations

a life cycle in which diploid individuals produce spores that create haploid individuals; the haploid individuals reproduce sexually, producing sporophyte individuals and completing the cycle

mycelium

a branched mass of hyphae

hypha

a thin filament that makes up the body of a fungus

chitin

a complex chemical found in the cell walls of fungi and in the external coverings of insects and crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs

dikaryotic

contains two separate nuclei

meiosis

a form of cell division in which a single cell gives rise to four haploid daughter cells

mycorrhiza

a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a plant root

charophyte

the common name for organisms in the order charophceae; green algae in the kingdom protista

cuticle

a waterproof, waxy coating produced by the epidermis of most plants

stoma

a small opening in the epidermis of a plant that allows gas exchange

gemma

a small clump of haploid photosynthetic cells produced in a little cup-shaped structures on the gametophyte plant; dispersed by splashes of rain to grow into another gametophyte plant

lignin

an important structural compound found in the vascular tissues of plants; it is responsible for the strength of wood

lycophyte

a seedless vascular plant; club mosses are examples of lycophytes

pterophyte

a seedless vascular plant; ferns are examples of pterophytes

rhizome

a horizontal underground stem

frond

a fern leaf

pollen

small structures called “grains” that contain a microscopic haploid male gametophyte

seed

a plant structure containing an embryo and a food supply, surrounded by a protective outer covering called the seed coat

gymnosperm

a vascular plant that produces seeds in special structures called cones; gymnosperms are a major plant group

cone

in plants, the reproductive structure of a conifer; produce either pollen or ovules

angiosperm

a plant that produces flowers

flower

the specialized reproductive structure of an angiosperm; produces pollen and/or ovules

fruit

mature ovary of an angiosperm, contains seeds

cotyledon

a structure in the seeds of flowering plants that stores nutrients

radial symmetry

symmetry around a central axis

bilateral symmetry

symmetry around a midline

protosome

an animal with bilateral symmetry; mouth forms before anus

deuterostome

an animal with bilateral symmetry; anus forms before mouth

vertebrate

an animal with a backbone or a notorchord

notochord

a flexible rod found in some chordates

inverterbrate

an animal that does not have a backbone

germ layer

one of three layers that form during early embryonic development in most animals

coelom

a body cavity present in some animals; contains internal organs

nematocyst

a capsule within specialized cells of cnidarians containing toxins that can be propelled toward attackers and prey; stinging cell

amniotic egg

an egg with an outer leathery or hard shell and specialized internal membranes that protect and nourish the embryo

heredity

the passing of traits from parents to offspring