Biological Sciences General Biology 2 Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the General Biology 2 study guide.

Scientific Method

The process involving observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, result/conclusion, and theory in research.

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Homology

Similarities in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry between a pair of structures or genes in different taxa.

Clade

A group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.

Monophyletic Group

A group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all of its descendants, and no other organisms.

Synapomorphy

A characteristic shared by a group of species that was derived from a common ancestor.

Outgroup

A group that is used as a reference group when determining the evolutionary relationships of the in-group.

Biodiversity Event

Significant changes in the variety and variability of life on Earth, often correlating with changes in atmospheric conditions.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a nucleus enclosed within membranes, distinct from prokaryotic cells which lack a nucleus.

LUCA

Last Universal Common Ancestor, presumed to be the most recent ancestor of all current life on Earth.

Biofilm

A community of microorganisms living together on a surface, often embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances.

Nutritional Metabolism

The set of biochemical processes that occur within living organisms to transform food into energy.

Xylem

The vascular tissue in plants responsible for the transport of water and dissolved nutrients from the roots.

Phloem

The vascular tissue in plants responsible for the transport of sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

Gametophyte

The haploid phase of the life cycle in plants, which produces gametes.

Sporophyte

The diploid phase of the life cycle in plants that produces spores.

Mycorrhiza

A symbiotic association between fungi and the roots of a plant.

Cephalization

The concentration of nerve tissues and sensory organs at the anterior end of an organism, often associated with bilateral symmetry.

Innate Immunity

The natural defenses with which an organism is born, providing the first line of defense against pathogens.

Adaptive Immunity

The immunity that develops after exposure to pathogens, involving specific responses to particular antigens.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living.

Metapatterns

General patterns observed at the macro-scale across cells associated with the origin of life.

Convergent Evolution

The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages.

Internal Fertilization

A reproductive process in which an egg and sperm fuse inside the female's body.

Larva

An immature form of an animal that is distinct from the adult form.

Vascular Bundle

A part of the plant that contains xylem and phloem, facilitating transport within the plant.