holder condesed exam 1

What is taxonomy?

The science of describing, naming, and classifying living and extinct organisms and viruses based on physical features.

What is systematics?

The study of biological diversity and evolutionary relationships among organisms, both extinct and modern, based on molecular features.

What is a taxon?

A group of organisms classified based on similarities such as structure or origin.

What is the highest taxonomic level?

Domain.

What are the three domains?

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

What are the four kingdoms of Eukarya?

Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia.

What is the key difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and membrane-bounded organelles; eukaryotes have a well-defined nucleus and membrane-bounded organelles.

What does prokaryotic mean?

“Before nucleus.”

What does eukaryotic mean?

“True nucleus.”

What is binomial nomenclature?

A two-word naming system consisting of the genus name and specific epithet.

How is the genus written in binomial nomenclature?

Capitalized; it is a noun.

How is the specific epithet written?

Not capitalized; it is a descriptive adjective.

Who proposed binomial nomenclature in 1753?

Carols Linnaeus.

What is phylogeny?

The evolutionary history of a species or group of species.

What is a phylogenetic tree?

A diagram describing phylogeny and presenting a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships.

What data are commonly used to construct phylogenetic trees?

Morphological or genetic data.

What does the bottom of a phylogenetic tree represent?

A common ancestor.

What does a monophyletic group contain?

The most recent common ancestor and all of its descendants.

What does a paraphyletic group contain?

The most recent common ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants.

What is morphological analysis?

Analysis based on physical features; early systematic studies focused on morphological features of extinct and modern species.

What is molecular systematics?

Analysis of genetic data such as DNA, RNA, and amino acid sequences to identify genetic similarities and propose phylogenetic trees.

If two species have more similar DNA or amino acid sequences, what does that generally suggest?

They are more closely related.

Why is molecular information useful for classification?

It is easier to quantify and compare than morphological data.

Why is it difficult to classify prokaryotes?

They lack sexual reproduction.

What are Proteobacteria?

“True bacteria.”

What are Cyanobacteria?

“Blue green bacteria” that can absorb light.

What are the two prokaryotic domains?

Bacteria and Archaea.

What does Domain Bacteria contain according to the notes?

Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria.

Where do most organisms in Domain Archaea live?

Harsh/extreme environments.

What is Kingdom Protista?

The kingdom containing the earliest eukaryotes in the fossil record; most are microscopic and found in most environments.

Why is Protista considered a “catch-all” kingdom/category?

Eukaryotes that do not fit into the other kingdoms are placed into Protista.

What are algae?

Mostly plant-like protists; most are autotrophic/photosynthetic and can range from unicellular to large multicellular forms.

What are protozoans?

Animal-like protists; most are heterotrophic and many are unicellular.

What does protozoan mean?

“Before Animal.”

What are two examples of protozoans?

Amoeba and Paramecium.

What are fungal-like protists?

Mostly saprotrophic, mostly multicellular protists; slime molds are an example.

What is the ecological role of fungi?

They break down dead animals, fecal matter, or leaves and act as nature’s “recyclers.”

What is the body of a fungus called?

A mycelium.

What is a mycelium?

The vegetative part of fungi consisting of a network of hyphae that absorbs nutrients from the environment.

What is a fruiting body?

The site of spore production on the outside.

What are the four kingdoms of Eukarya?

Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

What are major characteristics of Kingdom Plantae?

Eukaryotic, multicellular, mostly autotrophic, photosynthetic, and all plants store food as starch.

What is the plant cell wall made of?

Cellulose.

What are the photosynthetic pigments of plants?

Chlorophylls.

What innovation did plants need to acquire water while living on land?

Roots.

What is probably the ancestral stock of Kingdom Plantae?

Green algae.

What are the major characteristics of bryophytes?

They reproduce by spores, lack seeds, are nonvascular, lack xylem and phloem, and require external water for reproduction.

What three groups are included among bryophytes?

Liverworts, hornworts, and mosses.

What is another name for bryophytes?

“Mosses and their allies.”

Why do bryophytes require external water for reproduction?

Their flagellated sperm must travel to the egg location.

What are the major characteristics of pteridophytes?

They reproduce by spores, lack seeds, are vascular, have xylem and phloem, and require external water for reproduction.

What do xylem and phloem transport?

Xylem transports water/minerals; phloem transports food/solutes.

Why does vascular tissue allow plants to become larger?

It improves conduction and strength.

What is another name for pteridophytes?

“Ferns and their relatives.”

What are gymnosperms?

Vascular seed plants whose seeds are not enclosed inside a structure.

What are the four gymnosperm groups listed?

Cycads, ginkgo, gnetophytes, and conifers.

What is the biggest group of gymnosperms?

Conifers.

What is the oldest conifer species listed?

Bristlecone Pine.

What is the biggest conifer species listed?

Giant Sequoia.

What is the tallest conifer species listed?

Coastal Redwood.

How are gymnosperms different from pteridophytes in reproduction?

Gymnosperms produce seeds and do not require external water for reproduction.

How does a gymnosperm deliver sperm to the egg?

A pollen tube delivers sperm to the egg location.

What is the most advanced group of Kingdom Plantae listed?

Angiosperms.

What are the major reproductive structures produced by angiosperms?

Flowers and fruits.

What makes an angiosperm seed different from a gymnosperm seed?

An angiosperm seed is enclosed in a vessel/fruit.

What is the function of flowers?

They attract pollinators.

What are two functions of fruits?

They enclose/protect seeds and assist with seed dispersal.

Which plant groups require external water for reproduction?

Bryophytes and pteridophytes.

Which plant groups produce seeds?

Gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Which plant group has seeds enclosed in fruit?

Angiosperms.

What are the three major features used to classify animals?

Body symmetry, number of embryonic tissue layers/germ layers, and patterns of embryonic development.

What is Metazoa?

All animals.

What is Parazoa?

Animals without specialized tissues or organs; includes Porifera/sponges.

What is Eumetazoa?

Animals with more than one type of tissue and organs.

What is radial/radiate symmetry?

The animal can be divided equally by any longitudinal plane through the central axis.

What is bilateral symmetry?

The animal can be divided along one vertical plane to produce two halves.

What features are associated with bilateral symmetry?

Cephalization, dorsal and ventral sides, and anterior and posterior ends.

How many germ layers do radiate animals have?

Two; they are diploblastic.

How many germ layers do bilateral animals have?

Three; they are triploblastic.

What are the three embryonic germ layers?

Endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm.

What is the endoderm?

The inner germ layer.

What is the ectoderm?

The outer germ layer.

What is the mesoderm?

The third germ layer in bilateral animals; it forms muscles and many other organs.

When do germ layers develop?

During gastrulation.

What is a protostome?

An animal in which the first embryonic opening develops into the mouth; the blastopore becomes the mouth.

What is a deuterostome?

An animal in which the second opening develops into the mouth and the first develops into the anus; the blastopore becomes the anus.

What is a coelom?

A fluid-filled body cavity.

What is a eucoelomate/coelomate?

An animal whose coelom is lined with mesoderm or mesoderm-derived tissue.

What is a pseudocoelomate?

An animal whose coelom is only partially lined with mesoderm.

What is an acoelomate?

An animal that lacks a body cavity and instead has mesenchyme.

What is an example of a coelomate?

Earthworm.

What are examples of pseudocoelomates?

Rotifers and roundworms.

What is an example of an acoelomate?

Flatworms.

What are three functions of the coelom?

It cushions internal organs, allows movement/growth of internal organs independent of the body wall, and its fluid can act as a simple circulatory system.

What are Hox genes?

Clusters of genes found only in animals that lay out the animal's body plan.

What may Hox gene duplication have contributed to?

The evolution of complex body forms such as vertebrates.

What is segmentation?

Division of the body into regions called segments.

Which major animal groups have segmentation listed?

Annelid worms, arthropods, and chordates.

What does segmentation allow?

Specialization of body regions.

What genetic information is compared in modern molecular classification?

DNA, RNA, and amino acid sequences.