Biology Test 1

How old is the Earth?

~4.6 billion years old.

When did oxygen start to build up in Earth's atmosphere?

~2.5 billion years ago.

When did animals begin to appear?

During the Cambrian Explosion.

What process explains the movement of landmasses?

Plate tectonics.

What is the term for the supercontinent that existed?

Pangaea.

What is biogeography?

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

What are the three domains of life?

Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

What is phylogeny?

The study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities.

What do phylogenetic trees represent?

Evolutionary relationships.

What is a microbiome?

A community of microorganisms in a particular area on the body.

How does a human microbiome develop?

It develops in the first 1-2 years of life.

What do prokaryotes lack that eukaryotes possess?

A nucleus.

What two domains do prokaryotes belong to?

Bacteria and Archaea.

What is the role of hyphae in fungi?

They are the functional unit of fungi that form underground networks of mycelium.

What is a defining characteristic of Eukaryotes?

Membrane-bound organelles.

What type of reproduction do animals typically utilize?

Sexual reproduction.

What are the characteristics of plants?

Autotrophs that use photosynthesis.

What are the four major groups of plants?

Nonvascular plants, vascular plants, seed plants, flowering/fruiting plants.

What is the main function of fungi?

To decompose organic material.

What is the exoskeleton of arthropods made of?

Chitin.

What defines protists in the domain Eukarya?

They are primarily unicellular organisms.