HCS 2202 exam pt. 1 - plant origins

biosphere

All places on earth with living organisms

ecosystem

living organisms found in a given area that interact

population

all of the individuals of a species that live in a specific geographical area at the same time

organisms

individual living things

organs

distinct part of an organism that consists of multiple tissues and perform a specific function

tissue

a group of cells that perform a specialized function

cell

smallest unit of organization that can perform all the function required for life

organelle

organized structures with specialized functions in the cell

molecule

chemical structure consisting of two or more atoms

main uses of plants

flavor, medicine, fibers, wood

earth

4.6 billion years old

when life on earth began

3.5 BYA

when photosynthesis and carbs arose

2.8 BYA in cyanobacteria

ancestral algae

1.6 BYA

first land plants

480 MYA

first land animals

428 MYA - millipede

confiers

320 MYA

dinosaurs

231-66 MYA

ferns

250 MYA

angiosperms

125 MYA

earliest primates

85 MYA

earliest Homo sapiens

0.2 MYA

ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12

1: 1,000,000,000,000

half life of carbon 14

5,730 years

evolution

change over time driven by natural selection

1st key feature of a plant

makes food through photosynthesis

2nd key feature of a plant

stores food as sugar and starch

3rd key feature of a plant

eukaryotic cells with a cell wall made of cellulose

4th key feature of a plant

organs specialized for anchorage, absorption, support, and photosynthesis

5th key feature of a plant

life cycle that involves sporophytic (diploid) and gametophytic (haploid) stages

algae

plant that lack roots, stems, leaves, and a vascular system but contain chlorophyll, chloroplasts, cell walls, and store starch

algaculture

cultivation of algae for biofuels, food, pharmaceuticals, and chemical feedstocks

systematics

study of biological diversity and its evolutionary history

goal of systematics

to understand evolutionary lineage of plants and to have a system of names that reflects their relationship

taxonomy

classifies biological organisms into categories based on shared characteristics (anatomy, development, biochemistry, physiology, distribution, genetics)

three domains of biology

bacteria, archaea, eukarya

six kingdoms of biology

plantae, fungi, animalia, protists, eubacteria, archaebacteria

binomial naming system

created by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753, consists of plant genus and species classification

importance of binomial naming system

universal communication and avoiding ambiguity

cladogram

diagram of morphological differences to depict predicted evolutionary patterns

phylogenetics

the study of a group of organisms based on genetic similarities and differences

six essential elements

sulfur, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus

trace elements

required by an organism in very small quantities

valence

number of covalent bonds an atom can form

hydrocarbons

molecules that consist of only carbon and hydrogen, contain non-polar hydrophobic bonds, and can release a lot of energy

functional groups

attach to hydrocarbon backbones, participate in reactions, and contribute specialized functions and properties to a molecule (shape drives function)

primary metabolites

absolutely necessary for life, involved in growth, development, and reproduction (lipids, carbs, proteins, nucleic acids)

lipids

CHONP, serve as energy stores, parts of cell membranes, and hormones

examples of lipids

fats, phospholipids, steroids

unsaturated fats

one or more double bond, bent, liquid at room temperature

saturated fats

no carbon double bonds, saturated with hydrogen, solid at room temperature

carbohydrates

CHO, most abundant organic molecule made of monosaccharides (CH20, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups), and used to synthesize other organic materials

polysaccharides

used as storage, support, or protection (cellulose)

starch

alpha configuration

cellulose

beta configuration, human enzymes only recognize alpha which is why we can’t digest it

proteins

CHONS, constructed from amino acids which differ in length and sequence which determines function due to the R-group

nucleic acids

CHONP, store and transmit hereditary information that is translated to make proteins, contain a five carbon sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base

secondary metabolites

molecules which are not essential for life, usually provide survival advantage, and are very specialized only being found in certain species