Comprehensive Biology Key Concepts: Mutations, Evolution, Phylogeny, and Plant Biology

Most mutations are...

Neutral. Most mutations have no effect on an organism's survival or reproduction.

A species is defined as...

A group of individuals that can successfully interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Polyploid organisms have...

More than two sets of chromosomes in their cells, common in plants and some animals.

Vestigial structures are...

Body parts that no longer serve a function but were useful to ancestors (e.g., human appendix).

Biogeography is the study of...

How and where organisms are distributed across Earth.

Adaptations are...

Traits that evolved through natural selection to help organisms survive and reproduce.

Allopolyploidy occurs when...

An organism has multiple chromosome sets from combining gametes of two different species.

Darwin's natural selection is based on...

Overproduction of offspring, inherited traits, and variation among individuals.

Rosemary and Peter Grant studied...

Finches on the Galápagos Islands to observe natural selection in action.

Darwin and Wallace developed...

The theory of natural selection, explaining how species evolve over time.

An adaptation is...

A heritable trait that gives an organism a survival or reproductive advantage.

The three domains of life are...

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya (includes plants, animals, fungi, protists).

Correct scientific name format (for wolves)...

Canis lupus — Genus capitalized, species lowercase, both italicized.

Classification hierarchy (class → ___ → family)...

Order. It fits between class and family in biological classification.

Phylogeny is the study of...

Evolutionary relationships between organisms, not focused on classification.

A monophyletic tree has...

A single branch point at the base, showing all descendants from one common ancestor.

Branch points on phylogenetic trees represent...

Common ancestors where evolutionary lineages split.

Phylogenetics is the approach used to...

Build evolutionary trees based on genetic and physical traits.

Carl Linnaeus is known for...

Creating the modern classification system and binomial naming of species.

Maximum parsimony means...

Building evolutionary trees with the fewest possible changes or events.

Prokaryotic chromosomes are...

Circular in shape, unlike the linear chromosomes in eukaryotes.

Commensalism is a relationship where...

One organism benefits and the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles on whales).

All cells have...

A plasma membrane, ribosomes, and genetic material—but not all have a nucleus.

Phagocytosis is...

A process where protists engulf particles for food by surrounding them with their membrane.

Fungi get nutrients by...

Acting as parasites, pathogens, or mutualists—absorbing nutrients externally.

Fungal reproductive cells are called...

Spores. They help fungi reproduce and spread.

Spherical prokaryotes are called...

Cocci. They are round-shaped bacteria.

The "antibiotic crisis" refers to...

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts came from...

Prokaryotes, according to the endosymbiotic theory.

Saprobes are organisms that...

Break down dead organisms or waste, recycling nutrients into ecosystems.

Monocot flowers typically have...

3 petals or multiples of 3—not 2, 4, or 5.

Apical meristems are found...

At the tips of roots and shoots, where active growth occurs in plants.

Pines, spruces, and firs belong to...

The phylum Coniferophyta, which includes cone-bearing gymnosperms.

Known plant species total approximately...

300,000. This includes flowering plants, mosses, ferns, and more.

A fertilized egg is called a...

Zygote. It's the first cell formed after sperm and egg unite.

The phylum with the fewest species is...

Cycadophyta. It includes ancient, palm-like plants with few living species.

Xylem cells transport...

Water and minerals from roots to leaves in vascular plants.

Roots do NOT perform...

Photosynthesis. They absorb water/nutrients, anchor the plant, and store food.

Double fertilization in flowering plants produces...

A zygote and endosperm, which nourishes the developing seed.