Biodiversity

Review Biodiversity Key Terms

Biodiversity

The number and variety of species and ecosystem on earth

Species

All organisms capable of breeding freely with each other under natural conditions.

Hybridization

The mating or crossbreeding of two different species, varieties, or populations to produce an offspring (hybrid) with mixed traits. [1, 2, 3]

Morphology

The study of the form, shape, and structure of living organisms, as well as the relationships between their constituent parts

Genetic diversity

The genetic  variability among organisms, usually referring to individuals of the same species.

Heterotrophy

An organism that obtains energy rich nutrients by consuming living or dead organisms.

Autotroph

An organism that uses sources of energy to produce nutrients from water, gases, and minerals.

Biological classification

The systematic grouping of organisms into biological categories based on the physical and evolutionary relationships.

Taxonomy

Classification, identification, and naming of organisms, aims to group organisms according to a set of criteria.

Genus

Groups closely related organisms. Sits above species and below family.

Bionomial nomenclature

Genus name is like a category, the species usually describes it or named after a person.

Taxon

any formal group or unit used in biological classification to organize organisms based on shared characteristics.

Kingdom

The second highest taxonomic rank used to classify living organisms, below domain.

Dichotomous key

Used to identify species. They work through questions until at the end the species will be identified.

Evolution

The change in heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations.

Phylogeny

Science that deals with evolutionary relationships between and among species, entire populations of individuals. These relationships can be shown on a phylogenetic tree.

Phylogenetic tree

The representation of how species are connected, it can be through shared ancestors or shared traits.

Prokaryote

Prokaryotes were further divided into two separate kingdoms, eubacteria, and archaea

Eukaryote

Organisms whose cells contain a membrane bound nucleus and other specialized structures called organelles.

Domain

The highest rank of taxonomic classification for all living things.

Pathogen

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, worms, viruses, and even infectious proteins called prions.

Mutualism

An ecological interaction between 2 or more different species where all participating organisms benefit.

Antibiotic

A type of antimicrobial substance naturally produced by microorganisms or synthesized in a lab. It works by killing bacteria or stopping them from reproducing.

PlasmidDivision of one parent cell into 2 genetically identical daughter cells, asexual reproduction.

 A small, circular, double stranded DNA molecule that is physically distinct from a cell’s chromosomal DNA.

Binary fission

Division of one parent cell into 2 genetically identical daughter cells, asexual reproduction.

Conjugation

Form of sexual reproduction in which 2 cells join to exchange genetic information. Observed in bacteria and may happen in archaea.

Transformation

Cells can take in pieces of DNA from the environment, if the DNA is from another species, it’s called horizontal gene transfer.

Horizontal gene transfer

Part of transformation. Cells that take in fragments of DNA from the environment, if the DNA is from another species, it’s called horizontal gene transfer.

Virus

Small, non living particles. Consist of genetic material surrounded by a protein capsid. No cytoplasm, very tiny, can’t grow, reproduce by themselves. They are infectious, enter a cell, take control, and the cell makes copies of the virus.

RNA

Epidemic

A large scale outbreak of disease, usually limited geographically.

Pandemic

An epidemic that spreads to a global scale. 

Lysis

Occurs when the host cell ruptures.

Lysogeny

When the viral DNA can stays in a dormant state. 

Gene Therapy

A technique that modifies a person's genes to treat or cure disease.

Haploid

Cells that contain half of the usual genetic material (n).

Diploid

Cells that contain 2 copies of every chromosome, called normal (2n).

Zygote

The initial cell formed when a sperm and an egg fuse together during fertilization.

Sporophyte

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

Gametophyte

The sexual, haploid phase in the life cycle of plants and algae.

Spore

Microscopic reproductive cells that allow fungi, plants, and bacteria to reproduce and survive in harsh environments.

Alternation of generations

Reproductive cycle used by plants, fungi, and some algae in which an organism alternates between two distinct multicellular phases, a sexual phase and an asexual phase.

Meiosis

Process where alleles are separated into gametes. Sexual reproduction relies on meiosis. Process involving 2 stages in which the resulting cells have half the number of chromosomes as the parent. Results in formation of haploid sex cells.

Pollen

Male gametophyte, multicellular or unicellular, contains sperm that underwent meiosis, moved to ovule.

Ovule

Female gametophyte, protected inside plant, accepts pollen grains.

Seed

 The culmination of plant sperm and egg meeting and making the zygote. Over years they’ve found ways to get sperm to meet eggs. They differ from spores because of extra layers of protection and supply of food for the embryonic plant.

Gymnosperm

a group of seed-producing plants whose seeds are not enclosed inside a fruit or ovary.

Angiosperm

Flowering, uses flowers for pollen and ovules to make fruit with seeds.

Flower

The specialized reproductive structure of angiosperms (flowering plants).

Fruit

Mature ovary of a flower, they contain seeds. Over time they fall off the plant somehow.

Vertrebrate

Animals that possess a backbone and a distinct skull.

Invertebrate

An animal that does not have a backbone or internal skeleton.

Notochord

A flexible, rod shaped structure made of cartilage like cells that acts as the primary skeletal support in the early embryos of all chordata.

Chitin

A tough, natural sugar based polymer made of modified glucose molecules.