Diversity unit definition- nelson 11 biology

species

a group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring

morphology

the branch of biology that deals with the structure or form of organisms

phylogeny

the evolutionary history of a species

taxonomy

the branch of biology that identifies, names, and classifies species based on natural features

binomial nomenclature

he system of giving a two-word Latin name to each species—the first part is the genus and the second part is the species

genus

taxonomic group of a closely related species

classification

the grouping of organisms based on a set of criteria that helps to organize and indicate evolutionary relationships

hierarchical classification

the method of classifying organisms in which species are arranged in categories from most general to most specific

rank

a level in a classification scheme, such as phylum or order

taxon

a named group of organisms such as phylum Chordata or order Rodentia

ancestor

an organism (or organisms) from which other groups of organisms are descended

anatomy

the branch of biology that deals with structure and form, including internal systems

physiology

the branch of biology dealing with the physical and chemical functions of organisms, including internal processes

phylogenetic tree

a branching diagram used to show the evolutionary relationships among species

structural diversity

a type of biological diversity that is exhibited in the variety of structural forms in living things, from internal cell structure to body morphology

prokaryotic

a smaller, simple type of cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus

eukaryotic

a larger, complex type of cell that does have a membrane bound nucleus

dichotomous key

an identification tool consisting of a series of two-part choices that lead the user to a correct identification

autotroph

an organism that captures energy from sunlight (or sometimes non-living substances) to produce its own energy-yielding food

heterotroph

an organism that cannot make its own food and gets its nutrients and energy from consuming other organisms

species diversity

the variety and abundance of species in a given area

genetic diversity

the variety of heritable characteristics (genes) in a population of interbreeding individuals

ecosystem diversity

the variety of ecosystems in the biosphere

gene pool

all the genes of all the individuals in a population

population

a group of individuals of the same species in a specific area at a specific time

resilience

the ability of an ecosystem to remain functional and stable in the presence of disturbances to its parts

virus

a structure that contains strands of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protective protein coat; it cannot live independently outside of cells

capsid

the outer protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus

replication

the fundamental process of all cells, in which the genetic material is copied before the cell reproduces

lytic cycle

the replication process in viruses in which the virus’s genetic material uses the copying machinery of the host cell to make new viruses

lysogenic cycle

the replication process in viruses, in which the viral DNA enters the host cell’s chromosome; it may remain dormant and later activate and instruct the host cell to produce more viruses

prion

an infectious particle that causes damage to nerve cells in the brain, and that appears to consist mostly or entirely of a single protein

bacterium

an individual prokaryotic cell or a single species that is in the domain Bacteria

archaeon

an individual prokaryotic cell or a single species that is in the domain Archaea

coccus

a micro-organism whose overall morphology is spherical or nearly so

bacillus

a micro-organism whose overall morphology is rod-shaped

methanogenesis

a biological (or chemical) process that produces methane as an by-product

extremophile

an organism that lives in habitats characterized by extreme conditions

mesophile

an organism that lives in habitats characterized by moderate conditions

binary fission

the asexual form of reproduction used by most prokaryotes (and some eukaryotic organelles), in which a cell divides into two genetically identical cells (or organelles)

conjugation

a process in which there is a transfer of genetic material involving two cells

endospore

a dormant bacterial cell able to survive for long periods during extreme conditions

Gram stain

a stain that separates bacteria into two major divisions (Gram positive and Gram negative) based on the cell wall’s response to the stain

protist

a eukaryotic organism, usually unicellular, that is not a fungus, plant, or animal

parasite

an organism that benefits by living in or on another organism at the expense of that organism

pseudopod

a temporary cytoplasmic extension that amoebas use for feeding and movement

cilium

a short, hair-like projection that functions in cell movement and particle manipulation when coordinated with other cilia

flagellum

a long, hair-like projection extending from the cell membrane that propels the cell using a whip-like motion

red tide

a coastal phenomenon in which dinoflagellates that contain red pigments are so concentrated that the seawater has a distinct red colour

fungus

a stationary, heterotrophic eukaryotic organism whose cell walls contain chitin

hypha

a multicellular, threadlike filament that makes up the basic structural unit of a fungus

mycelium

a complex, net-like mass made of branching hyphae

fruiting body

the spore-producing reproductive structure in fungi

zygospore

a diploid structure that develops after two haploid hyphae of opposite types combine and fuse their nuclei; this structure is characteristic of zygospore fungi that reproduce sexually during unfavourable conditions

ascus

a small finger-like structure in which sac fungi develop spores

basidium

a club-shaped hypha found in members of the Basidiomycotes; they bear spores called basidiospores

lichen

an organism that results from a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic plant or alga

invertebrate

an animal that does not have a backbone

vertebrate

an animal with an internal skeleton and a backbone

radial symmetry

a body plan that can be divided along any plane, through a central axis, into roughly equal halves

bilateral symmetry

a body plan that can be divided along one plane, through the central axis, into equal halves

coelom

a fluid-filled body cavity that provides space for the development and suspension of organs and organ systems

segmentation

the division of multicellular bodies into a series of repetitive parts

mantle

a membrane that surrounds a mollusc’s internal organs

exoskeleton

an external skeleton that protects organs, provides support for muscle attachment, and protects against water loss and predation

notochord

a flexible, rod-shaped structure found in chordate animals; during vertebrate development it is replaced by the spine

cartilage

the flexible, non-bony, tough material found in vertebrate endoskeletons

tetrapod

a vertebrate with two pairs of limbs; an amphibian, reptile, bird, or mammal

ectothermy

the reliance on environmental heat for determining internal body temperature

endothermy

the use of metabolic heat to maintain a high, constant body temperature

mammary gland

a mammalian gland that produces and secretes milk for nourishing developing young

placenta

an organ in the pregnant uterus that exchanges nutrients and oxygen between the mother and developing offspring