General Biology 2 Review – Final Exam

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts necessary for the General Biology 2 final exam review.

Kingdom Animalia

A biological classification that includes all animals, characterized by multicellularity, heterotrophy, and lack of cell walls.

Hox genes

A group of related genes that control the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis.

Multicellularity

Organisms composed of multiple cells that may exhibit division of labor.

Cambrian Explosion

A period approximately 541 million years ago when a vast increase in the diversity of animal species occurred.

Vertebrate evolution

The evolutionary history and adaptations of animals with a backbone.

Invertebrates vs. vertebrates

Invertebrates lack a backbone, while vertebrates possess a vertebral column.

Metazoa

A major division of the animal kingdom that includes all animals.

Levels of organization

Hierarchical organization of life ranging from cells to tissues to organs to systems.

Body plans

The general structural layout of an organism's body, including symmetry and morphology.

Radial symmetry

Body plan symmetry where body parts radiate from a central point like the spokes of a wheel.

Bilateral symmetry

Body plan symmetry where the left and right sides of an organism are mirror images.

Cephalization

The concentration of sensory and neural organs at the anterior end of an organism, forming a 'head'.

Digestive system types

Incomplete (sac) versus complete (tube) digestive systems based on food processing.

Developmental pattern

The process through which a fertilized egg develops into a mature organism.

Diploblastic

Organisms that develop from two germ layers: ectoderm and endoderm.

Triploblastic

Organisms that develop from three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Germ layers

Layers of cells in the early embryo that develop into various tissues and organs.

Coelom

A body cavity that is typically lined by mesoderm.

Acoelomate

An organism that lacks a body cavity.

Pseudocoelomate

An organism with a body cavity that is not entirely lined by mesoderm.

Eucoelomate

An organism with a true coelom, lined entirely with mesoderm.

Segmentation

The division of an animal body into repeated segments.

Protostome

An animal whose mouth develops from the blastopore.

Deuterostome

An animal whose anus develops from the blastopore.

Phylogenetic tree of Animals

A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among various species.

Porifera

The phylum of sponges, characterized by their porous bodies.

Ostia

The small openings on a sponge that allow water to enter.

Osculum

The larger opening at the top of a sponge through which water exits.

Spicules

Structural elements found in sponges, providing support.

Choanocytes

Feeding cells in sponges that create water currents and trap food.

Amebocytes

Mobile cells in sponges that distribute nutrients and produce spicules.

Mesohyl

The gelatinous matrix in which the cells of sponges are embedded.

Spongocoel

The central cavity within a sponge.

Sessile filter feeder

An organism that is fixed in one place and feeds by filtering food particles from water.

Sexual reproduction

The process of reproduction involving the combination of genetic material from two parents.

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes.

Gemmules

A survival structure produced by some sponges during unfavorable conditions.

Cnidaria

A phylum that includes jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, characterized by radial symmetry.

Gastrovascular cavity

A central cavity in some animals, serving as both digestive and circulatory function.

Cnidocytes

Specialized cells in Cnidaria that contain stinging structures called nematocysts.

Nerve net

A decentralized network of interconnected neurons in Cnidaria.

Mesoglea

The jelly-like substance found between the two layers of cells in Cnidaria.

Epidermis

The outer layer of cells in an organism; in Cnidaria, it is the protective covering.

Gastrodermis

The inner layer of cells lining the gastrovascular cavity in Cnidaria.

Incomplete digestive system

A digestive system with one opening; food enters and waste exits through the same opening.

Class Scyphozoa

The class of Cnidaria that includes true jellyfish.

Ephyra

A juvenile stage in the life cycle of jellyfish.

Rhopalium

Sensory structures in jellyfish, containing sensory organs.

Hydrozoan life cycle

A life cycle characterized by both polyp and medusa forms in Cnidaria.

Class Anthozoa

The class of Cnidaria that includes corals and sea anemones.

Septa

Internal wall structures in anthozoans that divide the gastrovascular cavity.

Siphonoglyph

Ciliated groove in the mouth region of some anthozoans that helps in feeding.

Pedal laceration

A form of asexual reproduction in some anthozoans where a part of the base breaks off.

Nematocyst

A stinging structure contained in cnidocytes.

Zooxanthellae

Symbiotic algae that live within the tissues of corals, providing nutrition.

Calcareous cup

A hard structure created by corals for protection.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Coral reef distribution

The geographic areas where coral reefs are typically found.

Coral metabolism

The biochemical processes that occur within coral organisms.

Threats to corals

Factors that negatively impact coral reefs, such as climate change and pollution.

Coral bleaching

The loss of color in corals due to stress, causing them to expel their zooxanthellae.

Ocean acidification

The decrease in pH of ocean waters due to the absorption of CO2, affecting marine life.

Lophotrochozoa

A clade of animals that includes lophophorates and mollusks.

Lophophore

A specialized feeding structure found in some lophotrochozoans.

Trochophore

A free-swimming larval stage found in some lophotrochozoan animals.

Platyhelminthes

The phylum of flatworms, which includes flukes and tapeworms.

Bilateral symmetry

Organisms that can be divided into two equal halves along one plane.

Triploblastic

Organisms with three primary germ layers during embryonic development.

Acoelomate

Animals that lack a coelom; their organs are embedded in solid tissue.

Cephalization

The development of a defined head region in an organism.

Ladder-type nervous system

A nervous system organization resembling a ladder, common in flatworms.

Excretory system

A system responsible for the removal of waste products from the body.

Pharynx

The muscular tube in flatworms used to ingest food.

Incomplete gut

A digestive system with only one opening for both ingestion and egestion.

Turbellarians

A class of flatworms that are mostly free-living, such as planaria.

Planaria

A genus of flatworms known for their regenerative abilities.

Auricles

Sensory structures on planarians that detect chemical signals in the environment.

Muscle layers

Layers of muscle in flatworms that facilitate movement.

Eye spots

Light-sensitive structures in flatworms that allow them to detect light.

Hermaphrodites

Organisms that have both male and female reproductive organs.

Trematodes

Flatworms also known as flukes, often with complex life cycles.

Definitive host

The host in which a parasite reaches maturity.

Intermediate hosts

Hosts that harbor the larval stage of a parasite.

Liver fluke

A common fluke that infects the liver of various animals.

Schistosoma spp.

Blood flukes responsible for schistosomiasis, affecting humans.

Cestodes

A class of flatworms known as tapeworms, which are usually parasitic.

Scolex

The head of a tapeworm, equipped with hooks and suckers for attachment.

Neck

The region of a tapeworm that connects the scolex to the body segments.

Proglottids

Segments of a tapeworm that contain reproductive structures.

Annelida

The phylum of segmented worms, including earthworms and leeches.

Segmented worms

Worms characterized by a body divided into sections.

Metamerism

The segmentation of the body into repeated units or segments.

Closed circulation

A circulatory system where blood is contained within vessels.

Ventral nerve cord

The main nerve cord located on the abdomen of most annelids.

Setae (chaetae)

Bristle-like structures on the body of annelids that assist in movement.

Parapodia

Fleshy protrusions used for movement and respiration in some annelids.

Polychaetes

A class of annelids with many setae and well-developed parapodia.

Oligochaetes

A class of annelids, such as earthworms, that have fewer setae.

Clitellum

A thickened segment in oligochaetes involved in reproduction.

Cocoon

The protective casing produced during the reproductive process of oligochaetes.