BIO 200 Final Exam Study Guide – Spring 2025

Domains & Evolution

  • Three Domains of Life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryotes.
    • Differ in introns, chromosome structure, and membrane-bound organelles.
    • All use the same central dogma: DNA → RNA → Protein.
  • The question asks which of the following consist of prokaryotic cells?
    • The answer is bacteria and archaea.
  • Endosymbiosis Theory:
    • Mitochondria and chloroplasts share:
      • Binary fission
      • Circular DNA
      • Prokaryotic ribosomes
      • Membrane structure
  • The strongest evidence for the endosymbiotic origin of eukaryotic organelles is the similarity between extant prokaryotes and mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Plant Biology

  • Bryophytes & Vascular Plants:
    • Need vascular tissue for height.
  • Alternation of Generations:
    • Diploid (sporophyte) ↔ Haploid (gametophyte) stages.
  • Traits Shared with Charophytes:
    • Chlorophyll a/b
    • Sporopollenin
    • Cellulose synthesis.
  • Gymnosperms vs. Angiosperms:
    • Both have vascular tissue and reduced gametophytes.

Fungi & Animal Kingdom

  • Fungal Cell Wall:
    • Contains chitin (not cellulose).
  • Traits of Animal Kingdom:
    • Tissues
    • Symmetry
    • Developmental stages.
  • Earliest Animal Split:
    • Tissues vs. no tissues.

Animal Systems

  • Cephalization = Bilateral symmetry.
  • Amniotic Egg:
    • Key adaptation for dry land.
  • Smooth Muscle:
    • Spindle-shaped, involuntary, no striations.
  • Neurons:
    • Cell body holds nucleus.
  • Negative Feedback:
    • Maintains homeostasis.

Excretory System

  • Urea vs. Ammonia:
    • Urea is less toxic.
  • Kidney Function:
    • Active transport requires high energy.
  • Glomerulus → Bowman's Capsule:
    • Driven by blood pressure.

Plant Transport & Water Potential

  • Water Potential:
    • Pure water flows into cells with lower (more negative) potential.
  • Transpiration:
    • Depends on cohesion, adhesion, root pressure, and vascular tissue.
  • Capillary Action:
    • Important in plant water transport.

Circulatory System

  • Double Circulation:
    • Gas-exchange + systemic circuits.
  • Pulmonary Vein → Left Atrium.
  • Amphibian Circulation:
    • Oxygenate via skin & lungs.

Plant Reproduction

  • Gamete Formation:
    • Via meiosis.
  • Fruits:
    • Develop post-fertilization, often contain seeds.

Plant & Immune Defense

  • Plant Defenses:
    • Cuticle, chemical production, cell suicide, R-avr proteins.
  • Systemic Acquired Resistance:
    • Whole-plant defense after infection.
  • Active vs. Passive Immunity:
    • Active requires pathogen exposure.

Immune System

  • Cytotoxic T Cells:
    • Destroy infected cells via perforin/granzyme.
  • Humoral vs. Cell-Mediated Immunity:
    • T cells vs. B cells.

Reproduction & Hormones

  • Egg Production:
    • 1 egg per meiotic cycle.
  • Trophic Hormones:
    • Target endocrine glands; non-trophic target tissues.
  • Asexual Reproduction:
    • Fragmentation, budding, etc.
  • Hormone Types:
    • Lipid-derived = membrane-permeable.
    • Others (peptide, amino acid) = membrane-bound receptors.

Light and Photoreception

  • Best Light Wavelengths for Photosynthesis:
    • Blue (∼\sim470nm), Red (∼\sim700nm).
  • Amyloplasts:
    • Gravity-sensing organelles in roots.

Plant Hormones

  • Germination Trigger:
    • Removal of abscisic acid.
  • False Statement:
    • Not all plant hormones are water-soluble.
  • A decrease in the level of abscisic acid releases seeds from dormancy.