Animal biology Flashcards
Fertilization
Forms the diploid zygote
Embryonic stages
- Cleavage converts the unicellular zygote into a multicellular embryo
- Blastula, a hollow ball of cells
- Gastrulation where 3 germ layers are formed
Differential gene expression
The foundation of the diverse cell type and behaviors seen throughout development
Morphogenesis
Occurs via changes in cell position, shape, survival, and forms organs
Model organisms
- Easy to study but broadly representative
- Developmental genes and mechanisms are very similar across animal species (ex. fruit flies and humans have similar genes with similar functions)
- Studying development in model organisms provides knowledge about development in general (ex. sea urchins, frogs)
Fertilization in sea urchins
- External fertilization, release their sperm into the water, can be viewed externally
- Sperm and egg are haploid gametes
- Acrosome contains digestive enzymes, to digest the jelly coat around the egg
- Contact of sperm with jelly coat triggers the acrosomal reaction
- Surface proteins on acrosomal process bind to receptors on the egg cell membrane
- Plasma membranes fuse triggering fast block of polyspermy (depolarization from membrane)
- Sperm nucleus enters and cortical reaction causes slow block to polyspermy
- Fusion of sperm and egg nuclei form diploid nucleus and the zygote
- Egg cytoplasm contains many proteins and mRNA involved in early development
Blastula
- In frogs, the zygote becomes a blastula
0 The blastula is a hollow ball of cells with a fluid filled cavity called the blastocoel
Cleavage
- The process by which the zygote becomes multicellular
- Rapid cell division and little growth of individual cells (G1 and G2 phases skipped)
- Results in many smaller cells called blastomeres
Differential gene expression
- Cells express different genes depending on their location and the stage of development
- Expressing different genes leads to the production of different proteins
- Which in turn determine the structure and behavior of the cell at any given time
How does the cell know what genes to express at any given time?
Two mechanisms:
1. Cytoplasmic determinants
- the signal comes from within the cell
2. Inductive signals
- the signal comes from outside the cell
Cytoplasmic determinants
- Molecules within the cytoplasm that regulate gene expression
- Can be differentially distributed to daughter cells resulting in differences in genes expression
Inductive signals
- The signal molecules that a cell is exposed to depend on its location within the embryo, and the stages of development
Morphogenesis
- The rearrangement of cells or sheets of cells in the embryo
- Gastrulation: the stage when three germs layers are established, and the basic body plan is set up
- Organogenesis: the formation of organs (ex. neurulation = formation of the nervous system)
Gastrulation
- Results in a three-layered gastrula
- Ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm
Gastrulation steps
- Cells in the vegetal hemisphere push inward (form the blastopore and blastocoel)
- Outer cells (future endoderm and mesoderm) roll inward
- Blastocoel collapses and a new cavity - archenteron is formed
- Cells at the animal pole (future ectoderm) spread over the outer surface
ectodermal and endodermal cells express different genes
How is morphogenesis achieved
- Morphogenesis is achieved through changes in cell position, shape, and survival
- Convergent extension - example of cells changing position
- Produces longer, narrower structure
Formation of the neural tube
- Ectodermal cells change shape during neural tube formation
- Ectoderm, neural plate, microtubules, actin filaments
Programmed cell death
- Also shapes embryos
- Cells undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Ex. removal of webbing between digits
Endocrine and nervous system
Endocrine and nervous systems are the major systems that control responses to stimuli and coordinate body activities and maintain homeostasis!
Endocrine vs nervous speed
- Endocrine system is specialized for coordinating gradual changes that affect the entire body
- e.g. growth and development, reproduction, metabolic processes, and digestion
- Nervous system is specialized for directing immediate and rapid responses to the environment
- e.g. rapid locomotion and behaviors
Neurons and glia
Neurons: cells responsible for generating and transmitting the electrochemical impulses of the nervous system
- Glia: cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, nourish, and provide support and protection for neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system
Neural transmission
- Electrical impulses are triggered at the dendrites
- With sufficient stimulus to the cell body, a new electrical impulse is generated and sent down the axon
- Neurotransmitter is released and crosses the synapse to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell
Central nervous system (CNS)
- Brain
- Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- Cranial nerves
- Ganglia outside CNS
- Spinal nerves
Information processing
- Sensory input (sensor)
through peripheral (sensory neuron) - Integration (CNS)
through peripheral (motor neuron) - Motor output (effector)
Endocrine cells
Secrete hormones into the bloodstream, affecting target cells to regulate physiology and behavior
Hypothalamus
A brain region that acts as the “master regulator” of the endocrine system, primarily through the pituitary gland
Posterior pituitary
- Made up of axons of neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus
Bioenergetics
The overall flow and transformation of energy within an organism
How much energy does an animal need?
- Enough to maintain basic metabolic functions
- the more active an animal is, the more energy needed
Metabolic rate
- MR: the amount of energy used per unit of time
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the metabolic rate of a non-growing endotherm that is at rest, has an empty digestive tract, and is not experiencing stress
(i.e., the min amount of energy to maintain basic functions)
How to measure an animal’s energy use?
- Measure o2 consumption
- Measure co2 production
- Measure the amount of food being eaten
- Faeces
Energy, organic molecules, essential nutrients
- Chemical energy in food is used in cellular respiration to produce ATP or is stored
- Organic molecules are needed for biosynthesis
(e.g., nucleic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) - Essential nutrients
- e.g. Essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals
The four stages of food processing
- Ingestion
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Elimination
Ingestion
- Structures associated with ingestion are the most diverse part of the digestive system
- Mammalian teeth reflect diet
Four main feeding mechanisms
- Suspension feeders and filter feeders (e.g. whale)
- Substrate feeders (e.g. caterpillar)
- Fluid feeders (e.g. mosquito)
- Bulk feeders (e.g. snake)
Digestive system parts
- Alimentary canal + accessory organs
- Specialized in sequential stages of food processing
- Food pushed along by peristalsis
- Sphincters between compartments
Oral cavity
- The Oral cavity is the first site of mechanical and chemical digestion
- Salivary glands produce saliva
- Saliva contains:
- Mucus (protects the lining of the mouth and lubricates food)
- Buffers (help prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acid)
- Antimicrobial agents (e.g., lysozymes)
- Salivary amylase (Enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates)
Stomach
- Epithelium secretes gastric juice
- Food mechanically mixed with gastric juice to become chyme
Gastric glands 3 specialized types of cells
- Mucous cells
- Chief cells (make pepsinogen)
- Parietal cells (secrete hcl (gastric acid))
Location of chemical digestion
- Oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus: carbs
- Stomach: proteins
- Small intestine: Pancreatic enzymes: carbs, protein, nucleic acid, lipids
- Small intestine: epithelial cells: carbs, protein, nucleic acids
Lipid digestion
- Liver produces bile
- Gall bladder stores bile
- Bile released into the small intestine emulsifies fats
- Bile breaks it into smaller pieces
- Digested by pancreatic enzymes
How do we not digest ourselves?
- Mucus provides protection for cells lining alimentary canal
- HCl and digestive enzymes maintained in inactive forms until released to alimentary canal lumen
- Rapid turnover of cells lining alimentary canal
Liver
- Produces bile
- Regulates distribution of nutrients to rest of body
Structure of the small intestine (well suited for digestion and absorption)
- The small intestine has an incredibly large surface area
- Long narrow tube
- Large circular folds
- Villi
- Microvilli
- The many blood vessels connecting with the small intestine carry material to the liver
- The liver regulates the distribution of nutrients to the rest of the body, and functions in detoxification
- Acts like a “guard post” between what you ingest and the rest of your body
Temperature Regulation vs Conformity
Animals either regulate their physiological parameters OR allow their bodies to conform to external conditions
Regulators
Regulators use homeostatic mechanisms to control internal changes
Conformers
Conformers allow their internal condition to change in response to external change
- May be able to tolerate greater ranges for physiological parameters
- Internal stability is possible in stable environments
Physiological parameters being regulated
- Thermoregulation (temperature)
- Osmoregulation (body water, and solute concentration)
Thermoregulation
The maintenance of an internal temperature within a tolerable range
Why does body temp matter?
Biochemical and physiological processes are sensitive to changes in temp
ex:
- enzyme reaction rates
- proteins can denature when temp too high
- membrane fluidity can vary with temperature
Thermal strategies
- Can be defined based on the source of heat
- Endotherms vs Ectotherms
Ectotherms
Rely primarily on external environment as their major heat source
Homeotherms vs poikilotherm
- Body temp of poikilotherms varies with the environment
- Homeotherms have relatively constant body temperature