Diversity of Living Things Flashcards
Taxonomy
The science of classifying groups of organisms based on their characteristics
Developed by Carolus Linneaus (only physical characteristics)
Now also use genetic and biochemical characteristics
Taxon Order
8 different taxa (sing. taxon): Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Domain - largest, based on cell type, often skipped
Species
Individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Types of Evidence
- Anatomical - do the structures of the organisms look the same?
- Physiological - do the proteins and enzymes in the cells work the same?
- DNA - how genetically closely related are the genes and the proteins they make?
Prokaryotes
- cells that do not contain a true nucleus
- smaller (1-10 micrometers µm)
- DNA: chromosomes, plasmids (in nucleoid region)
- Genome: single chromosome
- Cell: unicellular - one cell
- Organelles: ribosomes (proteins), no membrane bound organelles
- Metabolism: anaerobic
- Division (asexual): binary fission
- Reproduction (sexual): conjugation
- Movement: flagella
- Cell wall: present
- Examples: bacteria (E. Coli)
Eukaryotes
- cells that contain a true nucleus
- bigger (100-1000 micrometers µm)
- DNA: bound within a membrane
- Genome: several chromosome
- Cell: multicellular - many cells
- Organelles: membrane bound organelles
- Metabolism: aerobic
- Division (asexual): mitosis
- Reproduction (sexual): meiosis
- Movement: flagella (sperm), cilia
- Cell wall: plants
- Examples: plants, animals, protists
Kindom:
Cell type
Number of cells
Cell Wall
Nutrition
Reproduction
Bacteria
Eubacteria
- prokaryotic, unicellular, cell wall present (peptidoglycan)
- auto/hetero
- binary fission/conjugation
- decomposers, O2 and N2 producers
- E. coli, cyanobacteria
Archaea
Archaeabacteria
- prokaryotic, unicellular, cell walls are unique
- auto/hetero
- binary fission/conjugation
- harsh/extreme environments
- acidophiles
Eukarya
Protista, fungi, plantae, animalia - eukaryotic, organelles
Protista
- eukaryotes, unicellular, cell wall present
- auto/hetero
- asexual/sexual
- important producers
- plankton, amoeba, algae
Fungi
- eukaryotes, multicellular, cell walls present (chitin)
- heterotrophic
- asexual/sexual
- decomposers, food (yeast)
- mushrooms, mold, yeast
Plantae
- eukaryotes, multicellular, cell wall present
- autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- asexual/sexual
- food, O2, rubber, fuel, dyes, medicine
- angiosperms (flowering), gymnosperms (cone baring)
Animalia
- eukaryotes, multicellular, cell wall absent
- heterotrophic
- mitosis/meiosis
- present in all food chains
- insects, reptiles, mammals
Biological species
Organisms can successfully breed and produce fertile offspring. Only works for living, sexually reproducing organisms
Morphological species
Comparing the measurement and physical description. Used for plants and asexually reproducing organisms
Phylogenetic species
Looks for evolutionary relationships between organisms. Usually based on DNA studies or fossil evidence
Dichotomous keys
Dichotomous - divide in two
Scientists use the key and ask yes/no questions to classify a newly discovered organism compared to existing organisms.
Based on known species characteristics of organisms.
Can be shown as a branching tree diagram.
Questions asked in a dichotomous key
Is it multicellular?
Does it have tissues?
Radial symmetry?
Bilateral symmetry?
Binomial Nomenclature
Carolus Linnaeus.
Every species has a unique two part scientific name.
1. Genus and species
2. Underlined/italicized
3. Genus is capitalised
4. species is lower-case
5. Latin
6. Unique in the same Genus
Purpose of Binomial Nomenclature
Common names of an organism are different in every language, so the scientific names ensure communication
Flagella
Whip-like tail that extends from the cell wall
Provides movement (swimming)
Slime Capsule
Outer coat of thick gelatenous layer that allows bacteria to stick to surfaces
Helps protect against white blood cells and keep from drying out
Cell Wall
Composed of sugars and amino acid molecules forming a rigid material that gives bacteria shape
Cell Membrane
Semi-permeable membrane that allows the movement of substances (nutrients, wastes) in and out of the cell
Pili
Bridge structure that allows for passage of DNA between cells in sexual reproduction
Cytoplasm (cytosol)
Fluid medium; contain dissolved nutrients, minerals, and salts
DNA
Genetic material that contains genes for making protein
Continuous loop that makes a single chromosome
Plasmids
Small rings of additional DNA that float freely in the cytoplasm
Ribosomes
Involved in the production of protein
Bacteria Shape
Cocci (coccus) - round shape
Bacilli (bacillus) - rod shape
Spirilli (spirillum) - spiral shape
Bacteria Groupings
Diplo - pairs
Staphylo - clusters
Strept - chains
Cell Wall Structure
Gram stain (Hans Gram) shows basic differences in the arrangement of amino acid and sugar molecules in bacterial cell walls
Gram positive bacteria - thick protein layer on cell wall and stain purple
Gram negative bacteria - thin protein layer on cell wall and stain pink
Asexual Reproduction
Binary Fission:
1. Copy of DNA (single chromosome)
2. After reaching a certain size, it elongates, separating the 2 chromosomes
3. Cell builds a partition, septum, between them
4. Cell splits into 2 identical cells
In favourable conditions - 20 min (exponential growth)
Limitations: environment, food resources, waste build-up (toxic)
Sexual Reproduction
Conjugation:
1. Bacterial cells link through pili
2. One bacterium transfers all/part of its chromosomes to the other (plasmid may also be transferred)
3. Bacteria with new genetic makeup produce new cells through binary fission
Can go dormant forming endospores to survive unfavourable conditions
Endospores
Tough outer covering that surrounds their DNA and a small amount of the cytoplasm
Carbon and Energy Sources
Obtain energy and nutrients by performing photosynthesis, decomposing dead organisms/wastes, or breaking down chemical compounds
Bacterial Nutrition
Autotrophic (some): make own food from raw material
- Photosynthetic: photosynthesis
- Chemosynthetic: make food from the chemicals in the environment
Heterotrophic (most): cannot make own food and obtain food from an outside source
- Parasitic: live on or in other things
- Saprophytic: live off dead organic matter or wastes
Applications of Bacteria
- create food products (yogurt)
- fermentation (brewing)
- agriculture (composting)
- killing plant pests
- biotechnology (fuels, medicine)
- genetic engineering (enzymes)
- gene therapy
- clean up spills and toxic waste
Virus
Smallest and simplest microorganism.
Not a living organism, since they have no cellular structure - no growth, repair, replication.
Not capable of independent survival (evolved after 1st cells).
First viewed in 1950 through early electron microscope, now 160 major groups.
Virus Structure
20nm - 400 nm
1. DNA/RNA genetic material (single/double-stranded or fragmented)
2. Protein coat - capsid (determined by the arrangement of viral proteins)
3. Receptors - attach to specific host cells on specific receptor sites on the plasma membrane of the host cell
Virus shape
- Helical
- Polyhedral
- Enveloped
- Complex
Virus classification
According to what type of diseases they cause.
Human viruses - 21 groups
Epidemic
Major increase in disease occurrence
Pandemic
An epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very large area, crossing international boundaries and affecting a lot of people
Virus Replication
Lytic cycle:
1. Attachment
- attaches to host cell via receptors
2. Entry
- enters cell bty injecting nucleic acid or creating a vacuole that is later released
- injects DNA into host cell
3. Synthesis
- host cell replicates viral DNA
4. Assembly
- new viruses are made (coat and DNA)
5. Release - lysis
- cell bursts, releasing new viruses
20 - 40 minutes. 100s of new viruses.
Lysogeny Cycle
- invade the cell but do not kill it
- virus is in a dormant state within the cell
- it is a provirus - viral genetic material is integrated into cell DNA, and passed to the daughter cells
- may be later activated by stimuli
Retrovirus
Contain enzyme, reverse transcriptase, which causes the host cell to copy the viral RNA into DNA. Retroviral DNA is integrated into host DNA (now called provirus)
Example: HIV