Diversity of Living Things Test Flashcards
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce viable and fertile offspring, naturally
Morphological species concept
- Focuses on body shape, size, and other structural features
- Simple and most popular
Biological species concept
- Focuses on similar characteristics and organisms’ ability to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring naturally
Phylogenetic species concept
- Focuses on evolutionary relationships among organisms
- Can be applied to extinct species and considers DNA, but evolutionary history must be known
Taxonomy
Branch of biology that identifies, names, and classifies species.
- Carolus Linnaeus is the “father” of taxonomy
Binomial nomenclature
- First word is the Genus
- Second word is the species
- Genus is capitalized, species is lowercase
- Italicized when typed
- Underlined when hand-written
Taxonomic ranks
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Anabolism
The process of building up complex substances from simpler substances
- Building up cells and cellular components
- Photosynthesis
Catabolism
The process of breaking down complex substances into simpler substances to release energy
- Digestion
- Cellular respiration
Metabolism
The total of all chemical reactions in an organism. Anabolism + catabolism = metabolism
Physiology
Deals with internal physical and chemical functions of organisms
Structural diversity
Physical diversity among organisms from body morphology all the way to cell structure
Prokaryote
A smaller, simpler type of cell without a membrane-bound nucleus
Eukaryote
A larger, complex type of cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus
Species diversity
The variety and abundance of species in a given area
Genetic diversity
The variety of inheritable characteristics in a population of interbreeding individuals
- Genetic diversity always greater within a species than within a population
- Provides resistance to diseases & environmental changes
Ecosystem diversity
The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere
Anatomy
The study of the structure of organisms
Kingdoms
Total of 6:
- Archaebacteria
- Eubacteria
- Protista
- Fungi
- Plantae
- Animalia
Heterotrophic
Consumes other organisms for energy & nutrients
Autotrophic
Converts sunlight into energy
Kingdom: Bacteria
Domain: Bacteria
Cell type: Prokaryote
Number of cells: Unicellular
Cell wall material: Peptidoglycan
Nutrition: Auto & Hetero
Reproduction: Asexual
Kingdom: Archea
Domain: Archaea
Cell type: Prokaryote
Number of cells: Unicellular
Cell wall: Not peptidoglycan; occasionally no wall
Nutrition: Auto & Hetero
Reproduction: Asexual
Kingdom: Protista
Domain: Eukarya
Cell type: Eukaryote
Number of cells: Uni & Multi
Cell wall: Cellulose, or no cell wall
Nutrition: Auto & Hetero
Reproduction: Asexual & sexual
Kingdom: Plantae
Domain: Eukarya
Cell type: Eukaryote
Number of cells: Multicellular
Cell wall: Cellulose
Nutrition: Auto
Reproduction: Sexual
Kingdom: Fungi
Domain: Eukarya
Cell type: Eukaryote
Number of cells: Multicellular
Cell wall: Cellulose, occasionally no wall
Nutrition: Auto & Hetero
Reproduction: Asexual & Sexual
Kingdom: Animalia
Domain: Eukarya
Cell type: Eukaryote
Number of cells: Multicellular
Cell wall: No wall
Nutrition: Hetero
Reproduction: Sexual
Viruses
A structure that contains strands of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat, and depends on a host cell to reproduce
Classifying viruses
- NOT classified in any of the 3 domains of classification
- Classified based on size, shape of capsid, and type of disease caused
Capsid
The outer protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus
Viruses with RNA
- Called retroviruses
- ex. COVID, flu, HIV
Lytic cycle
- Attachment
- Injection/entry
- Replication
- Asssembly
- Release (lysis/breaking open)
Lysogenic cycle
- Attachment
- Injection/entry
- Integration into the host cell’s DNA
- Dormancy/normal cell function
- Triggering of viral DNA to be released, then lytic cycle
Shapes of bacteria & archea
Groups of bacteria & archea
Bacteria & archea movement
- Flagellum – tails whips around
- Cilia – small hairs used to swim
- Non-motile – don’t move
Binary fission
- Asexual form of reproduction used by most prokaryotes (including bacteria & archea)
- Cell divides into genetically identical cells
Conjugation
- In less favourable conditions, bacteria & archea exchange DNA by conjugation
- Produces cells with new genetic combinations, allows them to better adapt to harsh conditions
- ex. when bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics
Endospores
- Hard walled structures that allow bacteria cells to survive for long period in extreme conditions
- Not found in any archea
Gram stain
- Method used to classify bacteria & archea
- Gram positive: stains PURPLE due to thick protein layer on cell wall
- Gram negative: stains PINK due to thin protein layer on cell wall
Endosymbiosis
Theory of how eukaryotic cells evolved from symbiotic prokaryotic cells
- One cell engulfs another cell, engulfed cell survives, becomes an organelle
- ex. chloroplast & mitochondria
Protists
- Unicellular
- 3 types:
- Animal–like
- Fungus–like
- Plant–like
Animal-like protists
- Called protozoans
- Heterotrophic
- Many species of them are parasites
- ex. Giardia which causes diarrhea & stomach pain
Fungus-like protists
- All heterotrophs, but they absorb raw nutrients
- Produce spores
- Are all slime moulds
Plant-like protists
- Contain pigment in their chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis
Methanogens
Microorganisms that create methane as a byproduct of their metabolism
- ex. Archea
Spores
A reproductive cell capable of developing into a new individual without the need of another reproductive cell
Aerobe
An organism that lives in an env. with oxygen
- both archea & bacteria
Obligatory Anaerobe
An organism that only lives where there is no oxygen
- Includes methanogens
Plasmid
A commonly used vector for inserting foreign DNA into bacteria
Pilus
A protein fibre that extends from a bacteria to perform conjugation
Halophiles
Extremophiles who can survive in environments extremely high in salinity
Thermophiles
Extremophiles who can survive in extremely hot environments
Chloroplast
A type of organelle found in plants which converts light energy into carbohydrates like sugar and starches
Algae
Photosynthetic protists which may be unicellular or multicellular
- Multicellular algae are called seaweed
Dinoflagellates
- Unicellular
- Also know as phytoplankton
- Have two flagella at right angles from each other
- Produce algal bloom/red tide
Diatoms
- Unicellular
- AKA phytoplankton
- One of the most diverse and abundant food source for marine organisms
- Rigid cell wall with an outer layer of silica
Incubation period
The time when the virus is replicating inside a host, but the host does not feel any symptoms yet
Euglenoids
- Unicellular
- Found in shallow, fresh water
- Autotrophs in sun, Heterotrophs in the dark
Red algae
- First multicellular organisms on earth
- Found in warm, tropical oceans
- Have additional pigment called phycoerythrin
- Used in food colouring
Brown algae
- Largest & most complex
- Do not have leaves or roots
- Leaves = blades with air bladders to float
- Stem = stipe
- Anchor = holdfast
Green algae
- Found in fresh water
- If unicellular, move with flagella
- If multicellular, can grow up to a metre in length
- Most plant-like algae
Cercozoans
- Change shape with temporary extensions of the cytoplasm called pseudopods
Ciliates
- Have short, hair-like projections called cilia covering the surface
- Used for locomotion and sweeping food particles along the cell surface
Sporozoans
- Parasites whose life cycles alternate between sexual & asexual reproduction
Embryo
An organism’s pre-birth stage of development
Vascular plants
Two types of tissue:
- Xylem — carries water & minerals from the roots
- provides support for plants
- Phloem — tissue used for transport of larger molecules
Non-vascular plants
- No vascular tissue (no veins or tubes)
- Depend on diffusion & osmosis
- Used for nutrient cycling & pharma
- 3 types:
- Mosses
- Liverwarts
- Hornwarts
Gymnosperms
- Seeds are exposed on the surface of cones
- Coniferous
- Non flowering
- ex. pines, spruce, etc.
Angiosperms
- Seeds are contained within a fruit
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- ex. Snapdragon flowers
Seeds
Allow plants to reproduce without the need of water, and to provide protection
Cotyledon
Structure found in seed’s embryo for nourishment
Monocots
- 1 cotyledon
- Multiples of 3 flowers
- Have parallel veins
- No wood
- Fibrous roots
- Roots in a ring
- Scattered vascular bundles in stem
Dicots
- 2 cotyledon
- Multiples of 4 or 5 flowers
- Net-like veins
- Taproot roots
- Roots in star shape
- Vascular bundles in stem are in a ring
Fruit
- Mature ovary of a flower that contains seeds
- Goal is to spread any way possible
Parasitic
- Absorb nutrients from the living cell of a host organism
- Fungus usually lives inside the host
Mutualistic
- Have partnerships with other organisms
- Often plants or protists
Saprobial
- Feed on dead organisms or organic waste
- Decomposers, recycle nutrients
Hyphae
Multicellular thread-like filament that makes up the basic structural unit of a fungus
Mycelia
Branching network of hyphae that live in the substrate (roots)
Body layers
- Ectoderm
- Outer Layer
- Mesoderm
- Middle layers
- Endoderm
- Inner layer
Coelom
Fluid filled body cavity that sometimes suspends an animal’s digestive tract.
Vertebrates
- Have a notochord
- flexible, rod-shaped structure
- Also have a dorsal nerve chord
Invertebrate
- Do not have a notochord or dorsal nerve chord
INVERTEBRATES: Sponges & Cnidarians
Sponges:
- No tissues
- Two layers of cells
- Not mobile
- Asymetric
Cnidarians:
- Includes jellyfish, anemones, and coral
- Only two layers of cells
- Have tissues
- Radial symmetry
INVERTEBRATES: Worms
- Simple nervous system with a brain-like concentration of cells at the head end
INVERTEBRATES: Mollusks
- Bilateral symmetry
- Three layers of cells
- Two body openings
- Many have a hard shell
- Clams, snails, octopi
INVERTEBRATES: Echinoderms
- Sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sand dollars
- Marine animals
- Radial symmetry
INVERTEBRATES: Arthropods
- Majority of animal species
- Spiders, scorpions, crustaceans, insects
- Exoskeletons
VERTEBRATES: Fish
- About half of all vertebrate species
- Use gills
- Some have a skeleton of cartilage
- Have an air sac called a swim bladder
VERTEBRATES: Amphibians
- Tetrapods
- Two pairs of limbs
- Portion of their life cycle on land
- Frogs/toads and salamanders
- Use lungs & moist skin for gas exchange
- External fertilization
VERTEBRATES: Reptiles
- Lizards, snakes, crocodiles, turtles
- Body scales
- Shelled eggs
- Internal fertilization
- Ectothermic
- Rely on environment to regulate body temp.
VERTEBRATES: Birds
- Endothermic
- Use metabolic heat to maintain body temp
- Most can fly
- Lightweight bones
VERTEBRATES: Mammals
- All have mammary glands
- Produce and secrete milk for nourishing young
- Have hair for insulation, camo, waterproofing, and communication
8 characterisitcs used to classify animals
- Vertebrate or invertebrate
- Levels of organization
- All animals have cells (except sponges)
- Numbers of body layers
- Symmetry & body planes
- Radial symmetry
- Bilateral symmetry
- Body cavities
- Coelom or not
- Segmentation
- Repeated sections of body
- Movement
- speed & ability to move
- Reproduction
- Sexual
- Internal or external fertilization
- Asexual
- Sexual
Fungi imperfecti
- all asexual
- ex. cheese mould
Chytrids
- Mostly unicellular
- Most are aquatic
Zygospore fungi
- Multicellular and terrestrial
- ex. bread mould
Sac fungi
- Largest group of fungi
- Develop small finger-like sacs called asci
- Sexual reproduction through fusion
- Include single-called yeasts
Leaf diagram
