Diversity Test

Question 1

binomial nomenclature

Answer 1

the biological system of naming the organisms in which the name is composed of two terms, where, the first term indicates the genus and the second term indicates the species of the organism.

Question 2

Genus

Answer 2

a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.

Question 3

species

Answer 3

a group of organisms that can reproduce naturally with one another and crest fertile offspring.

Question 4

levels of classification

Answer 4

kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species

Question 5

phylogeny

Answer 5

the history of the evolution of a species or group.

Question 6

Dichotomous key

Answer 6

a key for the identification of organisms based on a series of choices between alternative characters.
used to identify different organisms, based the organism’s observable traits.

Question 7

bacteriophages

Answer 7

a type of virus that infects bacteria.

attaches itself to a susceptible bacterium and infects the host cell.

Question 8

lytic cycle

Answer 8

the reproduction of viruses using a host cell to manufacture more viruses; the viruses then burst out of the cell.
the phage replicates and lyses the host cell.

Question 9

lysogenic cycle

Answer 9

a method by which a virus can replicate its DNA using a host cell.

Question 10

carriers

Answer 10

an individual who carries one deleterious allele for an autosomal recessive disorder.

Question 11

antibodies

Answer 11

A protein made by plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to an antigen.
identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses.

Question 12

protist

Answer 12

A protist is any eukaryotic organism that is not an animal, plant, or fungus.
act as decomposers and help in recycling nutrients through ecosystems

Question 13

gullet

Answer 13

an invagination of the protoplasm in various protozoans (such as a paramecium) that sometimes functions in the intake of food.

Question 14

toxin

Answer 14

any toxic substance produced by microorganisms, plants, or animals.
important virulence determinants responsible for microbial pathogenicity and/or evasion of the host immune response.

Question 15

cillia

Answer 15

on a cell that is capable of lashing movement and serves especially in free unicellular organisms to produce locomotion or in higher forms a current of fluid.
to move water relative to the cell in a regular movement of the cilia.

Question 16

retrovirus

Answer 16

Retroviruses convert their RNA and DNA so viral DNA can join with host DNA.

Question 17

protozoa

Answer 17

a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris.
play an important role in mineralizing nutrients, making them available for use by plants and other soil organisms.

Question 18

trichocysts

Answer 18

any of numerous minute rodlike structures, found near the surface of ciliates and dinoflagellates.
used to capture food and, presumably, in defense.

Question 19

vaccines

Answer 19

a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Question 20

eyespot

Answer 20

a heavily pigmented region in certain one-celled organisms that apparently functions in light reception.
Detects light to aid the organism in finding sunlight for food production.

Question 21

pseudopods

Answer 21

extensions of the cytoplasm or the thick liquid that is inside organisms like an amoeba
locomotion and capture of prey or engulfing of food.

Question 22

halophiles

Answer 22

microorganisms that require certain concentrations of salt to survive
useful for cleaning up polluted environments.

Question 23

anal pores

Answer 23

an exterior opening of microscopic organisms through which undigested food waste, water, or gas are expelled from the body.

Question 24

parasite

Answer 24

an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.
influence host behavior and fitness, and can regulate host population sizes, sometimes with profound effects on trophic interactions, food webs, competition, biodiversity and keystone species.

Question 25

eukaryotes

Answer 25

organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within a nuclear envelope.
directs the synthesis of proteins and ribosomes

Question 26

prokaryotes

Answer 26

lack an organized nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
The cell wall of a prokaryote acts as an extra layer of protection, helps maintain cell shape, and prevents dehydration.

Question 27

archaebacteria

Answer 27

Unicellular microorganisms in the domain Archaea, which is genetically distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes, and often inhabiting extreme environmental conditions.
derive energy from oxidation of methane

Question 28

endospores

Answer 28

A differentiated cell formed within cells of certain Gram-positive bacteria that are extremely resistant to heat and other harmful conditions and agents.
allows the bacterium to produce a dormant and highly resistant cell to preserve the cell’s genetic material in times of extreme stress.

Question 29

micro nucleus

Answer 29

smaller nucleus, controls reproduction

Question 30

macro nucleus

Answer 30

a relatively large densely staining nucleus of most ciliate protozoans that is derived from micronuclei and controls various nonreproductive functions.
controls the non-reproductive cell functions, such as metabolism.

Question 31

methanogens

Answer 31

microorganisms that produce methane as a metabolic byproduct in hypoxic conditions.
responsible for the methane in the belches of ruminants and in the flatulence in humans.

Question 32

conjugation

Answer 32

A process by which one bacterium transfers genetic material to another through direct contact.

Question 33

flagellum

Answer 33

a motility organelle that enables movement and chemotaxis.

Question 34

binary fission

Answer 34

asexual reproduction by a separation of the body into two new bodies.

Question 35

antibiotics

Answer 35

chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and are used to treat bacterial infections.

Question 36

thermophiles

Answer 36

heat-loving organisms that exhibit optimal growth at a temperature above 60ºC or 140ºF.

Question 37

eubacteria

Answer 37

Prokaryotic microorganisms that can be found almost everywhere on Earth.
convert forms of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus that cannot be used by living organisms such as animals and plants into useful forms.

Question 38

contractile vacuole

Answer 38

a vacuole in some protozoans which expels excess liquid on contraction.

Question 39

antigens

Answer 39

Any substance that causes the body to make an immune response against that substance.
causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it.

Question 40

What is taxonomy? Why is it important?

Answer 40

Taxonomy is the scientific study of naming, defining and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics.
It helps us categorize organisms so we can more easily communicate biological information.

Question 41

Why do viruses only attack one type of cell?

Answer 41

a particular surface molecule, known as the viral receptor, must be found on the host cell surface for the virus to attach.

Question 42

Why do viruses not fall into any kingdom?

Answer 42

Viruses are not made out of cells, they can’t keep themselves in a stable state, they don’t grow, and they can’t make their own energy.

Question 43

What are the three different types of protists? How do they move?

Answer 43

animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists.
All protists can travel through water by one of three methods: cilia, flagella, or pseudo/axopodia.

Question 44

Name one difference and one similarity between the kingdoms Eubacteria and Archaebacteria.

Answer 44

Both archaebacteria and eubacteria are single-celled microorganisms, which are usually called prokaryotes. The main difference between archaebacteria and eubacteria is that archaebacteria are usually found in extreme environmental conditions whereas eubacteria are found everywhere on earth.

Question 45

Why are fungi not classified as plants?

Answer 45

fungi cell walls are composed of chitin rather than cellulose (plants) and fungi do not make their own food like plants do through photosynthesis. They are eukaryotic.

Question 46

Use one organism to illustrate the levels of classification.

Answer 46

House Cat
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Felis
Species: Domesticus

Question 47

What are the three types of viruses we discussed?

Answer 47

DNA viruses, RNA viruses and Retroviruses.

Question 48

Provide a brief overview of the characteristics in each kingdom.

Answer 48

Archaea: prokaryotic, unicellular, auto/heterotrophic
Eubacteria: prokaryotic, unicellular, cell wall – peptidoglycan.
Protista: eukaryotic, most unicellular- some colonial, cell wall- pectin, SILICA, cellulose (algae) or none.
Fungi: eukaryotic, most multicellular.
Plants: Single-celled or multicellular, capable of photosynthesis
Animals: Multicellular organisms, many with complex organ systems

Question 49

Describe the life cycle of the protist that causes Malaria.

Answer 49

During a blood meal, a malaria-infected female Anopheles mosquito inoculates sporozoites into the human host . Sporozoites infect liver cells and mature into schizonts , which rupture and release merozoites .

Question 50

Describe or be able to identify the process of binary fission.

Answer 50

In the process of binary fission, an organism duplicates its genetic material, or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and then divides into two parts (cytokinesis), with each new organism receiving one copy of DNA.

Question 51

Describe how Fungi can be beneficial and harmful. Give examples of each.

Answer 51

Fungi help in the breaking down and removal of dead organic matter. Some species attack the tissues of living trees and plants resulting in many plant diseases being caused by parasitic fungi.

Question 52

A mule (results from a cross between a male donkey and a female horse) has no species name. Explain.

Answer 52

A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and create viable offspring. In other words, a species can have babies that can have babies too.

Question 53

Compare and contrast gram – and gram + bacterial walls.

Answer 53

Gram positive bacteria have cell walls composed of thick layers of peptidoglycan. Gram positive cells stain purple when subjected to a Gram stain procedure. Gram negative bacteria have cell walls with a thin layer of peptidoglycan.

Question 54

What is conjugation and explain how single celled organisms use it to develop resistance to antibiotics.

Answer 54

By undergoing a simple mating process called “conjugation,” bacteria can transfer genetic material, including genes encoding resistance to antibiotics (found on plasmids and transposons) from one bacterium to another.

Question 55

Describe the function of the internal structures (organelles) found in paramecium, euglena, Amoeba, and Volvox.

Answer 55

Paramecium: Pellicle, stiff but flexible covering gives the organism its shape
Euglena: includes a contractile vacuole that can expel water and a red ‘eyespot’.
Amoeba: exhibits movement by the pseudopodia. It also helps in food capture.
Volvox: uses its flagella to move, absorb food through the cell surface or produce it through photosynthesis through use of chloroplasts.

Question 56

Describe how a virus reproduces and an advantage for each method.

Answer 56

The lytic cycle involves the reproduction of viruses using a host cell to manufacture more viruses; the viruses then burst out of the cell. The lysogenic cycle involves the incorporation of the viral genome into the host cell genome, infecting it from within.

Question 57

Differentiate between natural selection and artificial selection.

Answer 57

natural selection produces a great biological diversity whereas artificial selection produces varieties of organisms such as improved crops and livestock.

Question 58

Describe how to name Eubacteria using the three shapes we discussed.

Answer 58

The three basic bacterial shapes are coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-shaped), and spiral (twisted)

Question 59

What is meant by binomial nomenclature? Which two taxa are used to scientifically name organisms.

Answer 59

In binomial nomenclature, the two lowest units of classification i.e. the genus and species names are used to name an organism.