diversity terms
angiosperm
a plant that produces flowers
annelida
segmented worms - eg. earthworm
antibiotic
a substance that can kill or weaken micro-organisms; naturally produced by fungi, synthetically manufactured
autotroph
an organism that is self-sufficent
bacillus
rod-shaped bacteria
binary fission
the division of one parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells; a form of asexual reproduction
blastula
a hollow sphere of cells during embryotic reproduction
bryophyte
small, seedless plant thah lacks vascular tissue - eg. moss
capsid
a protein coat that surrounds the DNA or RNA of a virus
cephalization
the concentration of sensory + feeding organs (having a brain)
chitin
a complex chemical found in the cell walls of fungi + the external coverings of insects + crustaceans
choanoflagellates
protist group of free-living unicellular eukaryotes
cladistics
method of classifying animals + plants
class
4th taxonomic rank - eg. mammalia
coccus
round bacterial cell
coelom
body cavity present in some animals; contains the animal's internal organs
conjugation
a form of sexual reproduction where two cells join to exchange genetic information
cotyledon
a structure in the seeds of flowering plants
cuticle
waterproof, waxy coating produced ik the epidermis of most plants
deuterostome
an animal whose anus form before the mouth in embryotic development
dikaryotic
containing two seperate nuclei
diploid
containing two copies of each chromosome (2n)
domain
1st taxonomis rank - eg. eukarya
ectoderm
the outermost of the three ferm layers of an embryo
endospore
a dormant structure that forms inside certain bacteria in response to stress; protects the cell's chromosomes from damage
endosymbiosis
a relationship in which a single-celled organism lives within the cell(s) of another organism
epidermis
outer protective coating of an organism (skin-ish)
eudicot
group of flowering plants mainly characterized by having two seed leaves upon germination
family
6th taxonomic rank - eg. felidae
fermentation
an anaerobic process that releases chemical energy from food
gametophyte
a haploid organism that produces haploid sex cells in an alternation of generations life cycle
giardia
parasite that causes giardiasis (beaver fever)
gram +
bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test (stay purple)
gram -
bacteria that give a negatice result in the Gram stain test (turn pinkish red)
gynmosperm
a plant that produces seeds in special structures called cones
haploid
containing half the usual amount of chromosomes (n)
hyphae
thin filament that makes up the body of fungi
kingdom
2nd taxonomic rank - eg. animalia
lichen
symbiotic relationship between a fungus + an algae
lysis
the rupturing of a cell wall; can occur when newly made viruses are released from a host cell (lytic cycle)
lysogeny
a state of dormancy in which viral DNA may remain in a host cell's chromosome for many cell cycle generations (lysogenic cycle)
malaria
disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium
mutualism
a relationship between two species that live in close association with each other, whereby both benefits from the association
mycelium
branched mass of hyphae
notochord
a flexible rod found in some chordates; in most modern chordates it is replaced by vertebrae during embryotic debelopment
order
5th taxonomis rank - eg. carnivora
paramecium
genus if eukaryotic, unicelluar ciliates
parasite
an organism living in, on, or with another organism in order to obtain nutrients, grow, or multiply, often in a state that directly or indirectly harms the host
pathogen
a disease-causing plant, often a virus or micro-organism
penicillin
beta-lactam antibiotic, originally obtained from penicillium mould
peptidoglycan
rigid envelope surrounding the cytoplasm
-phage
suffix; to eat
phylogeny
representation of the evolutionary history and relationship between grouos of organisms (phylogenic tree)
phyla
3rd taxonomic rank - eg. chordata
pilus
a structure resembling a hair on a bacterial cell
plasmodium
parasite that causes malaria
prion
abnormally shaped infectuous protein, responsible for some brain diseases in mammals, including humans
prokaryote
a cell that lacks a nucleus + other organelles
proterostome
an animal whose mouth form before the anus during embryotic development
pteridophyte
vascular plants with roots, stems, + leaves, and reproduce vis spores - eg. ferns
septum
dividing wall / membrane between bodily spaces / masses of soft tissue
seed
plant structure containing an embryo + food supply, surrounded by a protective outer covering called the seed coat
slime capsule
thin substance present in many bacterial cell walls
species
8th (+ last) taxonomix rank - eg. coyote (Canis latrans)
spirillum
spiral / corkscrew-shaped bacterial cell
spore
haploid reproductive structure, usually a single cell, capable of growing into a nee idividual
sporophyte
diploid organism that produces haploid spores in an alternation of generations life cycle
stoma(ta)
small opening in the epidermis of a plant that allows gas exchange
taxonomy
the scientific method of organizing + naming organisms
transduction
a type of gene transfer in which a virus transfers DNA from one bacterium to another
transformation
a process by which a bacterial cell takes in + uses pieces of DNA from its environment
trypanosoma
genus of parasitic protozoans that infect the blood + spread via insect bite; cause african sleeping sickness
virus
small infectuous particle containing genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA within a protein capsule