Organisms – Flashcard

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ADP
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This is short for adenosine diphosphate. An organic compound that is composed of adenosine and two phosphate groups. With the addition of another phosphate group, it is converted to ATP for the storage of energy during cell metabolism. It then forms again, from ATP, when a phosphate group is removed to release energy
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Analogous Structures
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These are structures which are similar in different organisms because they evolved in a similar environment, yet do not have a common ancestor.
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Anatomy
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This is the science that studies the structure and organization of bodies.
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Ancestor
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These are parents, parents of parents, etc.
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Animalia
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A major group of organisms, that are, in general, multicellular, capable of locomotion and responsive to their environment, and feed by consuming other organisms.
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Archaebacteria
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This is the kingdom of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls without peptidoglycan.
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Asexual Reproduction
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Process by which a single parent reproduces by itself.
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ATP
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This is the main energy storage and transfer molecule in the cell.
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ATP Cycle
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This is the name applied to the cycle by which ATP are broken down to ADP with the release of energy, and the regeneration of ATP from ADP through the process of phosphorylation.
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Autotroph
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This is an organism that obtains its energy from inorganic substances or from the sun.
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Autotrophic Cycle
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A cell that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds.
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Bacteria
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One celled organisms that reproduce by fission
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Biological Evolution
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This is the process by which organisms acquire traits through sexual reproduction and/or mutation and then pass on these traits to the succeeding generations.
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Body Symmetry
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This is a characteristic of multicellular organisms, particularly animals. A bilateral organism is one that is uniform about a plane running from its frontal end to its caudal end (head to tail), and has nearly identical right and left halves.
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Capsid
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This is the protein shell of a virus.
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Carbohydrate
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This is a compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; it is used by cells to store and release energy. Sugars are made by chloroplasts through photosynthesis and consumed by mitochondria through cell respiration.
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Carbon Dioxide
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This is the gas produced as a result of respiration.
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Cell
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This is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms, and are sometimes called the "building blocks of life."
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Cell Membrane
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A thin, flexible, semipermeable barrier around the cell which regulates what enters and leaves the cell.
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Cell Theory
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States that all living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and cells come from pre-existing cells.
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Cell Wall
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This structure provides support and protection for plant cells.
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Cellular Respiration
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This is the process that releases energy by breaking down food molecules in the presence of oxygen.
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Chemical Energy
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Energy stored in chemical bonds of molecules.
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Chlorophyll
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This is a green pigment in chloroplasts that traps light energy from the sun.
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Cladogram
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This is a diagram which shows the evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms.
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Classification
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Placing an organism in sets of categories based on its characteristics.
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Comparative Anatomy
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This is the study of similar and different structures in organisms.
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Consumer
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This is an organism that relies on other organisms for its food and energy supply; also called a heterotroph.
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Decomposer
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This is an organism that breaks down and gains nutrients from dead organisms.
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Descent
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In evolution, ________ describes the appearance of new species from ancestors. Species which share ancestors are said to have a "common ________."
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DNA
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This holds an organisms hereditary information.
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Domain
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In the new system of classification, this is the broadest level of classification. A higher rank than kingdom in the old classification system.
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Domain Archaea
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This is a prokaryotic domain no nuclear membrane, distinct biochemistry and RNA markers from eubacteria, that possess unique ancient evolutionary history for which they are considered some of the oldest species of organisms on Earth; traditionally classified as archaebacteria; often characterized by living in extreme environments.
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Domain Bacteria
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This is a domain of prokaryotic cells possessing diacyl glycerol diester lipids in their membranes, bacterial rRNA, no nuclear membrane, and are traditionally classified as bacteria.
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Domain Eukarya
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This is the domain containing all organisms with eukaryotic cells.
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Embryology
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This is the study of the early development of an organism, and it is quite often used to show similarities and differences between different organisms in their early stages of development.
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Energy Transformation
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This is the process of changing energy from one form to another. Solar energy is changed into chemical energy by plants.
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Eubacteria
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This is the kingdom of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls with peptidoglycan.
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Eukaryote
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These are cells where the genetic material is contained in membrane-bound nuclei.
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Evidence
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This is data from an experiment, which is used to verify or reject the original hypothesis in the conclusion.
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Evolution
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This is a change in the genetic makeup of a population or species over time.
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Fossil
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This is the mineralized remains of plants or animals.
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Fossil Record
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This is the chronicle of evolution over millions of years of geologic time engraved in the order which fossils appear in rock strata.
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Fungi
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This is the kingdom of heterotrophs that obtain energy and nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter.
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Genetic Variation
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This is one result of gamete formation through meiosis and fertilization during sexual reproduction that promotes biodiversity within a species.
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Geologic Time
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This is used by scientists to measure time and events during Earth's history.
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Glucose
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This is a simple sugar that provides energy to organisms.
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Halophile
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This is a salt-loving prokaryotic member of the domain Archaea.
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Heterotroph
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This is an organism that relies on complex organic substances for nutrition.
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Heterotrophic Cell
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A cell that can not produce its own energy, the energy must be consumed.
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Homologous Structures
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These are physical features shared by organisms with common ancestry; they may have the same structure, but different functions developmentally mature organisms.
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Law of Superposition
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This law states that in an undisturbed rock sequence, the oldest layers are on the bottom and each successive layer is younger than the one underneath it. "Sedimentary layers are deposited in a time sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top."
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Light Dependent
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This is a chemical reaction in a plant that converts solar to chemical energy.
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Light Independent Reactions
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This is a series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light to proceed and produce the organic molecule, glucose, from carbon dioxide.
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Lysogenic
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This is a viral replication cycle in which the virus's nucleic acid is integrated into the host cells chromosome. A provirus is formed and replicated each time the host cell reproduces; the host cell is not killed until the lytic cycle is activated.
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Lytic
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This is one of two stages in viral reproduction. It is considered the main method of viral replication, since it results in the destruction of the infected cell.
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Metabolism
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These are all biochemical processes of an organism.
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Mitochondrion
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An organelle found in most eukaryotic cells described as "cellular power plants", because their primary function is to convert organic materials into energy in the form of ATP
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Multicellular
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Organisms consisting of more than one cell, and having differentiated cells that perform specialized functions. Most life that can be seen with the naked eye is this.
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Organelle
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This is any functional structure within the confines of a cell; literally a. "small organ;" it usually has a membrane-based structure
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Organism
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Any living thing with one or more cells
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Oxygen Cycle
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These are the components of the reservoirs of oxygen that are exchanged in our environment.
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Parasite
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This is an organism which feeds on, but usually does not kill, a larger organism.
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Photosynthesis
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This is a chemical process that uses light to process carbon dioxide in plants.
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Phylogeny
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This is the evolutionary history of a species or group of related species.
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Plant
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This is any living thing without the power of locomotion that obtain energy from sunlight or make their own food.
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Plant Cell
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This kind of cell has a large central vacuole and a cell wall.
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Producer
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This is an organism that supplies matter and energy, also known as an autotroph.
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Prokaryote
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These are organisms where the genetic material is not bound by a nucleus. They are usually unicellular.
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Protein Sequencing
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This is the comparison of amino acid sequences in proteins. A close match of the amino acid sequences in comparable proteins in different species indicates that those proteins evolved from a common ancestor.
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Protists
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These are living organisms; simple eukaryotes; they may be single-cellular, colonial or multicellular.
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Protozoan
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This is an animal-like single-celled eukaryote that lacks a cell wall, is a heterotroph, and is usually mobile.
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Radial Symmetry
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A description of body type in multicellular organisms. The organism will demonstrate the same shape around an axis.
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Relative Dating
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This is a way to estimate the order of geologic events by using rock layers, index fossils, or other methods.
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Reproduction
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This is the biological process of creating a new organism.
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Response
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This is a biological reaction due to a stimulus.
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RNA
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A single stranded nucleic acid that plays a role in protein synthesis.
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Sexual Reproduction
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Process by which two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism.
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Six Kingdom System
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This is the newest classification system with the highest rank of domain, followed by kingdom. There are three domains; one eukaryotic domain and two prokaryotic domains.
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Solar Energy
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This is the utilization of radiation from the sun.
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Speciation
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This is the origin of a new species in evolution, there are many different methods by which this can occur. Different species cannot reproduce successfully.
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Species
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These are groups of reproducing populations that are isolated from other groups.
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Thermophile
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This is an organism that thrives at high temperatures, between 45 and 80 oC.
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Trace Fossil
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This is a fossil that provides evidence of the existence of an ancient organism.
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Unicellular
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Literally, one-celled.
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Vestigial Structure
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This has been reduced in size, usually, over time and has less important function in some related organisms than in others.
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Virus
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A microscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. They reproduce only by invading and controlling other cells as they lack the cellular machinery for self-reproduction.
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