Name: Biology I A Final Exam Study Guide Date: Mr. Tiesler Evolution An adaptation is a physical or behavioral change that improves a population s ability to survive. Evolution is the process by which new species develop from existing species. Natural Selection is the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce. The fossil record provides evidence that older species from the past gave rise to morerecent species. The correct order for classifying living organisms is domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species Carolus Linnaeus used an organism s morphology (form and structure) to classify it using binomial nomenclature. The six kingdoms of life are Archaebacterial, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia Bacteria and Viruses Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls, cytoplasm and no nucleus. Prokaryotes are divided into two domains Archaea and Bacteria o Archaea are often found in extreme environments such as salt lakes and hot springs o Archaea cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan o Bacteria cells walls contain peptidoglycan Bacteria perform many functions including decomposing, nitrogen-fixing and digestion. Antibiotics control bacteria by preventing cell wall formation, breaking up cell membranes, or disrupting chemical processes. Bacteria have three shapes: o Coccus (round) o Bacillus (rod shape) o Spirillum (spiral) Bacteria that cause disease are called pathogens. Viruses are non-living because they lack several characteristics of living organisms. Viruses do not Grow or reproduce Carry out metabolic activities Maintain homeostasis The basic structure of a virus is nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Vaccines are used to prevent viral diseases. Disinfectants are chemicals that destroy bacteria on surfaces Animals Cephalization is the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end on an organism. Vestigial structures are ones that have lost their function through evolution. Invertebrates are animals that lack a backbone Hermaphrodites are animals that possess both male and female sex organs. Given that the forelimbs of all vertebrates share the same basic arrangement of bones, forelimbs are said to be homologus structures. The upper side of an organism is its dorsal side. Its bottom side is its ventral side.
Sponges Sponges are sessile filter feeding animals that remain fixed to a surface and do not move. Sponges exhibit an asymmetrical body plan Water enters a sponge through a ostium and exits through an opening called an osculum. The inside of a sponge is lined with choanocytes, or collar cells, that help move the water through the sponge. Cnidarians Cnidarians have radial symmetry. Cnidarians have nerve cells and sensory organs that help coordinate movement and body functions. Cnidarians have stinging cells on their tentacles called cnidocytes. Cnidarians are either free floating medusas of sessile polyps. Cnidarians are classified into three main groups: hydrozoans, scyphozoans, and anthozoans. o Hydrozoans are the most primitive and include the Portuguese man-of-war. o Scyphozoans are jellyfish. o Anthozoans are sea anemones and corals. Mollusks Mollusks have a true coelom, bilateral symmetry, a complete digestive tract and an open circulatory system. Mollusks breathe through gills. Bivalves use adductor muscles to open and close their shells and use a siphon to take in and expel water. A radula is a rasping, tongue-like organ that is used for feeding by many mollusks.
Annelids Annelids have a true coelom, a closed circulatory system, a segmented body plan, and nerve cord that transports sensory information to the brain and motor signals to the segments. Annelids were the first organisms to exhibit segmentation. Annelids use aortic arches to circulate blood throughout their bodies Segmentation is the division of an annelid s body into repeating segments. Arthropods Scorpions and spiders use structures called pedipalps to capture and handle their prey. Arthropods grow by shedding their exoskeletons through a process called molting. Insects are the largest group of arthropods. Arthropods have an exoskeleton they must molt in order to grow. Insects have three body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen.
Echinoderms The tube feet of echinoderms are attached to structures called ampullae which force water into the feet. All echinoderms have a water vascular system for movement, food and waste transportation and respiration. Echinoderm skeletons are made up of interlocking calcium carbonate plates and spines. This skeleton is enclosed by the epidermis and is thus an endoskeleton. Vertebrates Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone Fish breathe through gills. Fish maintain buoyancy by using a swim bladder. The first vertebrates were tunicates. All reptillians have a three chambered heart except for crocodilians who have a four chambered heart. Endotherms are warm blooded animals that can generate their own internal heat. Ectotherms are cold blooded animals that cannot generate their own internal heat. Birds have two types of feathers: countour feathers used for flight and down feathers used for retaining heat. Mammals have a four chambered heart with a single loop circulatory system. In mammals, the placenta is a temporary organ that provides nutrients and oxygen to a fetus.
Ecology A population is a group of individuals that belong to the same species, live in a defined area, and breed with others in the group. An organism s ability to survive and reproduce is its fitness. Ecology is the branch of science that studies the interactions of living organisms and their environment. Plants are autotrophic producers who make their own food. Animals are heterotrophic consumers that need to consume other organisms in order to obtain energy. Herbivores are consumers that eat producers. Decomposers are organisms that obtain energy by breaking down dead organisms. A food web is the interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem. Omnivores are consumers that eat both producers and consumers. Biotic factors are all of the iving parts of an ecosystem. Abiotic factors are all of the non-living parts of an ecosystem. An organism s role in an ecosystem is its niche. Predation is the act of an animal killing and eating another animal. Commensalism is a relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed or helped.