BIO FINAL QUESTIONS (FLASHCARDS)

cell division

process by which a cell divides into 2 new cells

asexual reproduction

process of reproduction involving a single parent with offspring identical to the parent

sexual reproduction

type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

chromatin

a substance in eukaryotic chromosomes that is made up of DNA and protein

chromosome

threadlike structure of DNA and protein that contains genetic information

cell cycle

series of events in which the cell grows, prepares for division, and divides to form two daughter cells

interphase

period of cell cycle between cell divisions

mitosis

part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides

cytokinesis

division of the cytoplasm

prophase

the first phase of mitosis

centromere

region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids attach

chromatid

one of two identical sisters part of a duplicated chromosome

centriole

organelle in an animal cell that helps to organize cell division

metaphase

the second phase of mitosis

telophase

fourth phase of mitosis

anaphase

the third phase of mitosis

alleles

different forms of a gene

incomplete dominance

situations in which one allele for a gene is not completely dominant over another allele for that gene

multiple alleles

different versions

polygenic traits

ex. human skin color

gametes

have one allele for each gene

meiosis

process by which gametes are produced

haploid cells

meiosis results in this formation

histone

proteins around which the DNA is tightly coiled

chromatin

DNA and a protein packed together

telomere

the tip of a chromosome

base pairing

in DNA, the fit between thymine and adenine and the fit between cytosine and guanine

replication

the process that copies a DNA molecule

bacteriophage

a type of virus that infects bacteria

transformation

the process that can change a harmless bacterial strain into a disease-causing strain

RNA

a nucleic acid that contains uracil instead of thymine

messenger RNA

a type of RNA that makes a copy of the DNA

translation

the decoding of a mRNA message into a protein

transcription

the process that copies DNA and produces mRNA

ribosomal RNA

a type of RNA that provides the structure and composition of the ribosome

polypeptides

a string of amino acids

genetic code

the language of amino acids based on A,U,G,C in the form of codons

codon

three consecutive bases that specify a single amino acid

anticodon

each tRNA has three bases that base pairs to a codon

translation

the decoding of an mRNA message into a protein

mutation

heritable change in genetic information

point mutation

a type of mutation that only involves one or few nucleotides

frameshift mutation

a type of mutation that shifts the reading frame of the genetic message

artificial selection

selective breeding of plants and animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring

natural selection

process by which organisms that are most suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

fitness

how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment

biogeography

study of past and present distribution of organisms

adaptation

heritable characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in an environment

mechanical digestion

the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces

large intestine

an organ that connects to the small intestine and is responsible for removing water from undigested material

stomach

a large muscular that continues the mechanical and chemical digestion of food

esophagus

the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach

villi

fingerlike projections in the small intestine that allows for greater absorption of nutrients

pepsin

a enzyme in the stomach that breaks proteins into smaller polypeptide fragments

pericardium

membrane around the heart

arteries

vessels which carry blood away from heart

veins

vessels which carry blood into the heart

atria

the upper chambers of the heart that receive blood

pulmonary vein

the only vein in the body rich in oxygen

ventricles

the lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart

septum

thick wall that divides the heart into two sides

pulmonary artery

the only artery in the body rich in carbon dioxide

aorta

a major artery which carries blood out of the left ventricle

capillaries

tiny blood vessels with walls that are only one cell thick

systemic circulation

the flow of blood between the heart and the rest of the body

1. Why is genetic variation important in helping a species survive?

   1. If the environment changes, some members of the species will probably have adaptations that enable them to survive and reproduce.

2. Camouflage, mimicry, and behavior are all adaptations that support the idea of survival of the fittest

3. Populations within ecosystems interact in many ways. Some of these interactions affect the evolution of a population. Which ecological interaction is required for natural selection to act on a population?

4. Competition

   1. Cheetahs capture prey by outrunning them over short distances. Over time, the fastest cheetahs have been more likely to survive and pass this characteristic to their offspring. This is an example of natural selection

5. When reproductive isolation prevents members of two populations from interbreeding and producing offspring, thus separating their gene pools, what process can occur?

   1. speciation

6. Three similar species live together in an ecosystem. All three compete for resources. Which species will have the highest fitness and may evolve into a new species?

   1. the species that has the most differences with the others

7. Fungi are different from plants primarily because they are heterotrophic

8. Which of the following kinds of evidence might indicate that a mass extinction had taken place?

   1. A lower rock layer on a cliff has a wide variety of fossils, but the rocks directly above this layer have few kinds of fossils.

9. The process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other over time is called coevolution

10. Muscle cells contain a large number of mitochondria because they need a great amount of energy to contract.

11. Cellular respiration is called an aerobic process because it requires oxygen

12. What is the basic structure of a virus?

    1. DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat

13. Which statement about members of the domain Archaea is true?

    1. They can withstand more extreme environments than other organisms.

14. What is the relationship between mutualists?

    1. Each organism benefits in some way

15. A heavy rainstorm washed fertilizer from a farm field into a pond causing an algal bloom. Which is the BEST explanation for this event?

    1. The amount of fertilizer in the runoff was excessive.

16. What evidence suggests that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants?

    1. Cells of fungi have chitin

17. An autotroph is an organism that can make its own food.

18. How do most fungi reproduce?

    1. either sexual or asexual reproduction

19. Guard cells respond to conditions in the environment to regulate stomata to prevent an excessive amount of water loss

20. Which of the following changes would most likely reduce the rate of photosynthesis?

    1. reducing a plant's light exposure

21. A gardener pinches off the apical meristem, or tip, from an herb plant. How will the plant respond to this stimulus?

    1. It will branch more, becoming bushier

22. During pollination in seed plants, pollen grains are carried to female reproductive structures by wind or animals

23. As an adaptation to its environment, a cactus has leaves reduced to thin, sharp spines

24. Which of the following describes an organ system within an organism?

    1. a number of organs that interact to maintain homeostasis

25. What statement about the earliest chordates is most likely true?

    1. they were aquatic

26. A species that undergoes adaptive radiation will evolve into several different forms with a variety of lifestyles

27. Which of the following is an example of predation?

    1. A lion hunts and eats a zebra.

28. In what way are herbivores and carnivores alike?

    1. They both obtain energy by consuming other organisms

29. An important part of maintaining homeostasis is regulating the amount of water released or absorbed by the body. Which two systems mainly work together to perform this function?

    1. digestive and excretory

30. Which body system is directly responsible for protecting an animal from disease?

    1. immune

31. What is a role that the liver plays in maintaining homeostasis in the body?

    1. It regulates the amount of glucose in the blood