Biology

• Homologous Structures - Structures that are similar in structure but not function.
• Vestigial structures - same structure, same use.
• Classification - The arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on shared characteristics.
• Taxonomist - A person who studies the classification of organisms and their evolutionary relationships.
• Aristotle

  • 2000 years ago
  • First taxonomist
  • Divided organisms into plants and animals.
  • Subdivided them by their habitat.
  • Land, sea, air dwellers.
• Carolus Linnaeus: Father of modern taxonomy, developed the binomial system of naming organisms.
• Taxonomy - the science of naming and classifying organisms, especially plants and animals.
• Binomial nomenclature - the naming of organisms using the genus and species name
• taxon - a group of organisms that are similar enough to be grouped together
• Grouping of kingdoms is based on three factors: cell number, cell type, feeding type.
• Cell number - Unicellular, or multi-cellular
• Cell type - Eukaryotic (with nucleus), Prokaryotic (lacks nucleus).
• Feeding type:

  Autotrophs - makes their own food

  Heterotrophs - eats by eating other organisms.
• Levels of taxonomy (in order) - Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Family, Genus, Species
• Protista

  • Eukaryotic
  • Animal-like
  • Has double-membrane
  • Need sunlight
  • Autotrophs
• Animalia

  • Multi-cellular, and unicellular
  • Eukaryotic
  • Heterotrophs
  • Lacks cell wall
• Plantae

  • Multi-cellular
  • Eukaryotic
  • Autotrophs
  • Double-membrane
• Fungi

  • Heterotrophic
  • Eukaryotic
  • Multi-cellular (except yeast)
  • Double-membrane
• Eubacteria

  • Unicellular
  • Prokaryotic
  • Heterotrophic, and autotrophic
  • Contains peptidoglycan
• Archaebacteria

  • Prokaryotic
  • Heterotrophic, autotrophic
  • Unicellular
  • Oldest known bacteria
• Sessile - not able to move.
• Bio meaning, "life."
• Diversity meaning, "variety."
• Kingdom Animalia constitutes all animals. Amongst the five kingdoms, the largest kingdom is the animal kingdom
• Phylum Porifera - Porifera means organisms with holes.
• There are 13 billion known species of organisms.
• 5% of all organisms that ever lived have been studied.
• Habitat - an area where an organism live.
• Biodiversity - The variety of different species of organisms in a particular area.
• Niche - the role of an organism in an ecosystem.
• Parasitism - one organism benefits at the expense of another
• Mutualism - A relationship between two organisms in which both benefit.
• Commensalism - one organism benefits and the other is not harmed.
• Food web - A network of interconnected food chains that make up an ecosystem.
• biodiversity conservation level - the level of biodiversity that is maintained in a particular area
• Invasive species - Are also called as non-native species.
• Ecosystem - The biological community of an area, including the abiotic factors and the interactions between the biotic factors
• Ecology - the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
• population - the total number of individuals of a species in a particular area at a given time
• Organism - A living thing that is made up of cells and has a functioning metabolism.