Xerophyte
Xerophyte (Cacti)
Xerophytes are plants that have learned to adapt to dry habitats and water loss. Some of these adaptations include the capacity to store water, waxy and hairy leaf coatings, or even reposition leaves to reduce sunlight absorption. Common examples of xerophytes are the Cactaceae family. Succulents in particular are known to store water in their stems or leaves. Others store the water in bulbs below ground level.
Vestigial Structure
Vestigial Structure (Darwin-tubercle)
Vestigial structures refer to the body structures our ancestors acquired that have lost some or all of their functions with evolution. These structures are assessed as vestigial by comparing them with homologous features in related species. Some vestigial structures grew unfunctional due to a changing environment, others because they became too harmful. They can be behavior patterns, anatomical structures, or even biochemical processes. A human example is the ear structure called the "Darwin's tubercle".
Unicellular Organism
Unicellular Organism (Bacteria)
A unicellular organism is any organism that has only one cell. The main groups of these organisms are bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and unicellular algae and fungi. There are both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that are single-celled. They are also believed to be the oldest form of life, existing since about 4 billion years ago.
Fun fact! There is more bacteria in bottled water than tap water.
Fun fact! There is more bacteria in bottled water than tap water.
Stem
Stem
Stems are the parts of the plant that bear buds, shoots with leaves, and roots. It is one of the two main base structures of every plant. In trees, it is the main trunk. In general, it tends to grow erect, but in some plants it can also lie prostrate, climb on rocks, or twist around another supporting plants. Its job is to conduct water and nutrients to the plant as well as to store and produce food.
Sexual Dimorphism
Sexual Dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the term for when a male and a female of the same species have differences in physical appearances. Some of these differences can be in color, shape, size, and structure. This condition is present in many animals, insects, birds, and some plants. An example are the mallard ducks. Females have brown feathers all over their bodies, while males are distinguishable green heads.
Semelparity
Semelparity (Cuttlefish)
Semelparity, or the "big bang" reproduction, is a type of reproductive strategy living organisms use. Semelparous species are characterized by having a single reproductive episode before death. Animal examples include some butterflies and molluscs, cicadas, mayflies, and arachnids. The parallel plant term for semelparity is "polycarpy", and some plant examples are grain crops and most domestic vegetables.
Scale From An Animal With A Two Chambered Heart
Scale From An Animal With
A Two Chambered Heart
(Clark's anemonefish)
Fish hearts have two types of chambers: atria and ventricles. The "atria are where blood enters the heart and ventricles pump the blood out of the heart". In fish hearts, the atrium draws in deoxygenated blood and pumps it out the ventricle. The blood then travels through the gills and pumped out to the body in what is called a "single circulation".
Rhizome
Rhizome (Roots)
Rhizome is the underground stem of plants. They store starches and proteins and root new plant systems to survive harsh seasons underground. Rhizomes are also a plant's main system for storing nutrients and water, along with roots and tubers. Some plants, like poplars and bamboos, rely on rhizomes to propagate vegetatively, in other words, to reproduce asexually. Some plants' rhizomes are edible too; like ginger, turmeric, and lotus.
Radial Symmetry
Radial Symmetry (Starfish)
"Symmetry, in biology, is the repetition of the parts in an animal or plant in an orderly fashion". More specifically, it's the way those repetitions correspond to each other on opposite sides of a dividing line. In radial symmetry, those corresponding parts radiate from a central axis and are arranged in regular fashion. The main axis is called the "oral-aboral", because the anterior side bears the mouth and the posterior end may bear the anus. The starfish can be labeled as a five-rayed animal because of its five symmetrical parts.
R-Selection
R-Selection (Rabbit)
The "r/K selection (opportunistic/equilibrium) theory relates to the selection of combinations of traits in an organism that trade off between quantity and quality of offspring". r-strategists prefer to focus on producing many offspring. They emphasize higher growth rates on less-crowded ecological niches, which result in the offspring having low probabilities of reaching adulthood. r-selection is most used in unstable environments in order to reproduce quickly and maintain population numbers rather than to focus on survival.
Protein
Protein (Tuna Cakes)
Proteins are another of the biological molecules and are the most complex out of all. They "are of great nutritional value and are directly involved in the chemical processes essential for life". Although they are present in all living organisms, each species has protein types of their own. They also vary per organ, meaning each organ also has protein types of their own. Proteins are structured by large, varied chains of amino acid composition and sequences.
Pollinator
Pollinator (Bee)
Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from a flower's stamens to the ovule-bearing organs of another flower. Some plants have an exposed ovule and "the pollen is simply caught in a drop of fluid secreted by the ovule". However, since angiosperm plants have inferior, or hidden, ovules, pollinators are the ones in charge of transporting pollen between the different reproductive organs. Pollinators include bees, pollen wasps, ants, butterflies, hummingbirds, etcetera. Bees in particular carry pollen as they gather nectar and the grains then stick on their fuzzy and electrostatic body. Some bees even have a special pollen-carrying structure called the scopa.
Ovary
Flower Ovary
The ovary is the flower's female organ and it produces the female gametophytes of the angiosperm flowers. The ovules found inside it eventually develop into seeds, and the ovary itself matures into fruit. When it's located on the base of the pistil, protected by petals and sepal, it's in an inferior position. When it's above the attachment of these flower parts it's in a superior position.
Mutualism
Mutualism
Mutualism is the symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species that is mutually benefit their growth, survival, and reproduction. Mutualism can occur in plants as well as animals. With animals, it is common for them to share nutrients, stability, or provide shelter for one of them. For example, clownfish tend to stay amongst anemones for shelter. The clownfish create a layer of mucus to withstand the anemone's toxic tentacles while receiving protection from predators from these.
Lipids
Lipids
Lipids are another group of the biological molecules and include fats, oils, hormones, and hydrophobic membranes. Most fats are made from fatty acids. Fatty acids are "carboxylic acid(s) with a long unbranched aliphatic tail (chain), which (are) either saturated or unsaturated". There are also the infamous trans fats, which behave like saturated fatty acids, that can be detrimental to our metabolic system. Another important type of lipid are the triglycerides, "which serve as the energy-storage depot for organisms and also provide thermal insulation".
Lichen
Lichen
Lichen is a type of fungus associated symbiotically with algae or cyanobacteria. It is found all around the world and in all types of regions, particularly in the tundra. While they can colonize many types of surfaces, they are mostly found on tree bark, exposed rocks, and soil crust. The algae part of the lichen is responsible for capturing energy through photosynthesis. The fungus part benefits from this compound since it is able to grow faster than when alone by releasing minerals and water from rocks with its acid. The algae and fungi can also survive extreme temperature and altitude when they are as a lichen compound.
Keratin
Keratin (Shampoo)
Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, horns, hoofs, wool, feathers, and skin. It is a very important structural and protective part in the epithelium, which is a layer of cells that serves as a covering surface for foreign substances. Keratin proteins are subdivided into alpha and beta. Alpha-keratins are primarily fibrous, helical in structure, and are found in hair, skin, and wool. Beta-keratins have parallel sheets of polypeptide chains, and are present in birds and reptiles.
K-Selection
K-Selection (My Family)
The "r/K selection (opportunistic/equilibrium) theory relates to the selection of combinations of traits in an organism that trade off between quantity and quality of offspring". K-strategists focus on having less offspring to have more parental investment, meaning they'll have a higher chance to survive until adulthood. Each type varies depending on what suits an environment the best. K-selection is the best option when trying to compete for limited resources. They also tend to grow in population almost close to the maximum capacity.
Iteroparity
Iteroparity (Squirrel)
Iteroparity is a type of reproductive strategy living organisms use. The parallel plant term for iteroparity is "perennial". Animals that fall in this class include vertebrates and invertebrates: mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, mollusca, and insects. An iteroparous species is that which can, or chooses to, reproduce multiple times across its life. However there are some iteroparous populations that have individuals who die between their first and second reproductive episodes.
Invasive Species
Invasive Species
(Purple Loosestrife)
Any nonnative species that is introduced into an ecosystem and disrupts it considerably is called an invasive species. Some may naturally migrate to new areas, but most of the time they are introduced by other species' actions. Many invasive species are introduced without the proper calculations as to what their consequences in the ecosystem might be. They also have to be dealt with with caution since their reproduction rate is usually greater than the rest of the native species near it. For example, the Purple Loosestrife travelled from Europe to Massachusetts and is now densely invading our wetlands, preventing native plants from growing.
Hybrid
Hybrid (Grapefruit)
Hybrids are "offspring of parents that differ in genetically determined traits". However, it is most commonly used to define animals or plants that are a result of a cross between two different individuals in the same species. Some happen naturally, but most of them happen due to human intervention. Plant hybridization is also done much more frequently and successfully than animal hybridization. Grapefruits actually are a cross between the sweet orange and the pomelo.
Hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite (Roses)
When an organism has both male and female and reproductive organs, it is called a hermaphrodite. When talking about hermaphrodites in botany, they are called monoecious, or bisexual, instead. Monoecious plants have sperm and eggs on the same gametophyte, which is the sexual phase in plants. Most angiosperms are known to be monoecious, roses being one of them.
Glycogen
Glycogen (Potatoes)
Glycogen is a polysaccharide composed of six carbons, ten hydrogens, and five oxygen. It's the most used form of energy storage in animals. It is located primarily in the liver and muscles so that it can be transformed into glucose when needed. It can also be found in various microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi. Potatoes are well known for being rich sources of starch to increase glycogen in the muscles.
Genetically Modified Organism
Genetically Modified Organism
(Corn Kernel)
A GMO is an organism that has been genetically modified to express favorable traits or give desirable biological products. Common examples include livestock production, crop farming, and pet breeding. The main goal is usually to achieve genomes that could only have been possible with molecular level alterations rather than through conventional selective breeding. They are produced using recombinant DNA technology and reproductive cloning. Corn kernel for example has been modified to "tolerate various herbicides and to express a protein ... that kills certain insects".
Fruit
Fruit (Apple)
Fruits are the products of angiosperms. After being pollinated, the flower's fertilized ovules develop into seeds while the pericarp starts to form outside the ovary wall to form the fruit itself. They can be more botanically defined as any organ that contain seeds and protect them as they develop. They are most of the time classified into fleshy and dry fruits. Fleshy fruits can be apples, bananas, oranges... What we would usually think of when thinking of fruits. Dry fruits are very different as they include nuts, like hazelnuts and pecans.
Fermentation
Fermentation (Beer)
Fermentation is a chemical process that makes sugars like glucose transform into acids, gases, or alcohol (beer,wine). Fermentation occurs in yeast and bacteria, as well as inside our muscles when oxygen is insufficient, as in the case of lactic acid fermentation. The way beer is made is by germinating grains by soaking them in water, where amylase enzymes break down endosperm starches into sugar. Depending on what type of flavor is desired, germination is halted at certain points and the grain is dried to create malt through a process called kilning. The malt is then grounded and mixed with water to complete the liberation of sugars.
Eukaryote
Eukaryote (Turtle)
A eukaryote is "any cell or organism that possesses a clearly defined nucleus". Eukaryotic organisms include mainly animals, plants, and fungi. The nucleus of the cell is surrounded by a nuclear membrane, where the chromosomes are located. Compared to prokaryotic cells, they are more complex. They contain the following organelles: mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes.
Energy
Energy (Solar)
The physics definition for energy is "the ability of a system to perform work". It comes in various ways: kinetically, thermally, electrically, nuclearly, etcetera. For example, solar energy is "radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity". All energy is associated with motion and can be transformed according to its nature.
Endotherm
Endotherm (Seagull)
Endotherms are any warm-blooded animals that can "maintain a constant body temperature independent of the environment". Animals in this category are mainly birds and mammals, but there are some fish as well. If an animal starts losing more heat than it can generate, its metabolism increases or the animal starts to shiver to raise its body temperature. On the other hand, if heat it starts generating more heat than it is losing, it will begin to pant or perspire to increase heat loss. They require more food than endotherms to produce heat continuously and survive cold temperatures.
Endosperm
Endosperm (Corn Seeds)
Endosperm is the angiosperm seed tissue that provides to the embryo. It is created with "the fusion of at least one nucleus in the embryo sac with a sperm nucleus from the pollen grain". Some seeds completely absorb the endosperm as they mature and others utilize it until germination as a food source. In corn, the outer layer consists of aleurone, which are thick-walled cells rich in protein.
Ectotherm
Ectotherm (Dyeing Dart Frog)
Ectotherms are any cold-blooded animal that depend on external sources to regulate body temperature. Animals of this category include fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. They tend to not need as much food as endotherms of their same size, but they don't do well with cold surroundings. They stick to places with constant temperatures, like regions of the abyssal ocean; but others in harsher climates are forced to seek external sources of heat or shelter from heat.
Echinoderm
Echinoderm (Sand Dollar)
Echinoderms are a type of marine invertebrates. They inhabit "virtually every conceivable oceanic environment, from sandy beaches and coral reefs to the greatest depths of the sea". Their origins date back to an incredible amount of 500 million years! They are divided into five non-extinct subgroups: Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Holothuroidea, and Echinoidea. Sand dollars are part of the subgroup Echinoidea, along with sea urchins.
Dicot Plant with Flower and Leaf
Dicot Plant with Flower and Leaf
Dicot plants (Dicotyledons) are angiosperm members that have a pair of embryonic leaves, called cotyledons. On the other hand, the other angiosperm group are called monocotyledons and have only one cotyledon. Besides this, dicots tend to have four to five flower parts (sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils). Their roots develop from the radicle and their leaf vein arrangement is reticulate.
Deciduous Leaf
Deciduous Leaf
The deciduous forest is composed of broad-leaved trees that shed all their leaves during one season, this process is called abscission. They are found in regions where there is a temperate climate with a winter season and year-round precipitation. They tend to extend into stream banks and other bodies of water. Dominant trees in this forest include oaks, birches, chestnuts, maples, and others. The leaf shown in the picture is an example of a maple tree leaf.
Coniferous Leaf
Coniferous Leaf
The coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome composed mainly of evergreen trees. They consist of two layers: an overstory and an understory. They sometimes have an intermediate layer consisting of shrubs too. It is found in regions where there are cold, long winters and warm summers, as well as moderate to high precipitation. Newton very well falls into this category, which is why I was able to find these types of leaves in my backyard.
Commensalism
Commensalism (barnacles and wood)
Commensalism refers to the biological relationship between individuals of two species in which one benefits from the other without harming them. The commensal is the species that benefits from the relationship, while the host is the one that provides while remaining unaffected. Commensals usually obtain nutrients, shelter, support, or locomotion from their hosts. They gain morphological adaptation thanks to their host as well. The picture shows barnacles stuck on a wooden pier post. This can be labeled as a commensalism because the barnacles obtain nutrients from the wood while the post remains directly unaffected by them.
Cnidarian
Cnidarian (South American sea nettle)
Also called coelenterates, cnidarians are any member from the phylum Cnidaria. These include marine animals such as corals, jellyfish, sea anemones, etcetera. The phylum is made up of four classes: Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa, and Cubozoa. They contain nematocysts (or cnidae), which are venomous, stinging organelles. Their structure is simple, since they mainly just have the capability to digest and distribute nutrients across its gelatinous body.
Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta (Green Algae)
Chlorophyta is the formal name for the protista division where green algae falls in. They are the algae species most closely related to plants. They contain the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a and b and carotene, and xanthophyll. They have a two-layered cellulose and pectin cell wall. They store food by means of starch in pyrenoids. They also vary in size and shape, being unicellular, filamentous, colonial, and tubular.
Cellulose
Cellulose (Paper)
Cellulose is a polysaccharide that consists of more than 3,000 glucose units. It's mostly found as a structural component in plant cell walls, and can only be digested by herbivorous animals. It is also "the most abundant of all naturally occurring organic compounds". Cellulose is also processed through chemical modifications to produce paper, fibers, and other manufacturing products.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates (Bread)
Carbohydrates are the most abundant class of the biological molecules. They tend to be composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and they have a ring-shaped structure. Monosaccharides ("one sugar") are single sugar molecules, such as fructose and glucose. There are also disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Their have energy-storage and structural functions. Bread is known to be high in monosaccharides, meaning it can be digested easily and can lead to weight gain due to its high sugar levels but low nutritional value.
Calvin Cycle
Calvin Cycle
The Calvin Cycle is a light-independent reaction and the second stage of photosynthesis. The process begins when CO2 enters through the stomata(leaf pores) and diffuses into the stroma(inside of the chloroplasts).The way it works is that it utilizes ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to fix CO2 and build three-carbon sugars: 3-PGA, G3P, and RuBP. The main outcome of this process though is the synthesization of the sugar glucose.
C4 Plant
C4 Plant (Corn)
C4 ("four-carbon") plants are those "that use special compounds to gather carbon dioxide during photosynthesis", like corn. They extract more CO2 to prevent water loss, which is why most of these type of plants are found in dry, desert climates. C4 plants have adapted to behave this way because of a phenomenon called photorespiration. Photorespiration is when Rubisco, the enzyme in charge of binding CO2 to another molecule to transform it into sugar, begins grabbing more oxygen from the air when CO2 levels are too low. The result of this "is that sugar is burned up instead of being created". C4 Plants evolved to initially bind CO2 to a more efficient enzyme called PEP carboxylase instead. This enzyme allows CO2 to concentrate in bundle sheath cells surrounding the leaf vein to minimize photorespiration.
Autotroph
Autotroph (Tree)
Autotrophs are organisms that serve as primary producers, meaning they are consumed by heterotrophs to provide energy to the rest of the food chain. The way they obtain energy is by either photosynthesis or oxidation. Respectively, they are divided into photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs. Trees fall into the category of photoautotrophs because they are able to transform CO2 in the air using the sunlight into oxygen and other nutrients for itself.
Artificial Selection
Artificial Selection
Selection is when an individual has preferred genotypes to survive and reproduce. Individuals are eliminated by both natural and artificial means. Artificial Selection, also called selective breeding, is when humans act as an artificial controlling factor by manipulating heritable variations in a species. The way we do this is by isolating genotypes we deem desirable in a suitable environment. For example, vegetables sold in supermarkets have been specially selected and bred to have the best possible quality and have good sales.
Arthropod
Arthropod (Lobsters)
Arthropods are any member of the phylum Arthropoda, which is the largest in the animal kingdom. These divide into three non-extinct classes: Chelicerates, Crustaceans, and Uniramians. They are mainly defined by their segmented bodies, exoskeletons, and appendages. Their outer tissue layer secretes protein and a nitrogenous carbohydrate called chitin, which form the thin and flexible exoskeleton. This happens overtime as they undergo metamorphosis and become hard-bodied adults.
Anther
Anther
The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower. Their number usually depends on how many petals the flower has. They consist of two parts: the anther and the filament. The anther, which is shown in the picture, is the brown colored head at the top of the stamen. It is responsible for producing pollen, which pollinators transport and spread on the ground and other flowers as they fly.
Angiosperm
Angiosperm (Stargazer Lily)
Angiosperms, or "flowering plants", are the largest phylum of plants. They contain four sets of organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. One of the characteristics that differentiate them from gymnosperms are their enclosed seeds. The seed develops within the carpel plant tissue, which has seeds attached around it. They are divided into two groups by the number of seed leaves they have upon germination: monocots and dicots.
Amylase
Amylase
Amylase is a digestive enzyme that can be found in human saliva and our pancreas. It begins the chemical process of digestion. When we ingest food, the saliva in our tongue helps breaks down starch into sugar. This is why some foods with high starch levels, such as rice and potatoes, can come to taste somewhat sweet.
Amniotic Egg
Amniotic Egg (Chicken Egg)
An Amniotic Egg is simply an egg originating from an amniote. Amniotes are four-limbed animals that have an terrestrially adapted egg. These animals consist of synapsids and sauropsids (reptiles and birds). Amniotic eggs are surrounded by a tough outer shell and inside it are four sacs: chorion, amnion, allantois, and the yolk. Together they keep a safe and water-like environment for the embryo as it grows.
Adaptation
Adaptation (African Penguin)
In biology, an adaptation is a trait that evolves by natural selection through generations. An adaptive trait tends to improves the organism's fitness. An example is the African Penguins' fur. The black and white colors allow them to camouflage and hide from predators. Viewed from above, the black back fades into the ocean depth, and the white belly blends into the bright ocean surface.
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