Big Idea 3

1) Diploid:  Diploid refers to most animals that have two sets of chromosomes, or 2n, in each cell.  One set of chromosomes is inherited from each parent.  In eukaryotes, all the body cells are diploid except for the gametes.  This Fennec Fox is diploid.

2)  Ethylene:  Ethylene is a gas that is used in chemical industry and is also a plant hormone that is used to ripen fruit, open flowers, make dead leaves fall from plants.  Ethylene is responsible for the color, texture, and the other factors involved in fruit ripening.  Also, ethylene can be naturally produced by fruits, such as apples and pears, but ethylene can also be made in laboratories.  Ethylene gas is used to commercially ripen some fruits, such as bananas.  

.  3) Eukaryote:  Eukaryote refers to organisms that have cells with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane bound organelles, such as mitochondria, Golgi apparati, and lysosomes.  Eukaryotes also are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes inherited from each parent.  Eukaryotes include the phylas: protista, plantae, fungi, and animalia.  This Red Panda is a eukaryote.  

4) Double Fertilization:  Double fertilization is when two sperm cells are joined with two cells in the female gametophyte to develop a zygote(2n) and a triploid cell.  The zygote matures into an embryo and the triploid cell develops into an endosperm, a tissue that provides starch and nutrients to the embryo.  An example of a plant that undergoes double fertilization is a Camellia.  

8) Flock:  A flock is a group of the same species that feed, rest, and travel together in a particular area or environment.  A group of ducks sharing the same habitat is an example of a flock. 

10)  Genetically Modified Organsim (GMO):  A genetically modified organism is any organism whose genes have changed from genetic engineering processes.  Modified genes can be produced by mutations, insertions, or deletions.  Insertions include genes from a different species are put into other genes to modify the organism.  Mostly crops or other foods that we buy at the grocery store are genetically modified, such as corn.  

12) Batesian Mimicry:  Batesian Mimicry is a type of mimicry when a harmless species mimics a harmful species.  The harmless species may act or resemble the harmful species.  This picture shows a Poison Dart Frog.  The Poison Dart Frog releases poisonous toxins when it is captured by predators.  The Poison Dart Frog looks very similar to the Mimic Poison Frog, but they are different.  The Mimic Poison Frog does not produce toxins when it is captured by predators.  This is an example of Batesian Mimicry 

14) Mitosis:  Mitosis occurs in eukaryotic cells to divide a single cell into two identical daughter cells.  Mitosis keeps the same chromosome number by distributing the replicated chromosomes equally in each of the daughter cells.  The cells divide in five phases: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.  Mitosis is used in lizards to duplicate their tail cells when the tail has been cut off.  This is a picture of a European Legless Lizard.  

16) Phenotype:  Phenotype refers to the physical appearance of an organism.  The physical traits are determined by the genetic makeup of the organism.  This picture of Taylor’s Cantil expresses the snake’s phenotype by having black skin with brown and white lines.

            

18) Prokaryote:  A prokaryoke is a cell that does not have a membrane-enclosed nucleus or membrane bound organelles. The two groups of prokaryotic cells are bacteria and archea.  Prokaryotes have circular DNA in the nucleiod region of the cell.  Also, prokaryotes have some similar structures as eukaryotes, such as the plasma membrane, ribosomes, and vacuoles. There are many bacteria in soil.  

19) Seed Dispersal Method:  The seed dispersal method includes seeds that are scattered throughout the environment from water, animal dispersal, and wind.  Plants that live in water or near water grow seeds that can float on water, flowing down a river or other body of water to grow at new sites.  Animals disperse seeds by a number of ways.  One way is by seeds that can attach to the fur or feathers of animals are carried to new locations.  Another way is when animals eat seeds.  The seeds pass through the digestive tract and are dropped to new locations.  Wind can blow seeds from plants to other areas where the seed can grow.  Plants such as dandelions have seeds that can be carried by wind to grow in new places. 

20) Tropism:  Tropism is a growth response when a plant curves towards or away a stimulus, such as the sun.  Phototropism is the growth toward or away from light.  This Gardenia plant seems to grow towards the sun, a sign of a response towards a light stimulus.