Big Idea 2

 1. Adhesion of Water: Adhesion of water refers to the attraction of water to other polar substances due to hydrogen bonding. The partial negative charge of the oxygen atom and the partial positive charges of the two hydrogen atoms in water molecules allows for this bonding with other polar molecules. Therefore, adhesion makes water "stick" to other polar molecules. On this plant, water droplets are counteracting the forces of gravity by "sticking," or adhering, to the leaves, meaning that something polar on the leaves is hydrogen bonding with the water molecules.

 4. Autotroph: Autotrophs are organisms that are capable of synthesizing organic compounds from simple inorganic substances by using light or chemical energy. Grass is an autotroph because it is able to produce its own food and thus energy from carbon dioxide and water through the process of photosynthesis.

6. Carbohydrate: Carbohydrates are organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio 1:2:1 respectively. They serve as major energy sources. The simplest of carbohydrates are the monosaccharides, or simple sugars, which include glucose, fructose, and galactose. A potato is high in starch, which is a polymer of many hundreds of both branched (amylopectin) and unbranched (amylose) glucose molecules. 

8. Cellulose: Cellulose is an insoluble, structural polysaccharide that consists of repeated ß-glucose molecules linked in unbranched chains. The cells of this Boxwood shrub, like all other plants, contain cell walls made primarily of cellulose. Humans can not digest cellulose; however, because of symbiotic bacteria and protists in their digestive tract, cows are in fact able to break down cellulose and thus access the rich energy within the compound's bonds.  

10. Cohesion of Water: Cohesion of water refers to the fact that water molecules are attracted to each other due to the partial negative charge of the highly electronegative Oxygen atom and the partially positive charge of the two Hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen bonds form between the Hydrogen atoms of one water molecule and the Oxygen atom of another particularly at the surface of a body of water, and this creates something called surface tension. Surface tension caused by the cohesive forces of water is what allows this leaf to float.

12. Ectothermy: Ectotherms, or "cold-blooded" animals, are organisms whose body temperatures change with the temperature of their surroundings. Ectotherms rely on external sources of heat and cold in order to change their body temperatures when necessary. All amphibians are ectothermic, and thus this poison dart frog is an example of ectothermy because it regulates its body temperature by exchanging heat with its surroundings. 

13. Endothermy: Endotherms, or "warm-blooded" animals, maintain their body temperature above the temperature of the external environment. Unlike ectotherms, they do not depend on the environment for internal temperature regulation. Lemurs are mammals,which are endotherms, and thus they are able to regulate their own body temperature at a favorable temperature by the heat released from internal metabolic processes. 

14. Entropy: Entropy refers to the amount of disorder, or energy unable to do work, in a particular system. Leaves falling in a random and scattered formation on the ground from their fixed and orderly attachments to trees represents an increase in disorder in the system and thus a decrease in the overall free energy. 

15. Enzyme: An enzyme is a substance produced by a living organism that speeds up chemical reactions by decreasing the amount of activation energy required for a particular reaction. Saliva contains many enzymes for both dietary purposes as well as defense purposes. For example, amylase, an enzyme the initiates the breakdown of starch into sugars, is found in saliva. Lysozyme, another enzyme found in saliva, catalyzes the breakdown of bacterial cell walls, in order to inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth cavity. 

16. Fermentation: Fermentation is the anaerobic extraction of energy from sugar by converting it into acids, gases, or alcohol. Yeast obtain energy through fermentation in the presence of sugar by converting the sugar into carbon dioxide and ethanol. This "recycles" the electron carriers in the cellular respiration pathway so that they can be used again in glycolysis to produce more energy as long as sugar is still present. Beer, wine, and liquor are made by the process of ethanol fermentation; however, these substances can only naturally reach a level of 12% ethanol before the yeast starts to die.

19. Heterotroph: A heterotroph is an organism that cannot derive energy from organic matter created by the process of photosynthesis, and so it must feed on plants or animals in order to obtain chemical energy from their organic matter. A lion is a animal that consumes various external sources of organic matter, particularly large mammals such as antelopes, buffalos, and zebras in the wild, in order to acquire energy, and thus a lion is a heterotroph. 

23. Hydrophilic: Hydrophilic, or "water loving," substances are substances that have an affinity for water because they are polar or charged. Sodium chloride (NaCl), an ionic compound, is hydrophilic because of the ability of its individual charged ions to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Moreover, because NaCl is hydrophilic, it is soluble in water. 

24. Hydrophobic: Hydrophobic, or "water-fearing," substances are nonpolar substances that have no affinity for water. Olive oil, an unsaturated fat, is a nonpolar molecule due to its very high proportion of nonpolar carbon-hydrogen bonds. Though it has some hydrophilic groups, olive oil is not soluble in water because of its dominantly hydrophobic fatty acid chains. When placed in water, olive oil spontaneously clusters together into droplets because only the glycerol backbones of the fat molecules can form hydrogen bonds with water. The fatty acid chains aggregate away from the water due to hydrophobic exclusion in order to increase the hydrogen bonding potential of the water molecules. 

28. Lactic Acid: Lactic acid (C3H6O3) is a syrupy organic chemical compound produced in the absence of oxygen when pyruvate is directly reduced during fermentation in order to recycle the electron carriers for glycolysis. This kind of fermentation is known as lactic acid fermentation, which is the process by which sugar is converted into energy and lactic acid. Yogurt is produced by the lactic acid fermentation of milk by harmless bacteria, thus lowering its pH and causing it to congeal. 

29. Long-day Plant: A long-day plant is a plant that requires a short night and a long amount of exposure to light in order to flower. Long-day plants grow in the summer when days can last up to twelve hours or more. Spinach is a long-day plant because it will initiate blooming when the day length is thirteen hours or more. 

30. Phloem: The phloem is a tissue in vascular plants that transports photosynthetic food materials from the leaves to other parts of the plant. The veins are the vascular tissue of the leaf, and thus the phloem can be observed in the leaves of this ivy plant.

 32. Saturated Fat: A saturated fat is a fat in which the fatty acid chains have no single bonds between the carbons, and thus they are saturated with the maximum number of hydrogen atoms. The lack of double bonds in the fatty acids of saturated fats causes the fatty acids to align closely and to form a solid at room temperature. Animal meat, such as this piece of prime rib from a cow, contains solid saturated fat at room temperature.

33. Stomata: Stomata are the miniscule openings in the epidermis of the leaves and stems of plants. They are surrounded by guard cells, which regulate their opening and closing, and they allow for gas exchange. Stomata are usually located on the underside of leaves, away from direct contact with sunlight, in order to preserve water when they open to let carbon dioxide in and oxygen out for photosynthesis. The leaves of this rhododendron plant, like the leaves of most vascular plants, contain stomata on their undersides.

37. Unsaturated Fat: An unsaturated fat is a fat in which one or more of the fatty acid chains has one or more double bonds between the internal carbons and thus contains less than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, meaning that there is only one double bond in the fatty acid chains of their fat molecules.

38. Xylem: The xylem is a tissue in vascular plants that carries water and nutrients upwards from the roots to the rest of the plant body. The xylem also functions in structure and support. Because bamboo is a vascular plant, it contains a xylem to carry water and nutrients up its tall and narrow stalk. 

Big Idea 1

2)  Adaptation of an animal:  Animals evolve adaptations in order to survive better in their environment.  Ducks have evolved webbed feet in order to swim better, because they live in and near water.

 

3)  Adaptation of a plant:  Plants evolve adaptations in order to survive better in their environment.  The palm tree in this picture has waxy leaves, which are an adaptation to help prevent water loss in its native dry climates.

 

6)  Angiosperm: An angiosperm is any plant which flowers and produces seeds as fruit.  This hibiscus has flowers and seeds that are visible inside the flower.

7)  Annelid: Annelids are a phylum of animals that have segmented bodies.  Earthworms’ bodies are separated into many small segments making them annelids.

 

8)  Arachnid: An arachnid is a class of arthropods which has eight legs and a body composed of two parts.  The spider in this picture is classified as an arachnid.

 

 

10)  Arthropod:  Arthropods are invertebrate animals that have segmented bodies, jointed appendages, and exoskeletons made of chitin.  These ladybugs are beetles, which is a type of arthropod.

 

12)  Bilateral Symmetry:  Most animals possess bilateral symmetry in which the two halves of the animal’s body are mirror images.  This bird exhibits bilateral symmetry, since it has identical left and right sides of its body.

 

 

13)  Bryophytes: A bryophyte is a plant that lacks a vascular system to distribute nutrients throughout a plant.  This moss does not have leaves or roots, which are parts of a vascular system.

 



 

14)  Chordate:  Chordates are a group of animals that have spinal columns.  This egret standing in the water is an example of a chordate because it is a vertebrate.

 

20)  Fungi:  Fungi are unicellular or multicellular organisms that function as decomposers and disease-causing organisms.  This mushroom is a fungus that decomposes things.

 

24)  Gymnosperm Cone: Gymnosperms are plants that produce seeds not enclosed in an ovary.  Some gymnosperms, such as this pine tree, produce seeds in the form of cones. 

 

 

25)  Gymnosperm leaf: Gymnosperms are plants that produce seeds not enclosed in an ovary.   Pines and spruces, such as this blue spruce, have needlelike leaves.

 

 

27)  Lichens: A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a photosynthetic organism such as alga and a fungus. The light green lichen on this rock is a fungus, which contains bacteria that perform photosynthesis.

 

28)  Modified leaf of a plant:  Some plant leaves have been modified through natural selection to function better in their environments.  Cactus leaves have evolved to become bigger and retain water in hot, dry environments. 

 

29)  Modified root of a plant:  Some plant roots have been modified through natural selection to function better in their environments  The buttress roots of this ficus macrophylla have evolved to grow bigger above ground and spread out to anchor the tree.

 

30)  Modified stem of a plant:  Some plant stems have been modified through natural selection to function better in their environments.  These clematis vines have evolved lighter, smaller stems that grow horizontally and vertically in order to help cling to things. 

 

33A)  Organisms in different plant divisions – Jack fruit tree:  All plants are separated into divisions based on their physical characteristics.  The jack fruit tree is part of the Magnoliophyta division because it produces fruit.

 

33B)  Organisms in different plant divisions – Pine tree:  All plants are separated into divisions based on their physical characteristics.  This pine tree belongs to the Coniferophyta division because it produces cones.

 

 

38)  Seedless vascular plant: Seedless vascular plants have structures such as leaves and roots, but do not produce seeds.  This fern is a seedless vascular plant that reproduces with spores. 

 

39)  Tetrapod:  A tetrapod is any animal that has four limbs.  Cows have two front legs and two back legs; therefore, they are tetrapods.

 



 



 



 



 



 





 

Big Idea 1

2. Adaptation of an Animal: An adaptation of an animal is a change in an animal's structure or function in order to promote its survival and reproduction. This Ctenosaura defensor (club-tailed iguana) is armored with a spiky tail so that it can defend itself against predators. 

3. Adaptation of a Plant: An adaptation of a plant is an alteration in a plant's structure or function such that it can better survive, reproduce, and thrive in its environment. The seeds of this Sago Palm are extremely poisonous to animals if ingested because they contain high levels of the toxin cycasin, which can lead to liver failure. This adaptation promotes the success of the plant's reproduction. 

4. Amniotic Egg: An amniotic egg is a terrestrially adapted, watertight egg that consists of a hard shell that protects it from the environment, a food source (yolk), and a series of membranes that contributes to its self-sufficiency. Amniotic eggs are characteristic of all modern reptiles, birds, and oviparous mammals, and these three classes are called amniotes. A chicken egg is thus an amniotic egg because it consists of a shell for protection and to prevent drying, a yolk sac that provides food for the embryo, a chorion that allows for the exchange of gases but retains water, an amnion that encases the embryo within which there is amniotic fluid, and an allantois that functions in waste removal. 

6. Angiosperm: An angiosperm, or flowering plant, is a plant in which the ovules are enclosed within a leaflike organ called a carpel at the time of pollination. Because this camellia plant produces flowers and encased ovules, it is an angiosperm. 

8. Arachnid: An arachnid is an invertebrate and type of arthropod with four pairs of segmented legs, a body formed of two parts, and no antennae. They are distinguished from insects, which only possess six legs. This large and hairy tarantula, of which about nine hundred species have been discovered, is an arachnid because it is a spider, one of the many types of organisms classified as arachnids.

10. Arthropod: Arthropods, including all crustaceans, insects, and spiders, are invertebrates that have exoskeletons, segmentation, and jointed appendages. These mealworms are the larval forms of mealworm beetles, which are insects in the phylum Arthropoda. The adult form of these mealworms exhibits a segmented body, jointed appendages, and an exoskeleton. 

11. Artificial Selection: Artificial selection refers to human interference in the the breeding of plants and animals in order to produce offspring with desirable traits. My dog is a "maltichon," or a cross between a Maltese and a Bichon Frise. He has the smooth, white hair of a Maltese and the kind, playful temperament of a Bichon Frise. He is a result of artificial selection.

12. Bilateral Symmetry: Bilateral symmetry is the equal arrangement of an organism on either side of a plane, or central line. This leaf from a geranium plant exhibits bilateral symmetry because the left side of the leaf can be exactly folded onto the ride side of the leaf.

21. Gastropod: Gastropods are mollusks, such as snails or slugs, characteristic of a coiled shell or none at all, a ventral muscular foot for movement, and a distinct head bearing sensory organs. Many thousands of species of gastropods, ranging from ones that live in terrestrial environments to others that live in marine habitats, have been discovered. This sea snail is in the class Gastropoda because it possesses a univalve shell, sensory organs, and a foot for locomotion.

22. Genetic Variation: Genetic variation refers to dissimilarities in alleles of genes (and thus phenotypes) among individuals of a population. This variation is brought about by the changes in the chemical structure of genes in a population overtime, making the descendants differ from their ancestors. Four different genes and many different alleles contribute to the determination of eyes color within the human population, giving rise to much genetic variation. 

24. Gymnosperm Cone: Gymnosperms, as opposed to angiosperms, are plants that produce unenclosed ovules not within an ovary. The ovules of gymnosperms often develop on modified leaves known as cones, such as the one from a pine tree pictured above. These larger female cones, possessing the unenclosed ovules, grow towards the lower end of a gymnosperm, while the male pollen cones are smaller and grow closer to the top of the gymnosperm. This makes it easier for the pollen to drift down and fertilize the ovules on the female cones. 

25. Gymnosperm Leaf: Gymnosperms are vascular plants that produce unenclosed, or "naked," ovules. Christmas trees, like the one pictured, are typically a type of gymnosperm known as a conifer. More specifically, this gymnosperm is a fir tree. The tree's leaves, which are simple and needlelike, are often modified into cones for reproduction purposes. Moreover, as compared to the leaves of deciduous plants, most gymnosperms have leaves that are retained for more than one growing season.

26. Homologous Structures: Homologous structures are structures in different species that have developed from a common ancestor. The arm of a primate, such as a chimpanzee, and the wings of bird, such as the plain-colored amazon, are homologous because they are made of similar bones and thus must have a common evolutionary origin; however, they do not perform the same function in the different organisms. 

28. Modified Leaf of a Plant: A modified leaf of a plant is a change in a leaf's structure such that it performs other functions that just photosynthesis. The leaves of this Desert Spoon shrub have been altered into thin, sharp, and pointy leaves in order to dissuade herbivory and its own consumption. 

29. Modified Root of a Plant: Modified roots of plants are roots that have changed their structures in order to carry out specific functions as an adaptation to the environment. The roots of carrots have been modified in order to store starch because underground, where the roots grow, is a great place to secure energy and resources, away from predators and consumers. 

30. Modified Stem of a Plant: A modified stem is a stem that has been transformed such that it performs a specialized function. Normal stems transport nutrients and water and are used for support; however, because this stem of a rose plant has portions that are altered into thorns for defense, it is considered a modified stem.

37. Radial Symmetry (Animal): Radial symmetry is symmetry about a central point, around which radiating segments are equally arranged. Sea anemones exhibit radial symmetry because they only have tops and bottoms rather than left and right sides. Moreover, dividing a sea anemone along any central axis will produce two equal halves. 

39. Tetrapod: A tetrapod is a vertebrate with four limbs, or any vertebrate that had four-legged ancestors. All amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, are tetrapods, and thus this four-legged giraffe is a tetrapod. 

40. Unicellular Organism: A unicellular organism is simply an organism that consists of one cell. They carry out all of their functions in this single cell. Yeasts, which are able to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide through fermentation, are fungi that consist of single cells. 

41. Vestigial Structure: A vestigial structure is a structure that was at one time useful for a species but has lost its apparent function overtime. The wings of an emu are vestigial structures because emus are unable to fly and thus do not use their wings for a particular purpose.