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Bio lab Midterm
Biodiversity Lab Spring 2026
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the purpose of the ocular lens? | The lens you look through; usually magnifies the image 10×. |
| What is the purpose of the arm? | Supports the upper parts of the microscope and is used to carry it. |
| What is the purpose of the course adjustment? | Moves the stage up/down quickly for initial focusing (use on low power only). |
| What is the purpose of the fine adjustment? | Makes small movements for sharp, detailed focus (used on higher magnifications). |
| What is the purpose of the stage adjustment knob? | Moves the slide left/right and forward/back to view different areas. |
| What is the purpose of the dimmer switch? | Controls the brightness of the light. |
| What is the purpose of the base? | Supports the microscope; often contains the light source. |
| What is the purpose of the light? | Provides light to see the specimen. |
| What is the purpose of the condenser? | Focuses light onto the specimen for clearer viewing. |
| What is the purpose of the Iris diaphragm switch? | Controls the amount of light reaching the specimen by adjusting the opening. |
| What is the purpose of the stage? | Platform that holds the slide in place. |
| What is the purpose of the objective lens? | Primary magnifying lenses (4×, 10×, 40×, 100×). |
| What is the purpose of the nosepiece? | Rotating part that holds the objective lenses and allows you to change magnification. |
| Why is it important to view slides that the lowest magnification? | Easier to find the specimen Larger field of view Prevents damaging the slide |
| How to find the total magnification? | Ocular lens × Objective lens Example: 10× ocular × 40× objective = 400× total magnification |
| How to find extinct organisms on the phylogenetic tree | They appear as branches that end before reaching the present (do not extend to the top/right of the tree). |
| What is a monophyletic group? | Includes a common ancestor and ALL of its descendants (a true clade). |
| What is a paraphyletic group? | Includes a common ancestor but NOT all descendants. |
| What is a polyphyletic group? | Includes organisms from different ancestors (does not include their most recent common ancestor). |
| How do you identify the most recent common ancestor on a phylogenetic tree? | Trace back along the branches until they meet at a single node. |
| How to know how closely organisms are related on a phylogenic tree | The more recent their common ancestor, the more closely related they are. |
| What is the difference between convergent and divergent evolution? | Unrelated organisms develop similar traits due to similar environments. Related organisms become different over time due to different environments. |
| What is convergent evolution? Give an example | When a similar trait arises between species that do not share a recent common ancestor Ex. Dorsil fins in dolphins and sharks |
| What is divergent evolution? Give an example | The process of related species adapting differently to their environment and becoming more dissimilar. Divergent evolution involves species that share a recent common ancestor Ex. Two pelican species in SW Florida |
| What can you use to determine how closely related organisms? | DNA sequences Protein similarities Fossils Anatomical structures |
| What are morphological characteristics? Give an example | traits that are derived from a common ancestor and are retained. They focus on structural, anatomical, and the developmental form of an organism Ex. long, hooked beaks with gular pouches |
| Give an example of physical characteristics you could use to determine how closely related organisms are | Number of limbs Type of body covering (fur, scales, feathers) |
| Give an example of morphological characteristics you could use to determine how closely related organisms are | Skull structure Bone arrangement in forelimbs Type of teeth |
| How do you distinguish a prokaryote from a eukaryote cell? | Presence of a Nucleus (Eukaryote has a true nucleus) Organelles (Eukaryote has membrane-bound organelles) Size (Eukaryote is large) DNA Structure (Eukaryote has multiple linear chromosomes |
| What are the two domains of life that make up prokaryotes? | Bacteria and Archaea |
| What are the shapes of bacteria? | Cocci-spherical Bacilli- rod-shaped Spirilla- spiral Vibrio- comma-shaped |
| What is the order of gram stain? | Crystal violet Iodine Alcohol (decolorizer) Safranin |
| What is the significance of the gram stain? | Differentiates bacteria based on cell wall structure (Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative) thick (gram positive) vs. thin peptidoglycan cell walls (gram negative) |
| What is the importance of fixation in the gram stain? | Kills bacteria Sticks cells to slide Preserves cell shape |
| What is the importance of adding crystal violet in the gram stain? | Primary stain — stains all cells purple |
| What is the importance of the iodine treatment in the gram stain? | Mordant — forms crystal violet–iodine complex to trap dye in thick cell walls. |
| What is the importance of decolorization in the gram stain? | Removes stain from Gram-negative cells (thin peptidoglycan layer) |
| What is the importance of the counter stain safranin in the gram stain? | Counterstain — stains Gram-negative cells pink |
| Why do the gram positive and gram negative bacteria get stained purple and pink respectively? | Gram-positive: Thick peptidoglycan traps crystal violet → purple Gram-negative: Thin peptidoglycan loses violet during alcohol wash → takes up safranin → pink |
| What is the importance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (ecologically)? | Convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into usable forms (ammonia) for plants — essential for ecosystems and food webs. |
| How did eukaryotic cells come to be? | Through endosymbiosis — one prokaryote engulfed another, forming organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts. |
| What is taxis? What is an example? | Movement toward or away from a stimulus (e.g., light, chemicals). |
| What exhibits taxis? | Protists, bacteria, some animal cells. |
| When does taxis become more apparent? | When organisms need to respond to environmental changes (light, nutrients, toxins). |
| What are the features of Euglena? | Flagellum (movement) Chloroplasts (photosynthesis) Eyespot (light detection) Mixotrophic (can photosynthesize & ingest food) |
| What are the features of Trypanosomes? | Parasitic Single flagellum Cause African sleeping sickness |
| What is Giardia? | Parasitic protozoan Causes gastrointestinal illness Has multiple flagella |
| What are the protists in the SAR Clade? | Stramenophila Alveolata Rhizaria |
| What are Stramenophila? | Diatoms Brown Algae: Fucus |
| What are Alveolata? | Paramecium Stentor |
| What are Rhizaria? | Foraminifera Radiolarians |
| What organisms make up the protist group Unikonta? | Amoebozoans Animals Fungi |
| What organisms make up the protist group Archaeplastida? | Red algae Green algae Land plants |
| What are the different types of green algae? | Chlorophytes Charophytes |
| What are the different shapes of green algae? | Unicellular Colonial Filamentous Multicellular |
| What is the scientific name for green algae? | Phylum Chlorophyta |
| What adaptations allowed plants to survive on land? | Waxy cuticle (prevents water loss) Stomata (gas exchange) Vascular tissue (xylem & phloem) Roots |
| What generation of nonvascular plants is the dominant generation? | Gametophyte (haploid) |
| What generation of vascular plants is the dominant generation? | Sporophyte (diploid) |
| What is the alternation of generations? | Life cycle alternating between: haploid gametophyte (produces gametes) and diploid sporophyte (produces spores) |
| What do seedless plants produce? What do they form into? What do they not have? | Spores Gametophytes Seeds |
| Where are eggs produced in seedless plants? | Archegonia |
| Where are sperm produced in seedless plants? | Antheridia |
| Why do nonvascular plants need to be in a wet environment? | These plants lack vascular tissue so they need to be in wet environments |
| What are the nonvascular plants that make up this group? | Liverworts, mosses, and hornworts |
| How do liverworts reproduce? Through what? | Sexually and asexually; through gammae cups |
| What environments can vascular plants live in? Why? | Since these plants have vascular tissue, they can live in drier environments. |
| What is the role of stomata in the gas exchange for vascular plants? | CO₂ in (photosynthesis) O₂ out Regulate water loss |
| What kind of a plant is Spanish moss? | It is not moss it is a flowering plant |
| What did seeds develop to protect? In what environments? | Seeds developed to further protect the embryo in dry/harsh environments |
| Where are seeds found in gymnosperms? | Seeds are found on the scales of cones |
| Where are seeds found in angiosperms | Seeds are enclosed within an ovary (fruit) |
| What are all seed plants? Why? | All seed plants are vascular so they have a dominant sporophyte generation |
| What do male microspores become? What do female megaspores become? | Male microspores become pollen (containing sperm) and female megaspores become the egg |
| What is the process of pollination? | Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from one plant to another |
| What is the process of fertilization? | Fertilization is the union of sperm and egg to form an embryo that develops inside of a seed |
| What are the features of the Anabaena? | Bead-like chain of cells Contains heterocysts (larger, pale specialized cells) Heterocysts perform nitrogen fixation May form akinetes (thick-walled survival cells) No true branching Easily identified by heterocysts spaced along the filament |
| What are the features of the Oscillatoria? | Filamentous cyanobacterium Long, unbranched chains of cells Cells arranged in a single row (trichome) Exhibits oscillating/gliding movement No heterocysts No branching Named for its slow, wave-like oscillating movement |
| What are the features of the Merismopedia? | Colonial cyanobacterium Cells arranged in a flat, square or rectangular plate Cells divide in two perpendicular planes Forms a grid-like pattern Surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath Recognized by its organized, box-like colony structure. |
| What are the features of euglena? | Unicellular protist (freshwater) Has one flagellum for movement Contains chloroplasts → photosynthetic (plant-like) Has an eyespot (stigma) → detects light Flexible outer covering called a pellicle Can be autotrophic or heterotrophic (mixotroph) |
| What are the features of Giardia? | Parasitic protist (causes giardiasis) Has two nuclei (looks like “two eyes”) Multiple flagella for movement Has a ventral adhesive disc to attach to intestines Forms cysts for transmission Lacks typical mitochondria (has mitosomes) |
| What are the features of Trypanosoma? | Parasitic protist (African sleeping sickness) Transmitted by tsetse fly Single flagellum Has an undulating membrane Found in bloodstream of host Elongated body shape |
| What are features of stramenopila? | Have hairy flagella (when flagellated) Include: brown algae and diatoms Many are photosynthetic Some are decomposers or parasites |
| What are features of aveolata? | Have alveoli (membrane-bound sacs under plasma membrane) Includes: ciliates, dinoflagellates, and apicomplexans Can be free-living or parasitic Structural support from alveoli |
| What are features of dinoflagellates? | Two flagella (one wraps around body) Many are photosynthetic Some cause red tides Some are bioluminescent Cellulose plates in cell wall (theca) |
| What are features of rhizaria? | Mostly amoeboid protists Move using pseudopodia Have thin, threadlike extensions Often have intricate shells (silica or calcium carbonate) |
| What organisms make up the unikonts? | They typically have: One flagellum (if present) Flattened mitochondrial cristae |
| What are the structures of an amoeba? | Pseudopodia (false feet) Nucleus Cytoplasm (ectoplasm & endoplasm) Cell membrane Food vacuole Contractile vacuole |
| What are the functions of an amoeba? | Movement → pseudopodia Feeding (phagocytosis) → engulfs food Osmoregulation → contractile vacuole removes excess water Reproduction → binary fission Digestion → food vacuoles |
| How do horsetails photosynthesize? | Through the stems |
| Gymnosperms contain what? | Contain a male pollen cone and female cone with seeds on it. |
| What do seeds develop to protect? In what environment? | Seeds developed to further protect the embryo in dry/harsh environments |
| Where are seeds found in gymnosperms? | Seeds are found on the scales of cones. |
| Where are seeds found in angiosperms? | Seeds are enclosed within an ovary (fruit) |
| What do gymnosperms contain regarding their cones? | Gymnosperms contain a male pollen cone and female cone with seeds on it |
| What do gymnosperms relay on for pollen/seed dispersal | Gymnosperms rely on wind for pollen and seed dispersal |
| Monoecious plants contain what reproductive structures? What about dioecious? | Monoecious plants have both male and female reproductive structures on them, whereas dioecious plants have one male plant and one female plant |
| Angiosperms are what kind of plant | Flowering and fruiting |
| What does the ovary of angiosperms become? What does that become? | ovary becomes fruit and ovules become seeds |
| What is more variable for angiosperms? Why? | Seeds, pollen, and fruit dispersal is more viable because they can more moved using wind, water, animals, and more |
| Compare/contrast monocots and dicots | Monocots have one cotyledon, parallel veins, scattered vascular bundles, and flower parts in 3s, while dicots have two cotyledons, netted veins, ringed bundles, and flower parts in 4s or 5s. |
| What is the relationship between the stomata and guard cells? | Stomata are pores on leaves controlled by guard cells, which open and close to regulate gas exchange and water loss. |
Created by:
KristenR2025