chapter 1 - intro Flashcards
(52 cards)
1
Q
Arabidopsis thaliana
A
- first flowering plant genetically sequenced
- weedy plant
2
Q
What is the difference, ecologically, between producers and consumers?
A
- producers: make their own food, like photosynthesis
- consumers: cannot make their own food, eat producers
3
Q
Could life on earth exist without plants?
A
No, plants emit oxygen that we need & they are the primary producers.
4
Q
What percentage of the biomass is made up by plants?
A
85-90%
5
Q
What gives rise to the 3 domains of life?
A
Differences in DNA sequence or genome
6
Q
What are the 3 domains of life?
A
bacteria, archaea, eukarya
7
Q
What are some examples of genes shared between plants and animals?
A
- regulator genes
- Rep, transcription, translation enzyme genes
- ribosomal genes
8
Q
Characteristics of Fungi
A
- eukaryotes
- cell walls with chitin
- heterotrophic / consumers
- storage carb= glycogen (like animals)
- more characteristics similar to animals than plants
9
Q
Algae
A
- Non-specific grouping of aquatic photosynthetic life
- “green stuff in water”
10
Q
Characteristics of plants
A
- eukaryotes
- mostly autotrophic / producers
- some (few) are heterotrophic
11
Q
Land plants
A
- mosses and liverworts (bryophytes)
- ferns, fern allies (seedless vascular plants)
- gymnosperms
- angiosperms (monocots or dicots)
12
Q
What plants were dominant in Mesozoic time?
A
gymnosperms
13
Q
Angiosperms came from gymnosperms due to what?
A
- diversification of flowering plants
- diversification of insect pollinators
- BOTH of these were needed and enhanced each other
14
Q
What plants are dominant today or in Cenozoic time?
A
- angiosperms dominate plant biomass
- except on placed w higher altitudes like canada
15
Q
What is mycology?
A
The study of fungi
16
Q
How did cockleburs lead to Velcro?
A
cockleburs stick to clothes, they have hooks that allow them to stick to clothes via loops
- Velcro mimic the hook and loop structure
17
Q
How did hedge apples lead to barbed-wire fence?
A
- the stem of hedge apples has thorns
- barbed wire fencing mimics the stem with thorns
- they attract plants to disperse their seeds
- keeps spiders and insects away?
18
Q
What are the characteristics of life?
A
- made of organic molecules
- made of cells
- respond to the environment
- evolution
19
Q
Made of organic molecules explanation
A
- organic molecules are needed for metabolism and energy
- all living things need them to metabolize and create energy
20
Q
Made of cells explanation
A
- every living things is made up of cells
- cells divide to make new cells
- cell division eventually leads to reproduction
21
Q
Respond to the environment explanation
A
- all living things respond to stimuli in the environment
- response occurs via different mechanisms depending on the organism
22
Q
Evolution explanation
A
- everything comes from pre-existing life that has evolved
23
Q
What are the four molecules of life?
A
- carbs
- lipids
- proteins
- nucleic acids
24
Q
Plant carb main transport form
A
sucrose, transported to other parts of the plant
25
Plant carb main storage form
starch, needed for sprouting because it is broken down for energy before a plant can photosynthesize
26
Plant carb main structural form
cellulose, makes up plant physical structure
27
Amylose vs Cellulose
Amylose
- alpha-glucose linkages
- humans have enzyme to break down
Cellulose
- beta-glucose linkages
- humans do NOT have enzymes to break down (will not give us energy)
- plants, bacteria, and archaea do have the enzymes to break it down
28
Proteins
- made of amino acid
- organized in polypeptide chains
29
Functions of proteins
ribosomes, membranes, transport, cell structure, ENZYMES, cell regulation, energy storage...
30
Lipids
- non-polar hydrocarbons
- stored as triglycerides in plants
- can be saturated or unsaturated
31
Which part of the pant contains the most lipid?
the seed
- has evolved to have oil, where oil comes from
- have higher energy output per gram of material that is needed for germination
32
Do plants have more saturated or unsaturated fats?
- unsaturated fats
- because at room temp they are liquid
- liquid form is oil
- unsaturated fats don't pack as tightly and are more fluid - allows better function in cooler plant temps
33
Other functions of lipids?
- energy storage
- membranes
- waxes, cutin on the outside of plants
34
Nucleic acids
- made of nucleotides
- function as genetic information
- needed for rep, transcription, and translation
35
How much genetic information do you share with a plant?
40%
- cell resp genes
- metabolism genes
- rep. transcription, translation genes
- cell cycle and mitosis genes
- signaling molecules
- eukaryotic organelle genes
36
Plant secondary products
organic compounds produced by the plant but not absolutely required for growth and development
37
What are the four plant secondary products
- terpenes
- phenolics
- glycosides
- alkaloids
38
Terpenes
- a plant secondary product
- polymers of 5-carbon isoprene units
39
Examples of terpenes
- menthol
- camphor: medicines
- rubber: plant defense
- taxol: anti-cancer drug
- beta-carotene: photosynthetic pigment
40
structure of menthol
- 2 isoprene units together
41
Phenolics
- a plant secondary product
- compounds with unsaturated carbon ring structures (double bond rings)
42
Examples of phenolics
- lignin: strengthen cell walls in secondary growth, used in 2nd cell walls of woody plants & creates rigid cell wall
- flavonoids: tannins for flavoring & anthocyanins for coloration of fruits/veggies
- urushiol: dermatitis forming compound in poison ivy
- THC: active ingredient in cannabis
43
Urushiol structure
- phenols with long carbon hydrocarbons
- hydrocarbons are hydrophobic
- washing off with water will not make effect of poison ivy go away
44
THC structure
- mimic of a normal NT in the brain called anandamide
45
Glycosides
- a secondary plant product
- sugar bonded to other molecules
- typically bonded to terpenes, phenolics, or steroids
46
Examples of glycosides
- saponins: from yams and used in production of human sex hormones (similar to female progesterone); a plant-based estrogen that can be chemically converted into progesterone
- digitoxin: used for congestive heart failure; eliminates excess fluid around the heart
47
Alkaloids
- a plant secondary product
- contain nitrogen in a carbon ring structure
- many affect neurological systems of animals
48
Examples of alkaloids
- morphine
- cocaine
- strychnine
- nicotine
- caffeine
49
Why do plants make alkaloids
to deter herbivorous animals
- elicit a bitter taste and potential poisoning
50
Conium maculatum
- poison hemlock
- an example of an alkaloid
- contains coniine
- deadly
51
What pathway is associated with the production of plant secondary products?
shikimate pathway
52
Significance of shikimate pathway
- ONLY in plants
- not in humans (why we need to eat certain aa)
- targeting this pathway could develop effective herbicides that kill plants but limit harm to humans
- eliminating shikimate pathway from plants will lead to their death
- this is what the herbicide round up does
