protist, plant, fungi Flashcards
Protist
an organism that belongs to the kingdom protista
Heterotroph
an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Eukaryote
an organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus. Eukaryotes include all living organisms other than the eubacteria and archaebacteria.
Decomposer
an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
Parasite
an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host’s expense.
Host
an animal or plant on or in which a parasite or commensal organism lives.
Fungi
any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.
Spore
a minute, typically one-celled, reproductive unit capable of giving rise to a new individual without sexual fusion, characteristic of lower plants, fungi, and protozoans.
Lichen
a simple slow-growing plant that typically forms a low crustlike, leaflike, or branching growth on rocks, walls, and trees.
Nonvascular plant
a vascular system (xylem and phloem). Although non-vascular plants lack these particular tissues, many possess simpler tissues that are specialized for internal transport of water. Non-vascular plants do not have a wide variety of specialized tissue types
Vascular plant
form a large group of plants that are defined as those land plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant
Gymnosperm
a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and Gnetales
Angiosperm
are the most diverse group of land plants, with about 350,000 species.
Cellular respiration
the set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste products.
Transpiration
the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers. Water is necessary for plants but only a small amount of water taken up by the roots is used for growth and metabolism.
Tropism
the turning of all or part of an organism in a particular direction in response to an external stimulus.
Gravitropism
a turning or growth movement by a plant or fungus in response to gravity. It is a general feature of all higher and many lower plants as well as other organisms.
Phototropism
the orientation of a plant or other organism in response to light, either toward the source of light ( positive phototropism ) or away from it
Asexual Reproduction
a type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism, and inherit the genes of that parent only; it does not involve the fusion of gametes and almost never changes the number of chromosomes.
Toxoplasmosis
a disease caused by toxoplasmas, transmitted chiefly through undercooked meat, or in soil or cat feces. Symptoms generally pass unremarked in adults, but infection can be dangerous to unborn children.
Malaria
an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite that invades the red blood cells. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions.
Giardia
an intestinal infection marked by abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea and bouts of watery diarrhea