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General Biology: Animal Physiology and Development

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  • Difference in how fungal heterotrophs and animal heterotrophs obtain nutrition
    Fungal heterotrophs absorb nutrients from dead or decaying matter, while animal heterotrophs ingest food and then digest it internally.
  • Characteristics all animals have in common
    Multicellularity, heterotrophy, lack of cell walls, motility at some life stage, and specialized tissues.
  • Most recent common ancestor to animals
    Likely a colonial flagellated protist similar to choanoflagellates.
  • Cause of the Cambrian explosion and decline of Ediacaran biota hypotheses
    Increased oxygen levels, evolution of predation, and new ecological niches.
  • Tissues derived from the three germ layers
    Ectoderm: skin and nervous system; Mesoderm: muscles and skeleton; Endoderm: digestive tract lining.
  • Difference between protostome and deuterostome cleavage
    Protostomes have spiral cleavage; deuterostomes have radial cleavage.
  • Type of feeding used by sponges
    Filter feeding using choanocytes to trap food particles.
  • Two body forms of cnidarians
    Polyp (sessile) and medusa (free-swimming).
  • Function of nematocysts in cnidarians
    Stinging cells used for prey capture and defense.
  • Structure molluscs use to feed
    Radula, a tongue-like organ with rows of teeth.
  • Characteristic all insects share
    Three-part body: head, thorax, and abdomen.
  • Adaptation that led to explosion of insect evolution
    Evolution of wings allowing flight.
  • Function of echinoderm water vascular system
    Locomotion, feeding, and gas exchange.
  • Characteristics shared by all chordates
    Notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, post-anal tail.
  • Function of pharyngeal gill slits in chordates
    Filter feeding in invertebrates; respiration in aquatic vertebrates.
  • Advantage of jaw evolution in fish
    Improved ability to grasp and process food.
  • Significance of the amniotic egg
    Allows reproduction on land by protecting the embryo with fluid-filled membranes.
  • Polyspermy prevention mechanisms
    Fast block via membrane depolarization; slow block via cortical reaction.
  • Stage when three germ layers are established
    Gastrulation.
  • Body system responsible for coordination in vertebrates
    Nervous system.
  • Where neurotransmitters are released
    At the synaptic terminals of neurons.
  • Part of neuron that transmits signal
    Axon.
  • Part of neuron that receives signal
    Dendrites.
  • Ion concentrations at resting membrane potential
    High K+ inside, high Na+ outside the cell.
  • Cause of Na+ and K+ concentration differences
    Sodium-potassium pump actively transports ions to maintain gradients.
  • Movement of action potential in myelinated vs unmyelinated axons
    Myelinated axons conduct faster via saltatory conduction; unmyelinated conduct slower continuously.
  • Phases of action potential
    Rising phase (depolarization), falling phase (repolarization), undershoot (hyperpolarization), then return to resting potential.