BIL 105 - Elementary Botany Dr. Dana Krempels

The exam is worth 100 points. Here's a checklist guide to help you sort through your notes. But don't use this guide as a substitute for coming to class and reading your text! If it was covered in class, then it's fair game for the exam!

THE ORGANIZATION OF LIFE

Know the general organization of life from subatomic particles through organism (i.e., organisms are made up of organ systems which are composed of organs, which are composed of tissues, which are composed of cells, which are composed of macromolecules, which are composed of atoms, which are composed of electrons, protons and neutrons)

Know the meaning/significance of: electron, proton, neutron, atom, molecule, element, compound, macromolecule, polymer, organelle, cell, tissue, organ (see pp. 15 - 17 of your text), species, conspecifics, population, etc.

Know the difference between inorganic and organic molecules!

Know the four basic types of macromolecules found in living systems and their subunits. (HINT: STUDY YOUR MACROMOLECULES HANDOUT!)

Know the general functions of each type of macromolecule.

Know the meaning/significance of: endangered and threatened species; the various ways to view natural resources (end of Lecture 2)

EVOLUTION

Understand the meaning/significance of: species, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere, analogous vs. homologous structures, primitive vs. derived characters.

Understand the mechanism of natural selection, artificial selection, and the nature of inheritance.

Know what is meant by "spontaneous generation".

Know the contributions to evolutionary thought of: Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarck, etc.

Understand the major tenets of the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Understand the general structure of a cell and its organelles

Be able to list the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Know the function/general structure of: plasma membrane, nucleus, plant cell wall, chromosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome, Golgi complex, vacuole, mitochondrion, chloroplast, DNA

MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS

Know--in general--which phenomena characterize the stages of mitosis. What happens in Gap 1? Synthesis phase? Gap 2? Metaphase? etc. . .

Know the major differences between mitosis and meiosis: which is sexual? Asexual? What is the purpose of each type of cell division?

1. Where does each occur in a living organism?

2. What are the cellular "products" of each type of division? What is their ploidy (i.e., how many sets of chromosomes are there in a cell produced via mitosis vs. a cell produced via meiosis.)

Know the meaning/significance of: chromosome, gene, DNA, allele, sperm, ovum, zygote, asexual vs. sexual reproduction

PLANT TISSUES

Know the meaning/significance of the following terms as they pertain to meristems: primary, secondary, apical, axillary, lateral, intercalary. Where is each located? To what tissues does each give rise?

Know which meristem(s) increase the length and the girth of the plant.

Know the meaning/significance of: procambium, protoderm, ground meristem, vascular cambium, cork cambium

Know where meristematic tissues are located in an adult/developed plant.

Know the meaning/significance of: herbaceous, woody, primary growth, secondary growth

Know the significance/function of the three permanent (non-meristematic) tissue systems: dermal system, ground (= fundamental) system, vascular system

Know the significance/function of: parenchyma, chlorenchyma (i.e., chlorophyll-rich parenchyma), collenchyma, sclerenchyma, tracheid, vessel element, sieve tube element, companion cell, trichome, cellulose, lignin, secretory cells, cuticle, pit, sieve plate. Know where each is likely to be found.

Know the types of cells you might find in xylem and phloem. Which ones conduct water? Which conducting cells are more primitive? Which are more derived?

ROOTS

Be able to identify and name the function of: root cap, region of cell division (meristem), region of cell elongation, region of maturation, endodermis, pericycle, Casparian strips, root hairs, side branch roots.

Be able to recognize the MAJOR anatomical differences between a root and a stem (HINT: Do stems have endodermis? Pericycle? Do roots have nodes, internodes or axillary buds?)

Know the difference between a taproot and fibrous roots. Which plants have 'em?

Be able to name some functions of various types of specialized roots such as food or water-storage roots, propagative roots, pneumatophores, aerial roots, adventitious roots, contractile roots (see text references)

Know the meaning/significance of these mutualistic relationships: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodules of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) and Mycorrhizae ("fungus roots")
Know the basic components of soil, and where each soil horizon is located. Understand why soils in various ecosystems may have differing levels of nutrients and different soil profiles, largely depending on the age of the ecosystem and the climate, including rainfall.

STEMS

Be able to identify/define: node, internode, terminal bud, axillary bud, pith, cortex, stele, annual growth ring, spring wood, summer wood, heartwood, sapwood.

Be able to name some functions of various specialized stems such as rhizomes, stolons, tubers, bulbs, corms (HINT: it's all reviewed in your text)