BIO 211 Organismal Biology Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which characteristic of living organisms involves the regulation of internal chemical balance?

  • Reproduction
  • Homeostasis (correct)
  • Organization
  • Evolution

    • What is the significance of Pelagibacter ubique in the ocean ecosystem?

  • It is the only known aquatic plant.
  • Its combined weight is greater than that of all fish. (correct)
  • It primarily grows underground.
  • It is the largest free-living organism.

    • Which of the following options represents an example of an organism that is likely very old and has a vast underground network?

  • Armillaria solidipes (correct)
  • Pelagibacter ubique
  • Blue whale
  • Posidonia australis

    • Which organism is known for its extensive spread, spanning approximately 180 km²?

    <p>Posidonia australis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do living organisms primarily generate variation according to the content?

    <p>By replication errors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the unity of organization refer to in the context of living organisms?

    <p>Diversity exists despite common features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic that allows organisms to make copies that resemble them?

    <p>Reproduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT contribute to the diversity of life on Earth as mentioned?

    <p>Genetic cloning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristics did LUCA possess?

    <p>Unicellular and prokaryotic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did LUCA likely exist?

    <p>Approximately 4.2 billion years ago</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of environments can prokaryotes survive in?

    <p>High-temperature environments with little oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary genetic material found in all living organisms?

    <p>DNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the genome size of LUCA estimated to be?

    <p>2.5 million base pairs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes prokaryotic diversity?

    <p>Prokaryotes can live in a vast diversity of environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What functions as the energy currency in all living cells?

    <p>ATP</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process allows living organisms to transcribe genetic information into functional products?

    <p>Transcription</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is it theorized that life on Earth may have originated?

    <p>Geothermal pools on land and hydrothermal vents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements about the genetic code is true?

    <p>Most organisms use a similar genetic code.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role can RNA molecules play in biological processes?

    <p>As enzymes and replicators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How old is the Earth approximately?

    <p>4.5 billion years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do we call the earliest signs of life on Earth, based on fossil evidence?

    <p>Single-celled organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What energy source do prokaryotes use for their metabolism?

    <p>Chemical oxidation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following prokaryotes specializes in chemoautotrophy?

    <p>Sulfolobus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component do cyanobacteria use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?

    <p>Phycobilins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant role did cyanobacteria play in Earth's history?

    <p>Causing the rise in atmospheric oxygen concentrations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Besides cyanobacteria, which group is mentioned as an example of a photoautotroph?

    <p>Cyanobacteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was primarily responsible for most of the carbon fixation throughout Earth's history?

    <p>Cyanobacteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process allows the conversion of inorganic carbon (CO2) to organic forms?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about cyanobacteria is false?

    <p>They predominantly drive current primary carbon fixation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of archaea prefers highly acidic environments with a pH of 2-3?

    <p>Acidophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of prokaryotes in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>They fix atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which archaea are known to live in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctic sea ice?

    <p>Psychrophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is bioremediation?

    <p>The process of using microbes to remove pollutants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of pathogenic bacteria?

    <p>They are typically beneficial to humans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage w/v of salt concentration do some halophiles prefer?

    <p>10%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group of prokaryotes is particularly important for the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus?

    <p>All prokaryotes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant challenge when treating diseases caused by biofilm-forming bacteria?

    <p>Biofilms create a barrier against antimicrobial agents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Characteristics of Living Organisms

    • Organization: Life is structured on a cellular level, with cells as fundamental units.
    • Homeostasis: Cells maintain chemical balance and energy transformation in response to the environment.
    • Reproduction: Organisms replicate, creating genetically similar copies using an instructional genetic code.
    • Evolution: Genetic variations occur due to replication errors, driving the evolution of species.

    Notable Organisms

    • Pelagibacter ubique:

      • Smallest free-living organism; predominant in marine ecosystems.
      • Combined weight exceeds all fish in oceans.
      • Individual cell volume: 0.019 to 0.039 µm³.

    • Armillaria solidipes:

      • Massive parasitic fungus with a network spanning ~10 km².
      • Estimated age: ~2400 years; predominantly underground growth.

    • Posidonia australis:

      • Aquatic plant spanning ~180 km².

    Diversity of Life on Earth

    • Life exhibits diversity in size, abundance, habitat, nutritional needs, lifespan, mobility, and variability.
    • Common features among living entities: unity of organization, genetic material (DNA), and fundamental biochemical processes.

    Essential Biomolecules

    • DNA: The genetic material common to all living organisms.
    • RNA: Transcribes DNA for protein synthesis, fundamental for cellular functions.
    • ATP: Universal energy currency powering cellular processes.

    Origin of Life

    • Earth's age: ~4.5 billion years; oldest known fossils: ~3.7 billion years.
    • Potential origins of life: geothermal pools or hydrothermal vents.
    • Concept of "prebiotic soup" and the "RNA world" as theories for early life formation.

    Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)

    • Existed ~4.2 billion years ago, unicellular, prokaryotic with a genome of around 2.5 million base pairs.
    • All current life shares LUCA as a common ancestor.

    Three-Domain System

    • Organisms categorized as Prokaryotes (without a nucleus) and Eukaryotes (with a nucleus).

    Prokaryotic Diversity

    • First organisms on Earth; resilient to extreme conditions.
    • Prokaryotes represent ~14% of Earth's biomass.

    Metabolic Diversity of Prokaryotes

    • Capable of various metabolic pathways, utilizing different energy and carbon sources.
    • Examples include chemoautotrophs (e.g., Sulfolobus) and photoautotrophs (e.g., cyanobacteria).

    Cyanobacteria

    • First multicellular organisms, responsible for oxygen production through photosynthesis.
    • Key contributors to Earth's primary productivity and historical carbon fixation.

    Extremophiles

    • Archaea thrive in extreme environments, such as high salinity, acidic springs, and cold habitats (e.g., Antarctic sea ice).

    Role of Prokaryotes in Biogeochemical Cycling

    • Crucial in nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus cycling.
    • Nitrogen fixation transforms atmospheric N₂ into biologically usable forms like NH₃.

    Bioremediation

    • Prokaryotes utilized for environmental cleanup, including oil spills and pollutants.
    • Not all bacteria are pathogenic; many form biofilms that resist antimicrobial treatment.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on the diversity of life in Organismal Biology. This quiz covers key characteristics of living organisms, including organization and homeostasis. Perfect for students taking BIO 211.

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