Final Exam Review

Study Notes

Final Exam Review - BIO 211

Overarching Themes: The final exam will cover cumulative concepts from the midterm and beyond, including unifying biological themes, Darwinian evolution, phylogeny, and the origin of eukaryotes.
Lecture Topics:
- Embryophyta (W5L1-W5L3): Origins, evolution, diversity, and ecology
- Spermatophyta (W5L3): Evolution, diversity, and ecology
- Fungi (W6L1-W6L2): Origins, evolution, and ecology
- Animal Diversity (W7L1-W7L3): Overview, Invertebrates I and II
- Chordata (W9L1): Origins and evolution
- Vertebrates (W9L2-W9L3): Gnathstomes to tetrapods, amniotes to mammals, and primates
- Humans (W10L1-W10L2): Variable selection hypothesis
Preparation Strategies:
- Review lecture notes thoroughly; these are the primary source for the exam.
- Review any notes taken during lectures and discussions.
- Review lab handouts.
- Note areas needing clarification for discussion during review sessions.

Important Concepts for Review

Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes: Differences between the two types of cells.
Endosymbiosis: Its role in the history of life on Earth.
Eukaryote Supergroups: Characteristics defining the four major supergroups.
Unikonta: Synapomorphies defining the two clades within this supergroup.
SAR: Synapomorphies defining the three clades in this supergroup.
Fungal Nutrition: Primary mode of nutrition.
Fungal Relationships: Mutualistic relationships, cell wall composition, hyphae types, and mycelium.
Fungal Reproduction: Differences between fungal reproduction types.
Fungal Colonization (Land Plants): Relationships of fungi and land plants.
Land Plants: Defining characteristics, evolutionary adaptations (e.g., sporopollenin, cuticle, stomata, mycorrhizae), and the four informal groups.
Gametophyte and Sporophyte Evolution: Changes in these phases over plant evolution.
Plant Adaptations: Advantages of seeds and angiosperms.
Metazoans: Characteristics distinguishing them from other eukaryotes.
Animal Body Plans: Four primary methods of characterizing animal body plans.
Animal Clades: Five major animal clades, defining characteristics, and primary chordate clades.
Tetrapods: Group of chordates that gave rise to tetrapods, and their derived characteristics.
Amphibians: Bridging aquatic and terrestrial lifestyles.
Amniotes: Key adaptations to terrestrial living.
Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals: Key characteristics, derived characteristics, and lineages.
Endothermy: Benefits and drawbacks of endothermy.
Primates: Defining characters of primates.
Human Evolution: Misconceptions, major steps from organic material to eutherian mammals, and the relationship between evolution and unity/diversity of life.