Biosciences II Exam 3

Snakes are indeed unusually sensitive to certain odors. They have a specialized organ called the Jacobson's organ, which allows them to detect and analyze chemical cues in their environment. This organ is located in the roof of their mouth and is connected to their tongue. When snakes flick their tongue in the air, they collect odor particles, which are then transferred to the Jacobson's organ for analysis. This ability is crucial for various aspects of their life, including finding prey, avoiding predators, and detecting potential mates. Therefore, it is true that snakes can detect odors by trapping them on their tongue.

Bony fish have a swimbladder to adjust their buoyancy. The swimbladder is an internal gas-filled organ that allows fish to control their position in the water column. By regulating the amount of gas in the swimbladder, fish can increase or decrease their buoyancy, enabling them to float at a desired depth or rise and sink in the water. This helps them conserve energy and maintain their position in the water without constantly swimming.

Archaeopteryx is known for having a long, bony tail. This characteristic sets it apart from modern birds, as they have a shorter, more flexible tail. The long tail of Archaeopteryx was important for maintaining balance and stability during flight, as well as for steering. The presence of a long, bony tail in Archaeopteryx provides evidence of its evolutionary link to dinosaurs, as many dinosaurs also had long tails. This characteristic suggests that Archaeopteryx was a transitional species between dinosaurs and birds.

Amphibians deposit their eggs outside the body and subsequently they are fertilized, while reptiles and birds have eggs with membranes/shells that protect the zygote from arid conditions. This difference in reproductive strategy means that fertilization in reptiles and birds must be internal, whereas in amphibians it is external.

Angiosperms, gymnosperms, and ferns are all characterized by having vascular tissue. Vascular tissue is a complex system of tubes that transport water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. It consists of two types of tissues: xylem, which transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant, and phloem, which transports sugars and other organic molecules from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Mosses, on the other hand, do not have true vascular tissue and rely on osmosis and diffusion to transport water and nutrients.

The lateral line system in fish is a sensory system that allows them to detect water movements and vibrations. This system helps fish to orient themselves in water by sensing changes in water pressure and movement. It allows them to navigate through their environment, detect prey, and avoid obstacles. Fish use their lateral line system to sense the direction and speed of water currents, which helps them to swim efficiently and maintain their position in the water. Therefore, the correct answer is fish to orient in water.

The correct answer is "none of the above is a reliable basis for distinguishing the two." This means that none of the characteristics mentioned (having a uterus, producing milk and nursing their young, being warm-blooded, having flagellated sperm cells) can be used as a reliable basis for distinguishing humans from kangaroos.

Birds are the surviving evolutionary line most closely related to dinosaurs. This is because birds are considered to be direct descendants of certain groups of theropod dinosaurs, such as the Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurus rex. They share many anatomical and physiological characteristics, including similar bone structures and the presence of feathers. Additionally, recent fossil discoveries have provided further evidence of the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs.

Humans and other primates are closely related evolutionarily, which means they share a common ancestor. Karyotype refers to the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. The statement that humans and other primates have almost identical karyotypes suggests that they have a similar number and appearance of chromosomes, further reinforcing their close evolutionary relationship.

Jacobson's organ is a specialized sensory organ found in many animals, including reptiles and mammals. It is used primarily as a chemoreceptor, meaning it is involved in detecting and processing chemical stimuli in the environment. This organ helps animals to detect and analyze pheromones, which are chemical signals used for communication between individuals of the same species. By detecting these chemical signals, animals can gather important information about reproductive status, territory marking, and social interactions. Therefore, Jacobson's organ is primarily used in chemoreception rather than detecting vibration, heat, pressure, or photoperiod determination.

Cuticles are a waxy layer that covers the outer surface of plants, helping to prevent water loss and protect against pathogens. While other options like cell walls composed of cellulose, chloroplasts, and chlorophylls are also found in charophycean ancestors, cuticles are exclusively found in plants. This adaptation allows plants to thrive in terrestrial environments and is not present in their charophycean ancestors, which were primarily aquatic. Flagellated sperm, on the other hand, are not exclusively found in plants and can also be found in some algae and other organisms.

Ferns do appear in the fossil record after gymnosperms but before angiosperms. This means that the statement "appear in the fossil record after after gymnosperms but before angiosperms" is true of ferns.

Invertebrates that colonized land evolved wings as a means of locomotion. Wings allowed them to fly and explore new habitats, escape predators, and search for food and mates. This adaptation provided them with a significant advantage in terms of mobility and survival, enabling them to occupy diverse ecological niches and exploit new resources.

Coral animals are not protists. Coral animals are actually marine invertebrates that belong to the phylum Cnidaria. They are colonial organisms that live symbiotically with algae, which provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis. They do not feed on plant starches and sugars, but instead capture small organisms and particles from the water using their tentacles. While some coral species may feed at night, this is not a characteristic of all coral animals.

Ferns are vascular plants because they have specialized tissues called xylem and phloem, which allow for the transport of water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. This vascular system enables ferns to grow larger and more complex than non-vascular plants. Additionally, ferns reproduce through spores, which are produced in structures called sporangia. These spores are dispersed and can develop into new fern plants, contributing to the fern's life cycle.

Plants are characterized by typically having a cell plate that grows during cytokinesis. This cell plate is composed of constituents of the cell wall and plasma membrane. During cell division, a cell plate forms between the two daughter cells and eventually develops into a new cell wall. This process is unique to plants and is essential for their growth and development. The cell plate allows for the separation of the cytoplasm and the formation of two distinct cells.

The given answer states that fig trees are angiosperms. Angiosperms are a type of flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within a fruit. Fig trees produce flowers that offer rewards to their pollinators, and this is a characteristic feature of angiosperms. Therefore, the answer is correct as it accurately identifies the fig trees as angiosperms based on the information provided.

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The given question asks which of the options is now extinct. The options provided are "all organisms requiring a reducing environment (such as existed when life first evolved)", "monotremes", "lungfish", and "none of the above is extinct". The correct answer is "none of the above is extinct". This means that all the options mentioned in the question are still existing and not extinct.

The given answer explains that the platypus and the echidna are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. This is a distinguishing characteristic of mammals. It suggests that the tissues from the female reproductive tract at birth are eggs, which contain non-motile young. This explanation highlights the unique reproductive behavior of these animals compared to other mammals.

The explanation for the given correct answer is that the observation that all angiosperms share basic similarities in their flowers and fruits, such as the construction of flowers with four whorls of modified leaves serving as sepals, stamens, and carpels, provides evidence that they had a common ancestor. This suggests that these features have been conserved and passed down through generations, indicating a shared evolutionary history among angiosperms.

Mollusks, such as clams, snails, octopuses, and squids, are characterized by having a shell made of calcium carbonate. This shell provides protection and support for the soft body of the mollusk. It is secreted by a specialized tissue called the mantle. The shell can vary in size, shape, and thickness depending on the species. The presence of a shell is a defining feature of mollusks and distinguishes them from other animal groups.

Bryophytes have flagellated gametes, which means their reproductive cells have whip-like structures called flagella that help them move. This is a characteristic that is present in bryophytes but not in fungi. Fungi reproduce through spores, but their gametes are not flagellated. Therefore, flagellated gametes are a characteristic unique to bryophytes and not found in fungi.

The correct answer states that none of the options provided (undergo gastrulation, are bilaterally symmetrical, have neural tissue, undergo ecdysis) can be used as a basis for distinguishing roundworms from flatworms. This means that none of these characteristics are unique to roundworms or flatworms, and therefore cannot be used to differentiate between the two groups.

Yeasts are a type of fungi, specifically a unicellular fungi. They are classified under the kingdom Fungi and share many characteristics with other fungi, such as having cell walls made of chitin. Yeasts are known for their ability to ferment sugars and produce carbon dioxide and alcohol. They are commonly used in baking and brewing processes. Therefore, the statement "Yeasts are fungi" is true.

Mammals and extant birds share the characteristics of endothermy, descent from a reptilian lineage, a dorsal, hollow nerve cord, and a bilaterally symmetrical body plan. However, they do not share the characteristic of teeth specialized for diverse diets. This means that while mammals and birds have teeth, they are not specialized for consuming a wide variety of foods.

Oak trees do not lack endosperm in their seeds. Endosperm is a tissue that provides nutrients to the developing embryo in many plant species. Oak trees, like most angiosperms, produce seeds that contain endosperm, which serves as a source of nourishment for the growing embryo. Therefore, the statement "their seeds lack endosperm" is not true for oak trees.

The correct answer is a, b, c, are all correct. The presence of small yellow-colored spots on plant leaves can serve multiple purposes to deter insects from laying eggs. These spots resemble insect eggs, which may trick insects into thinking that the leaves are already occupied. Insects may reject leaves with such spots to avoid competition for food that the resulting caterpillar would experience. Additionally, insects may reject leaves altogether as a precautionary measure. Therefore, all of the given options are correct explanations for the presence of these spots.

The correct answer is neither a, b, or c, is correct. This is because the statement does not provide any accurate information about how insects can be distinguished from spiders and their close relatives. The options given in the question are not valid characteristics for distinguishing insects from spiders and their close relatives.

Pollen germination is the process in which the pollen grain lands on the stigma of a flower and begins to grow a pollen tube. This tube then penetrates the style and reaches the ovary, allowing for fertilization to occur. Therefore, the statement "Pollen germinates on the stigma" is true.

Peat bogs do not form from accumulations of fungi. They are formed from the accumulation of partially decayed organic material, such as mosses and plants, in waterlogged environments. Fungi may be present in peat bogs, but they do not play a significant role in their formation.

Plants that are pollinated by birds typically do not have a distinct sweet odor. While they may have bright colors like red to attract birds, and offer nectar as a reward, the absence of a sweet odor is a characteristic that sets them apart from other types of pollination. The lack of a sweet odor is not a common trait among plants that rely on bird pollination.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of a fungus and either algae or cyanobacteria. The algae or cyanobacteria provide the food through photosynthesis, while the fungus provides a protective structure. Therefore, it is true that lichens may include cyanobacteria.

The coelacanth is notable because it is representative of the kind of vertebrate that first colonized the land. This means that the coelacanth is a species that shares characteristics with the early vertebrates that transitioned from living in water to living on land. It provides valuable insights into the evolution and adaptation of vertebrates during this crucial period in history.

The presence of a longitudinal, flexible rod in the larva of a sea squirt suggests support for the theory that vertebrates evolved from urochordate-like organisms. This is because vertebrates, including humans, have a similar structure called the notochord during their embryonic development. The notochord provides support and serves as a precursor to the vertebral column in vertebrates. The presence of a similar structure in the larva of a sea squirt indicates a shared evolutionary history between urochordates and vertebrates.

Mycorrhizae are mutualistic relationships between plants and fungi, where the fungi provide nutrients to the plants in exchange for carbohydrates. They are composed of hyphae, which are thread-like structures. They assist vascular plants in the uptake of water and minerals from the soil. However, the mycelium portion of mycorrhizae is not diploid. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of hyphae, and it is typically haploid, meaning it has only one set of chromosomes.

The lateral line system is a sensory organ found in bony fish that allows them to detect changes in water pressure, vibrations, and movements in their surroundings. Cartilaginous fish, such as sharks and rays, do not have a lateral line system. Therefore, the statement "only bony fish have a lateral line system" is true.

The correct answer is stomata to regulate gas exchange and evaporation. Stomata are small openings on the surface of plant leaves that allow for the exchange of gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the environment. They also help to regulate the loss of water through evaporation. This adaptation is crucial for plants to survive in terrestrial habitats, as it allows them to efficiently obtain the necessary gases for photosynthesis while minimizing water loss. The other characteristics mentioned, such as cellulose walls, chloroplasts, cell plates, and spores, are also important adaptations for plants, but they are not specifically related to gas exchange and evaporation regulation.

The correct answer is "The plant has nectar producing glands along its stems." This statement is not true because acacia trees do not have nectar-producing glands along their stems. Instead, they provide nectar and highly nutritious vegetative bodies to the ants. The other statements are true, as acacia trees have thorns that are colonized by ants, and the ants protect the plants from herbivory and interference from other plants and herbivores.