Bio 2.3 Study Guide Exam I

Topics:

I. Cladistics and Phylogeny: what is cladistics and how it is used to test phylogenetic hypotheses. What type of evidence is used to make decisions about cladograms and then phylogenies? This topic applies to all of the other topics in this section of the course as it is the logical framework for the hypotheses about evolutionary relationships.

Examples of Questions from Previous Exams:  Given a character table make a cladogram: specific example- I have given students the Green Algae character table and had them make a cladogram. (I wouldn’t expect you to have memorized the characters of the classes Green Algae- but rather give it to you)  Create a character table and then a cladogram: specific example: the Fungi, the Stramenopiles. You would need to know the information to fill in the character table in these examples  Given a partially filled in cladogram, use multiple choice options to finish it: specific examples: 3 Domains, Chromalveolata, Archeaplastida (Reds, Greens and Land Plants)  Discern between analogies and homologies and justify your answer- specific examples- Fungi and Water Molds; kelp and red algae and land plants.  Put events into a timeline: specific examples: the formation of the earth (solid rock), origins of life, Archea, Bacteria, Eukarya, photosynthesis and atmospheric concentrations of O2, etc

II. Endosymbiosis and horizontal gene transfer: what is the impact of endosymbiosis (in our case the plastids) on the evolution and ecology of the eukaryotes. How did this shape the evolution of the Eukarya- both primary and secondary endosymbiosis. This topic clearly relates to Cladistics and to Adaptation.

Examples of Questions from Previous Exams  Know which phyla have primary vs. secondary endosymbiosis. o Specific examples: on a lab exam be able to distinguish which specimens have primary vs. secondary endosymbiotic chloroplasts. o Distinguish the origin of the chloroplast; cyanobacteria, green algae, red algae? What is the evidence?  See essay topics

III. Economic and Ecological Importance: for each of the phyla, we have discussed the ecological and/or economic importance. In order to understand the role that these organisms play in natural or human systems, you will need to apply your knowledge of the organisms o evolution and natural selection o structure and function o adaptation to environmental niche Practice & Examples:  Explain the adaptive advantage of a particular structure and how it relates to the ecological niche. Specific examples: heterocyst, hyphae, alginic acid, accessory pigments.  Explain the ecological importance of a particular phylum OR the type of interaction between two phyla. Specific examples: mutualism (plant/fungi, dinoflagellate/coral, cyanobacteria or algae/fungi), parasitism (fungi/plant, water mold/plant), carbon fixation/primary producers (cyanobacteria, different phyla of algae)  Explain the economic importance of a specific phylum. Specific Examples – Water Molds, Fungi, Brown Algae, Red Algae, etc.

IV. Specific Life Cycles to Know Draw and label the complete life cycles below. Name all the structures, location of mitosis, meiosis, gamete production, spore production. Identify haploid vs. diploid vs. dikaryotic ( if any) parts of the life cycle  Rhizopus Life Cycle  Laminaria Life Cycle  Ascomycete Life Cycle  Oedogonium Life Cycle  Basidiomycete Life Cycle

V. Core Concepts and Essays  Evolution and Adaptation  Flow of Energy and Matter  Structure and Function  Systems/Biological Hierarchy  Flow of Information Examples of Essay Questions from Previous Exams:  Cladistics and phylogenetics propose hypotheses for the evolution and origin of taxa based on vertical gene transfer, but we know that horizontal gene transfer has shaped the evolution of the protists. Explain how horizontal gene transfer has affected the evolution of photosynthetic eukaryotes. What is the evidence? What have been the implications ecologically and evolutionarily? (subtext: evolution and horizontal gene transfer)

 We have seen many examples of convergent evolution. Even though we focus on structure determining function, convergent evolution shows us that in reality it is the need for a particular function that selects for structures. Explain how the core concepts of structure/function and adaptation are really the same idea using an example of convergent evolution. (subtext: structure and function and evolution)

 Natural selection occurs when the genetics of a population intersects with the ecology of their environment. This in turn can lead to larger evolutionary changes such as speciation. Using a specific example from this section of the course, explain how novel genetic traits, natural selection and adaptations have led to adaptive radiation and the origin of higher level taxa such as phyla or clades. (subtext: evolution, adaptation- adaptive radiation and speciation)

 Do you agree or disagree: Evolution is really one more example of the flow of information. Defend your opinion using evolution of photosynthesis as the specific example. You would want to include information about horizontal gene transfer vs. vertical; genetic information in the plastids vs. thenucleus; the idea that functions like photosynthesis occur due to structures and the genes that code for them….(subtext: evolution, horizontal gene transfer)