Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth

AP Biology Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth Reading Guide – Chapter 4.1, 4.2 and 19 – The Prokaryotes Chapters 4.1-2, and Chapter 19 – The Structure and Ecological/Evolutionary Importance of Prokaryotes* *Adapted and modified from Robbyn Tuinstra’s work

SECTION 4.1

1. State the cell theory and the three important implications.

2. List the typical size of a:

______Plant and animal cell ______Bacterial cell ______Chloroplast ______Virus ______Protein

3. Why are cells so small? Explain the importance of the surface area to volume ratio.

4. Cells specialized in absorption/neurotransmission have modifications that do what?

CHAPTER 19.1 – INTRODUCTION TO PROKARYOTES

5. What attributes do all organisms share (see 19.1 – opening paragraph). How do these features support the conclusion that all living organisms are related?

6. Summarize the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

7. Name the two major prokaryotic domains AND their characteristics. Why the division?

8. Why has it been difficult to classify prokaryotes in terms of evolutionary relationship?

9. Prokaryotes are generally classified by morphology, composition of cell wall and molecular characteristics. Explain why morphology and cell wall composition are not great indicators of evolutionary relationships.

10. How has rRNA analysis contributed to a greater understanding of relationships among prokaryotes. Why rRNA?

11. What is horizontal (lateral) gene transfer? What would be an evolutionary advantage of horizontal gene transfer?

CHAPTER 4.2 – GENERALIZED PROKARYOTE STRUCTURE

12. Roughly sketch a bacterial cell, label its parts and state a function for each using the list of terms below. Be sure to describe the composition of each, where applicable, in regards to bacterial structure/function: cell envelope, mesosomes, cell wall, plasmid, and nucleoid.

of 3 AP Biology Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth Reading Guide – Chapter 4.1, 4.2 and 19 – The Prokaryotes

13. Describe how the cellular structure of cyanobacteria aids in their ability to undergo photosynthesis without true chloroplasts.

14. What are the roles of flagella, fimbriae, and sex pili in bacteria.

15. Define the role/composition of the following prokaryotic structures:

a. Peptidoglycan

b. Flagella

c. Fimbriae

d. Sex pilus

e. Plasmid

CHAPTER 19.2 – DOMAIN BACTERIA

18. Read through Section 19.2 (and Fig 19.1) and list the names of some major prokayotes groups (Phylum) that belong to the Domain Bacteria below.

19. What are endospores?

20. List characteristics of the Cyanobacteria – be sure to describe heterocysts.

a. How is photosynthesis similar to plants?

b. What is the significance of cyanobacteria to early Earth?

c. Why are nutritional requirements of cyanobacteria so minimal?

DOMAIN ARCHAEA

21. Compare and contrast domain Bacteria and domain Archaea.

22. Are Eukarya more closely related to the Bacteria or Archaea? Explain why.

23. Being as specific as possible, list the differences and similarities between Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea that are used to justify the 3-Domain system (see Table 19.1).

24. List the various unique structures and functions of Archaea.

CHAPTER 19.3 – ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF BACTERIA

25. Prokaryotes differ greatly in the type of metabolism and nutrient requirements. Contrast obligate and facultative anaerobes. How do these bacteria differ from aerobic organisms? Page 2 of 3 AP Biology Origins and Diversity of Life on Earth Reading Guide – Chapter 4.1, 4.2 and 19 – The Prokaryotes

26. Photoautotrophic bacteria can be subdivided by whether they release ______.

 How do these bacteria differ in the types of photosystems and photoactive pigments they contain?

 Green sulfur and purple bacteria are examples of which type of autotroph?

 Which type is more similar to plants and algae?

27. Explain the ecological significance of chemoautotrophs.

28. Define chemoheterotrophic decomposers. How is the decomposer method (call saprotrophs or saprobes) of nutrition different from ingesting dead meat or plant material?

IMPORTANCE OF PROKARYOTES

29. Summarize the importance of prokaryotes in the following capacities:

a. Nutrient cycling

b. Formation of O2 in the atmosphere of early Earth

c. Pathogens

30. How is nitrogen “fixed”? What is the name of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in the nodules on the roots of legume plants?

31. Diagram the nitrogen cycle, detailing the role of plants and bacteria in the cycle.

32. What are lichens? Describe their ecological importance.

33. Define pathogen. Why do pathogens affect only specific tissues?

34. How do bacterial toxins affect host cells? Give an example.