Lecture Notes: Biology and Parasitology

Parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides and Filarial Worms

• Ascaris lumbricoides

  • Type: Gut parasite
  • Life Cycle:
    • Juveniles reside in the respiratory system
    • Adults inhabit the intestines
  • Transmission: Ingestion of feces-contaminated surfaces
  • Common hosts: Children

• Filarial Worms

  • Habitat: Live in lymph nodes
  • Disease: Can cause elephantiasis
  • Transmission: Vectored by blood-feeding flies

Insect Orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera

• Classification: Holometabolous

Comparative Anatomy: Urinary and Reproductive Systems

• Amphibians

  • Systems are integrated
  • Urine and sperm travel along the mesonephric duct

• Reptiles

  • Systems are more separated
  • Urine travels via metanephric duct
  • Vas deferens is used for sperm

Biological Definitions

• Acoelomate: Lacks a body cavity
• Alternate Leaves: Leaves alternate left and right on a stem
• Axillary Bud: Potential to develop into branches/leaves
• Bottleneck: Near extinction event; survivors shape future genetics
• Cephalothorax: Body part in Arthropoda
• Chelicerae: Mouthparts in Chelicerata (fangs in spiders)
• Dikaryotic: Cell with two nuclei (e.g., mushrooms)
• Gastrocoel: Primitive gut cavity
• Hemimetabolous: Incomplete metamorphosis
• Intermediate Host: Hosts juveniles; followed by definitive host
• Mantle: Structure in bivalves
• Medusa: Free-swimming jellyfish
• Meristematic: Tissue for cell division and growth
• Motor Neuron: Controls skeletal muscle
• Mycosis: Fungal infection
• Pentadactyl: Five fingers/toes
• Phylogeny: Study of evolutionary history
• Sarcomere: Part of the muscular system; actin and myosin
• Specific Epithet: Second word in scientific name
• Sporophyte: Diploid generation in plants
• Stamen: Male flower part
• Strobilus: Cone-like structure
• Systematics: Taxonomy based on phylogeny
• Thallus: Leaf-like bryophyte structure
• Water Potential: Determines water flow

Evolution

• Reproductive Isolation: Leads to speciation (mechanical, behavioral, temporal)
• Cell Metabolism: Anaerobic fermentation  Photosynthesis  Aerobic respiration
• Sponges' Defense: Use spicules
• Evolution Mechanisms: Genetic drift and gene flow

Plant Biology

• Symplastic vs Apoplastic Transport
  • Symplastic: Cell-to-cell through cytoplasm
  • Apoplastic: Through cell walls, faster

Ctenophora Anatomy

• Radial symmetry, triploblastic
• Recent DNA studies suggest divergence before sponges

Bilateria Characteristics

• Bilateral symmetry, 3 germ layers
• Protostomes: Mouth forms first
• Deuterostomes: Anus forms first

Angiosperms vs. Other Plant Groups

• Different due to flowers, double fertilization

Human Anatomy

• Blood Vessels: Arteries (thick walls), veins (thin walls), capillaries (gas exchange)

Mammalian Infraclasses

• Prototheria: Oviparous (e.g., Monotremata)
• Metatheria: Viviparous (e.g., Marsupials)

Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras

• Mesozoic: Age of dinosaurs, ends with mass extinction
• Cenozoic: Diversification of mammals, human evolution

Fungi Symbiotic Relationships

• Mycorrhizae: Fungus-plant roots
• Leaf Cutter Ants and Fungus

Speciation: Allopatric vs. Sympatric

• Allopatric: Physical barrier causes speciation
• Sympatric: Speciation without physical barriers

Genetics and Evolution

• Allele frequency and genotype proportions
• Annelids vs. Arthropods: Similarities and differences

Miscellaneous

• Natural selection vs. evolution
• Crustacean classes: Malacostraca, Maxillopoda
• Marchantia: Non-vascular liverwort
• Cardiac cycle events
• Permian extinction: Worst extinction event
• Dominance of reptiles: Permian period
• Shrimp/Lobster: Decapods
• Plant structures: Stamens, carpels

Historical Biology and Theories

• Theory of Natural Selection: Survival of the fittest
• Pangaea: Supercontinent formation

Respiratory and Plant Physiology

• Alveoli: Air sacs in lungs
• Adhesion: Water-solid attraction
• Soybean Nematodes: Affect nitrogen fixation
• Tissue Types: Simple vs. complex
• Comb Jellies: Use colloblasts
• Trichomes: Protect plant leaves
• Spermatheca: Sperm storage organ
• Deuteromycota Fungi: Unknown reproductive characteristics

Fossil Record and Species

• Arthropods: Paleozoic era
• Placozoa: Phylum with one species
• Trilobite Anatomy: No abdomen
• Primitive Phylum: Porifera
• Auxin Transport: Through phloem

Plant Water Potential

• Solutes and osmotic potential

Species and Geographic Distribution

• Craspedacusta sowerbii: Freshwater jellyfish
• Cuvier's Catastrophism: Divine creation and mass extinctions