BIOL 1012 by

Padlet Assignment 1

zjohns11 — 2025-03-19 00:54:14 UTC

The image I’ve chosen depicts two different kinds of speciation. On the left, the original population is physically divided in a process called allopatric speciation. Over time, the physical barrier forces a genetic separation, resulting in a new species. Since the two species are now in differing environments, they will thrive under different conditions. On the right, sympatric evolution is displayed. The species of fish is not physically separated however, the species does become reproductively isolated. Some fish may adapt to deeper pressures, a colder environment, or a preference in diet. Both forms of evolution result in a new species.

Padlet Assignment 2

zjohns11 — 2025-03-19 03:09:21 UTC

The fungus I have chosen Hydnellum peckii, also known as the bleeding tooth fungus or Devil’s Tooth. As an adolescent, the mushroom is covered in soft, velvety hairs. The feature that gives the Devil’s Tooth its signature nickname is the red sap that oozes from its pores caused by the surrounding soil becoming saturated, resulting in osmosis and a buildup of pressure that eventually bursts out of the organism. In addition, the mushroom has small tooth-like protrusions under the cap where the spores are produced. The mature fungus has a much less exciting appearance, losing the velvety hairs and bright red sap. The mushroom’s root system, or mycelia, lay just below the surface and can extend up to 11 feet away. It exists in a symbiotic relationship with the coniferous trees in mountainous areas of North America, Europe, Iran, and South Korea. While the Devil’s Tooth is non-toxic, the bitter taste renders it basically inedible but it is not completely useless; researchers have found a presence of thelephoric acid which could someday aid in the developing a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Padlet Assignment 3

zjohns11 — 2025-03-31 00:43:57 UTC

Flowering plants have been historically classified into two types. The classification came from John Ray in 1682 and later a botanist by the name of Antoine Laurent in 1789. Monocots are angiosperms that form one narrow structure during germination. Their petals are formed in groups of three. Their leaves have narrow, parallel veins while the Dicots leaves have oval, net-like veins. The Dicots have two cotyledons and have four or five petals. They are the largest group of angiosperms with around 200,000 species. Dicots are paraphyletic, having not evolved from a single lineage, while the Monocots are monophyletic.

Padlet Assignment 4

zjohns11 — 2025-03-31 01:11:41 UTC

Cnidaria is a phylum containing around eleven species that are more complex than sponges, but less than sea stars. Members of this species are radially symmetrical, meaning that the body parts emerge outward from the center. Hydroids, jellyfish, anemones, and coral are all Cnidarians. All of them contain tentacles with stinging cells called cnidocytes and a coiled, thread-like stinger called a nematocyst. Most also contain a toxin in the stinger. Most are not harmful to humans but certain jellyfish can deliver a highly painful, and sometimes fatal, sting to humans. They can either come in a polyploid or medusoid body type. The polyploid generally has an upward facing mouth while the medusoid generally has a downward facing mouth. All cnidarians have a blind gut, food goes in the mouth and once digested gets spit out the same mouth.

Padlet Assignment 6

zjohns11 — 2025-04-16 18:50:53 UTC

Endogenous Cushing syndrome is caused by chronic exposure to excess glucocorticoids. An excess secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland causes a production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Symptoms vary greatly because excess cortisol affects multiple of the body’s systems. Symptoms may include diabetes, glucose intolerance, and osteoporosis, along with others. Neuropsychiatric symptoms may also arise, although the role they play is not fully understood. Theories suggest it may be a decreased brain volume in the hippocampus caused by prolonged cortisol exposure. Patients have seen psychiatric and neurocognitive improvements after their hormone level has been normalized. An early diagnosis and treatment of hypercortisolism may help alleviate psychiatric symptoms.

Padlet Assignment 5

zjohns11 — 2025-04-16 23:27:04 UTC

The body’s functions operate in order to stay in equilibrium no matter the external environmental factors. Homeostasis is seen in the regulation of temperature, pH, oxygen levels, blood glucose concentration, and others. Cells make up tissues, which make up organs, which make up organ systems that all work together to maintain homeostasis. Change is detected by disruptors that send out effectors to regulate the change back to the set point. The five parts of the reflex loop are the sensor, set point, error detector, controller, and effector. Sensors measure a change in values from the set point. The controller interprets the signals and decides the appropriate effectors to send in response. Receptors monitor the change to generate a response to the effector organ. All of these components come together to form a negative feedback loop, a positive feedback loop reinforces stimulus to continue.

Padlet Assignment 7

zjohns11 — 2025-04-30 00:03:31 UTC

The desert biome covers around 20% of the Earth’s surface. The top soil layer can be rocky, sandy, or gravely. Deserts usually get around 20” of rain per year. Flora and fauna of this biome are adapted to conserve water. The Organ Pipe Cactus pictured has an enlarged stem to store water as well as spines to deter thirsty animals. Hot, dry deserts are known as arid deserts and they have little rainfall throughout the year. Semi-arid deserts have hot, dry Summers with more rainfall in the Winter. Cold deserts such as the Antarctic also have little rainfall but they have much lower temperatures in comparison.

Padlet Assignment 8

zjohns11 — 2025-04-30 00:17:36 UTC

Evolutionary relationships can be represented by a tree of life. Each species is represented by a branch that flows back to a common ancestor between the two species. If you keep following the tree back to the root, you will come to a common ancestor between all species. The tree only represents the species that we have recorded, there very well may be deep sea species yet to be discovered. The tree of life also excludes species that are extinct. As recently as 2022, a branch was added to represent close to 600 species of fungi. Closest to the trees roots are the prokaryotes, followed by the eukaryotes such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists. Protists have more biodiversity than any other eukaryote; if you balled up all of them on Earth they would weigh roughly twice the amount of all of the animals.