BIOL 117 EXAM 3 CORE BIOLOGY CONCEPTS
REVIEW 2026
◉ Flower.
Answer: The reproductive structure of angiosperms, specialized for
sexual reproduction and often attracting pollinators.
◉ Stamen.
Answer: The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an
anther and a filament.
◉ Carpel.
Answer: The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of the
stigma, style, and ovary.
◉ Fruit.
Answer: A mature ovary of a flowering plant that protects dormant
seeds and aids in their dispersal.
◉ Monocot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having one
cotyledon in the seed, parallel leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of three.
,◉ Dicot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having two
cotyledons in the seed, net-like leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of four or five.
◉ Rhizoid.
Answer: Root-like structures in non-vascular plants (like mosses)
that anchor the plant to the substrate.
◉ Root.
Answer: An organ in vascular plants that anchors the plant, absorbs
water and minerals, and often stores carbohydrates.
◉ Are all plants multicellular and eukaryotic?.
Answer: Yes, all plants are multicellular organisms and are
eukaryotic, meaning their cells contain a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
◉ What is the primary substance in plant cell walls?.
Answer: Plant cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose.
◉ In what biological molecule do plants store their metabolic
products?.
,Answer: Plants store their metabolic products primarily as starch.
◉ Are plants monophyletic and what is their common ancestor?.
Answer: Yes, plants are monophyletic, and they are considered to
have evolved from a common ancestor shared with charophyte
green algae.
◉ What are the major taxa of land plants?.
Answer: The major taxa include bryophytes (non-vascular plants),
seedless vascular plants (pteridophytes), gymnosperms, and
angiosperms.
◉ How do cuticles, stomata, water-conducting cells, gametangia, and
being embryophytes serve as adaptations for land?.
Answer: Cuticles prevent desiccation; stomata allow gas exchange;
water-conducting cells (xylem) transport water; gametangia protect
developing gametes; and being embryophytes ensures the embryo is
protected and nourished by the parent plant.
◉ What is the difference between tracheids and vessel elements?.
Answer: Tracheids are long, thin cells with tapered ends found in all
vascular plants, while vessel elements are shorter, wider cells with
perforated ends found primarily in angiosperms for more efficient
water transport.
, ◉ What is the difference between antheridia and archegonia?.
Answer: Antheridia are the male reproductive organs that produce
sperm, while archegonia are the female reproductive organs that
produce eggs.
◉ What is the process of alternation of generations?.
Answer: It is a life cycle in which a multicellular diploid sporophyte
stage alternates with a multicellular haploid gametophyte stage.
◉ Is a gametophyte haploid or diploid, and what does it produce?.
Answer: A gametophyte is haploid and produces gametes through
mitosis.
◉ Is a sporophyte haploid or diploid, and what does it produce?.
Answer: A sporophyte is diploid and produces spores through
meiosis.
◉ Do spores become gametophytes or sporophytes?.
Answer: Spores germinate and develop into multicellular haploid
gametophytes.
◉ Indeterminate growth.
Answer: A type of growth in which an organism continues to grow as
long as it lives, characteristic of most plants.
REVIEW 2026
◉ Flower.
Answer: The reproductive structure of angiosperms, specialized for
sexual reproduction and often attracting pollinators.
◉ Stamen.
Answer: The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an
anther and a filament.
◉ Carpel.
Answer: The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of the
stigma, style, and ovary.
◉ Fruit.
Answer: A mature ovary of a flowering plant that protects dormant
seeds and aids in their dispersal.
◉ Monocot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having one
cotyledon in the seed, parallel leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of three.
,◉ Dicot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having two
cotyledons in the seed, net-like leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of four or five.
◉ Rhizoid.
Answer: Root-like structures in non-vascular plants (like mosses)
that anchor the plant to the substrate.
◉ Root.
Answer: An organ in vascular plants that anchors the plant, absorbs
water and minerals, and often stores carbohydrates.
◉ Are all plants multicellular and eukaryotic?.
Answer: Yes, all plants are multicellular organisms and are
eukaryotic, meaning their cells contain a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
◉ What is the primary substance in plant cell walls?.
Answer: Plant cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose.
◉ In what biological molecule do plants store their metabolic
products?.
,Answer: Plants store their metabolic products primarily as starch.
◉ Are plants monophyletic and what is their common ancestor?.
Answer: Yes, plants are monophyletic, and they are considered to
have evolved from a common ancestor shared with charophyte
green algae.
◉ What are the major taxa of land plants?.
Answer: The major taxa include bryophytes (non-vascular plants),
seedless vascular plants (pteridophytes), gymnosperms, and
angiosperms.
◉ How do cuticles, stomata, water-conducting cells, gametangia, and
being embryophytes serve as adaptations for land?.
Answer: Cuticles prevent desiccation; stomata allow gas exchange;
water-conducting cells (xylem) transport water; gametangia protect
developing gametes; and being embryophytes ensures the embryo is
protected and nourished by the parent plant.
◉ What is the difference between tracheids and vessel elements?.
Answer: Tracheids are long, thin cells with tapered ends found in all
vascular plants, while vessel elements are shorter, wider cells with
perforated ends found primarily in angiosperms for more efficient
water transport.
, ◉ What is the difference between antheridia and archegonia?.
Answer: Antheridia are the male reproductive organs that produce
sperm, while archegonia are the female reproductive organs that
produce eggs.
◉ What is the process of alternation of generations?.
Answer: It is a life cycle in which a multicellular diploid sporophyte
stage alternates with a multicellular haploid gametophyte stage.
◉ Is a gametophyte haploid or diploid, and what does it produce?.
Answer: A gametophyte is haploid and produces gametes through
mitosis.
◉ Is a sporophyte haploid or diploid, and what does it produce?.
Answer: A sporophyte is diploid and produces spores through
meiosis.
◉ Do spores become gametophytes or sporophytes?.
Answer: Spores germinate and develop into multicellular haploid
gametophytes.
◉ Indeterminate growth.
Answer: A type of growth in which an organism continues to grow as
long as it lives, characteristic of most plants.
