Biology STAAR Practice Review

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Front

What is the significance of fossil records in understanding evolution?

Back

Fossil records provide evidence of the historical existence of species and their evolutionary changes over time, helping to construct cladograms and understand the timeline of evolution.

Front

What is a sensory neuron?

Back

A sensory neuron is a type of nerve cell that transmits sensory information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Front

What is a reflex response?

Back

A reflex response is an automatic, involuntary reaction to a stimulus that occurs without conscious thought, often to protect the body from harm.

Front

What is the role of motor neurons?

Back

Motor neurons transmit impulses from the central nervous system to muscles, causing them to contract and produce movement.

Front

What is transcription in cellular processes?

Back

Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, which is then used to produce proteins necessary for cellular functions.

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy flow in an ecosystem, showing the energy available at each trophic level.

Front

How much energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next in an energy pyramid?

Back

Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, with the rest lost as heat.

Front

What are viruses?

Back

Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism, often causing disease.

Front

How do viruses invade host cells?

Back

Viruses invade host cells by attaching to the cell surface and injecting their genetic material, hijacking the cell's machinery to replicate.