By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the features that characterized the earliest animals and when they appeared on earthExplain the significance of the Cambrian period for animal evolution and the changes in animal diversity that took place during that timeDescribe some of the unresolved questions surrounding the Cambrian explosionDiscuss the implications of mass animal extinctions that have occurred in evolutionary history

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Compare structural and organization characteristics of Porifera and CnidariaDescribe the progressive development of tissues and their relevance to animal complexity

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the organizational features of the simplest multicellular organismsExplain the various body forms and bodily functions of sponges

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the distinguishing characteristics of echinodermsDescribe the distinguishing characteristics of chordates

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the structural organization of nematodesUnderstand the importance of Caenorhabditis elegans in researchCompare the internal systems and appendage specializations of phylum ArthropodaDiscuss the environmental importance of arthropodsDiscuss the reasons for arthropod success and abundance

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the unique anatomical and morphological features of flatworms, rotifers, Nemertea, mollusks, and annelidsDescribe the development of an extracoelomic cavityDiscuss the advantages of true body segmentationExplain the key features of Platyhelminthes and their importance as parasitesDescribe the features of animals classified in phylum Annelida

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify bacterial diseases that caused historically important plagues and epidemicsDescribe the link between biofilms and foodborne diseasesExplain how overuse of antibiotic may be creating “super bugs”Explain the importance of MRSA with respect to the problems of antibiotic resistance

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain the need for nitrogen fixation and how it is accomplishedIdentify foods in which prokaryotes are used in the processingDescribe the use of prokaryotes in bioremediationDescribe the beneficial effects of bacteria that colonize our skin and digestive tracts

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the evolutionary history of prokaryotesDiscuss the distinguishing features of extremophilesExplain why it is difficult to culture prokaryotes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify the macronutrients needed by prokaryotes, and explain their importanceDescribe the ways in which prokaryotes get energy and carbon for life processesDescribe the roles of prokaryotes in the carbon and nitrogen cycles

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the basic structure of a typical prokaryoteDescribe important differences in structure between Archaea and Bacteria

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the cell structure characteristics of protistsDescribe the metabolic diversity of protistsDescribe the life cycle diversity of protists

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the role that protists play in the ecosystemDescribe important pathogenic species of protists

By the end of this section, you will be able to:List the unifying characteristics of eukaryotesDescribe what scientists know about the origins of eukaryotes based on the last common ancestorExplain endosymbiotic theory

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe representative protist organisms from each of the six presently recognized supergroups of eukaryotesIdentify the evolutionary relationships of plants, animals, and fungi within the six presently recognized supergroups of eukaryotes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain why angiosperms are the dominant form of plant life in most terrestrial ecosystemsDescribe the main parts of a flower and their purposeDetail the life cycle of an angiospermDiscuss the two main groups of flowering plants

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain when seed plants first appeared and when gymnosperms became the dominant plant groupDescribe the two major innovations that allowed seed plants to reproduce in the absence of waterDiscuss the purpose of pollen grains and seedsDescribe the significance of angiosperms bearing both flowers and fruit