By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the traits shared by green algae and land plantsExplain the reasons why Charales are considered the closest relative to land plantsUnderstand that current phylogenetic relationships are reshaped by comparative analysis of DNA sequences

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify the new traits that first appear in tracheophytesDiscuss the importance of adaptations to life on landDescribe the classes of seedless tracheophytesDescribe the lifecycle of a fernExplain the role of seedless vascular plants in the ecosystem

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the important difference between the life cycle of amphibians and the life cycles of other vertebratesDistinguish between the characteristics of Urodela, Anura, and ApodaDescribe the evolutionary history of amphibians

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the evolutionary history of birdsDescribe the derived characteristics in birds that facilitate flight

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the distinguishing characteristics of chordatesIdentify the derived character of craniates that sets them apart from other chordatesDescribe the developmental fate of the notochord in vertebrates

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the difference between jawless and jawed fishesDiscuss the distinguishing features of sharks and rays compared to other modern fishes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Name and describe the distinguishing features of the three main groups of mammalsDescribe the proposed line of descent that produced mammalsList some derived features that may have arisen in response to mammals’ need for constant, high-level metabolism

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the main characteristics of amniotesExplain the difference between anapsids, synapsids, and diapsids, and give an example of eachIdentify the characteristics of reptilesDiscuss the evolution of reptiles

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the derived features that distinguish primates from other animalsExplain why scientists are having difficulty determining the true lines of descent in hominids

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe prions and their basic propertiesDefine viroids and their targets of infection

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify major viral illnesses that affect humansCompare vaccinations and anti-viral drugs as medical approaches to viruses

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe how viruses were first discovered and how they are detectedDiscuss three hypotheses about how viruses evolvedRecognize the basic shapes of virusesUnderstand past and emerging classification systems for viruses

By the end of this section, you will be able to:List the steps of replication and explain what occurs at each stepDescribe the lytic and lysogenic cycles of virus replicationExplain the transmission and diseases of animal and plant virusesDiscuss the economic impact of animal and plant viruses

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify new technologies for describing biodiversityExplain the legislative framework for conservationDescribe principles and challenges of conservation preserve designIdentify examples of the effects of habitat restorationDiscuss the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Define biodiversityDescribe biodiversity as the equilibrium of naturally fluctuating rates of extinction and speciationIdentify historical causes of high extinction rates in Earth’s history