2.1 Classification And Biodiversity Flashcards
(21 cards)
————, changes occur in their———-
As species evolve, changes occur in their DNA base sequences
A locus showing polymorphism
It has 2 or more alleles, resulting in 2 or more phenotypes that cannot be accounted for by mutation alone
Adaptation
A feature of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment. Adaptations may be anatomical, physiological or behavioural.
Anatomical adaptation
Changes to the physical features of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its envrionment.
Animalia
A biological kingdom consisting of multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotes that do not have a cell wall.
Archaea
One of the 3 domains made up of primitive bacteria existing in extreme environments, e.g. extremophile prokaryotes
Behavioural adaptations
The ways in which an organism acts differently to increase its survival in its envrionment
Binomial system
the universal system of naming organisms using their genus and species
Biodiversity
The number and variety of living organisms in a given region. It is affected by environmental, (succession) genetic (natural selection) and human factors
Classification
The organisation of organisms into discrete and hierarchical groups
DNA profiling
A method of determining the characteristics of an individual’s DNA. The percentage of DNA or proteins shared by organisms can be used to estimate relatedness
DNA sequencing
Determining the entire DNA nucleotide base sequence of an organism. Comparisons between members of the same species can identify variation in base sequences and hence estimate genetic diversity.
Domain
The highest taxonomic rank. There are 3 domains, archaea, bacteria and eukaryota
Fungi
A kingdom consisting of heterotrophic eukaryotes that have chitin cell walls and reproduce asexually by producing spores
Genetic biodiversity
A measure of the variety of genes that make up a species. It can be assessed by determining the proportion of the population that possess a certain allele or the number of alleles at a locus.
Convergent evolution
The independent evolution of analogous (diff. structure and origin, same function) features in unrelated organisms due to exposure to similar environments or selection pressures.
Natural selection
The process by which the frequency of advantageous alleles gradually increases in a population’s gene pool over time
Physiological adaptations
The internal body changes that an organism undergoes to increase its chance of survival in its environment
prokaryotes
A kingdom consisting of unicellular prokaryotes which lack a true nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
plantae
a kingdom consisting of multicellular organelles that have a cellulose cell wall and can photosynthesis
species
a group of similar organisms that are able to breed with one another to produce fertile offspring
