Biodiversity Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
Define diversity.
A
the differences within a group.
2
Q
What is the difference between diversity and biodiversity?
A
biodiversity has to involve life.
3
Q
Define variation.
A
the specifics of what make species different.
4
Q
Define species.
A
a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
5
Q
How do you know when you have two organisms from different species?
A
when they mate they are unable to produce viable offspring.
6
Q
Why is variation within a species important?
A
Because if a disease entered a species that was all the same everything would die.
7
Q
what is an adaptation?
A
the change or process of a species becoming better suited to its environment.
8
Q
how does an organism gain an adaptation?
A
they usually begin from genetic mutation and happen over a long period of time through evolution.
9
Q
what are the two different types of adaptations?
A
structural and behavioural
10
Q
define structural adaptations
A
a physical characteristic of an organisms that helps it to better live within its environment
11
Q
define behavioural adaptations
A
a change in an organisms behaviour so that it can better survive within its environment
12
Q
how do you calculate diversity index?
A
number of runs over number of specimens
13
Q
what makes a good diversity index?
A
0.5 or higher
14
Q
what does the diversity index of an area tell us?
A
how diverse an ecosystem is
15
Q
define a theory in scientific context
A
an explanation based on evidence for why a law happens
16
Q
define a law in scientific context
A
something that happens repeatedly and that can be proven through the use of a theory
17
Q
what are Lamarck’s ideas about evolution?
A
he believed that all animals are born the same but evolve during its lifespan in order to better adapt to its environment
18
Q
what is Darwin’s theory of evolutions?
A
he believed that all animals are born differently and that the ones that are best adapted to their environments will survive and reproduce
19
Q
whos theory about evolution is correct and why?
A
Darwin’s because evolution cannot be pre-set
20
Q
how are new traits and adaptations gained?
A
through environmental and genetic mutation
21
Q
what has to happen for a trait to be passed onto offspring?
A
it must become a part of the parents genetic code
22
Q
define artificial selection
A
when humans select which organisms survive
23
Q
define natural selection
A
when nature selects which organisms survive
24
Q
how are new species created via natural selection?
A
anyway in which the environment can create a new species
25
how are new species created via artificial selection?
anyway in which humans can create a new species
26
define taxonomy
a branch of science that is concerned with classification, especially of organisms and systematics
27
define morphology
the branch of biology that deals with the study of the form/anatomy of living organisms and the relationships with their structures
28
define genomics
a way of classifying organisms based on their genetic code
29
why is taxonomy and classification of organisms important?
- helps us keep track of all the different organisms in our
world
- helps us take a look at the populations of various
species so we can tell what is endangered, extinct, etc.
- makes things less confusing when organisms have a
scientific name
30
what is binomial nomenclature?
the system of naming different species based on the organisms genus and species. It is all italicised with the genus name capitalized.
31
how can you tell how closely related organisms are?
you look at the classification system to see how many levels they have in common (the more levels they have in common the more related they are)
32
what are the seven levels of taxonomy in order?
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
33
organize the following from small to big: population, cell, organ, system, biosphere, biome, community, ecosystem, tissue
cell, tissue, organ, system, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
34
define population
a group of organisms of the same species in the same place at the same time
35
define communtiy
all biotic organisms in the same place at the same time
36
define ecosystem
all biotic and abiotic things in the same place at the same time
37
define biome
a collection of similar ecosystems
38
define biosphere
all biomes together
39
what is a niche?
where an organisms fits within its ecosystem
40
what factors go into determining an organism's niche?
biotic factors such as animals, plants/fungi, etc. and abiotic factors such as sunlight, water, food and nutrients. it is also determined by an organism's environment.
41
define interspecific competition
when different species are competing for a resource
42
define intraspecific competition
when organisms within the same species are competing for a resource
43
define thriving
when an organisms is doing really well and is able to produce lots of offspring
44
define surviving
when an organism is barely making it by and is producing little to none offspring
45
define dying
when natural selection does not favour an organisms, causing it to die off and therefor be unable to pass its genes onto the next generation
46
define a broad niche
an organism able to sustain itself in a variety of environments and conditions.
47
define a narrow niche
an organism that is able to sustain itself in very few conditions and environments
48
which type of niche is preferable and why?
a broad niche is preferable because if an animals living conditions change, the organism can still have a chance at surviving
49
define mutualism
when both organisms benefit from a relationship
50
define commensalism
either when one organism benefits from a relationship and the other does not, or where neither organism benefits but neither is harmed
51
define parasitism
a relationship between two organisms when one benefits and the other is harmed
52
define predation
a relationship between organisms where one kills and consumes the other
53
define trophic cascade
an ecological phenomenon from adding or removing a top predator to an ecosystem which causes reciprocal changes to the population of species and results in dramatic changes in the ecosystems structure
54
define keystone species
a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depends on to the point that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically
55
define resource partitioning
when closely related species compete for the same resources within a niche
56
define asexual reproduction
a method of reproduction the requires only on organisms where they effectively clone themselves to create offspring
57
define binary fission
when an organism divides itself into two equal halves and keeps duplicating and replicating itself
58
define budding
when an outgrown part detaches from the organisms and creates a new one. the bud grows off of the parent then breaks off in order to become independent on its own whenever the fetus has developed enough to fully support itself
59
define spores
reproductive cells that must fuse in pairs. they contain little balls of DNA and are ready to grow into full organisms when the time is right. They spread through wind, rain, etc.
60
define fragmentation
when a piece of an organism breaks off and the fragment grows into a new organism
61
define runners/tubers,suckers
plants that skim along the surface creating new organisms as they go
62
define sexual reproduction
a type of reproduction that involves the combination of both male and female gametes
63
define gametes
the reproductive cells found in both the male and female
64
what is germline?
the DNA within the sex cells
65
define fertlization
when a male and female gamete form together during sexual reproduction
66
define cleavage
cell division
67
define zygote
a fertilized egg
68
define embryo
a developing organisms that is not recognizable
69
define fetus
a mini baby that just needs more growth
70
define internal fertilization
the fusion of male and female sex cells within the body of the female
71
what are some advantages to internal fertilization?
- gametes are kept warm and moist
- protected within the mother
- greater chance of fertilization
72
what are some disadvantages to internal fertilization?
- both male and female organism must be present
- greater time and energy is required
- few offspring are produced at a time
73
define external fertilization
the fusion of male and female sex cells within the external environment
74
what are some advantages to external fertilization?
- offspring is produced in high numbers
- less energy is required
- less competition between the offspring and its parents
- results in greater genetic variation
75
what are some disadvantages of external fertilization?
-less chance of survival because there is no parental
care
-many of the offspring do not get fertilizes or do not
survive till their maturity
-can only survive in moistened or wet environments
76
what are some advantages of asexual reproduction?
- doesn't require a mate
- organisms reaches maturity much faster
- stationary process (no movement required)
77
what are some disadvantages of asexual reproduction?
- no genetic variation
- species may only be suited to one habitat
- disease may affect all of the individuals within a population
78
whats a hermaphrodite?
an organism that can produce both male and female gametes and can self fertilize
79
what is parthenogenesis?
unfertilized gametes that can grow into a full organism
80
what is bacterial conjugation?
the process through which bacteria exchange genetic material
81
define heritable
a trait that is part of the genetic code that can be passed on or inherited
82
what is a continuous trait?
a trait that displays a range of expression
83
what is a discrete trait?
a trait that is determined through simple Mendelian inheritance and provides limited options
84
define dominant triat
one version of a gene that trumps the other
85
define recessive trait
a trait that is only expressed when two copies of the gene are present
86
define nature vs. nurture
nature is what you are born with where as nurture is the impact the environment has on you
87
what is a mutation?
a heritable change in genetic material
88
how do you mutations happen?
either due to mistakes made when the DNA is copied, cellular functions or because of environmental factors
89
what is a mutagen?
an agent that causes mutations to occur more regularly then normal
90
what is a genotype?
the genetic code responsible for a trait
91
what is a phenotype?
a physical expression of the genotype
92
define allele
a different version of the gene
93
define homozygous
when both copies of the alleles are the same genotype
94
define heterozygous
when both copies of the alleles are different genotypes
95
what is a punnett square?
a square diagram that is used to predict the likelihood of different genes within an offspring
96
how do you represent a dominant trait within a punnett square?
through the use of a uppercase letter
97
how do you represent a recessive trait within a punnett square?
through the use of a lowercase letter
98
how do you represent a homozygous genotype?
through the use of the same form of a letter (ex. AA, or aa)
99
how do you represent a heterozygous genotype?
through different forms of a letter (ex. Aa)
100
which trait is always represented first?
dominant
101
what is DNA?
the hereditary material in humans and nearly all other animals
102
what does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid
103
how many base pairs does DNA have?
approximately 3 billion, which resides into 23 pairs of chromosomes
104
what is the structure of DNA?
-made up of long strands of chemicals/molecules
-contains 4 nucleotide bases which come together to
form DNA
-forms a double helix once made
105
How do the four nucleotide bases pair together?
a and t, c and g
106
what does the double helix form?
a chromosome
107
what holds two strands of DNA together?
the hydrogen bonding between complementary bases
108
How is DNA organized?
DNA is composed of two antiparallel strands of nucleic acid. cells wrap their DNA strands around scaffolding proteins to form a coiled/condensed structure call chromatin
109
what is a gene?
a sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that encode the synthesis of a gene product
110
what is a chromosome?
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found within the nucleus. it carries genetic information in the form of genes
111
how does DNA fit into a cell?
it is tightly packed and wrapped around histone proteins to form tight loops call nucleosomes
112
where is nuclear DNA found?
within the nucleus
113
where is mitochondrial DNA found?
within the mitochondria
114
how many chromosomes do humans have?
46 or 23 pairs of 2
115
where do chromosomes come from?
half come from the father of the baby and the half come from the mother
116
what are autosomes?
any of the numbered chromosomes
117
what are chromosomes numbered in relation to?
their size
118
describe mitosis.
a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus.
119
what are the three main functions of mitosis?
growth, maintenance and repair
120
what is the end product of mitosis?
2 identical daughter cells
121
describe meiosis.
a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes within the parent cell by half
122
where does mitosis occur?
in all cells except for the gametes
123
where does meiosis occur?
in the sex cells (gametes)
124
what is the end product of meiosis?
4 haploid cells that are not identical to the parent cell and that contain half the chromosomes because they are going to join with cells from the opposite sex
125
what do the egg and sperm create when they meet during fertilization?
a zygote
126
what are the similarities between mitosis and meiosis?
- both a type of cell division
| - chromosome pairs replicate before the process starts
127
how is variation related to meiosis?
genetic variation is increased by meiosis because the process allows for each gamete to contain a different set of DNA
128
what is the importance of variation?
-forces in evolution
-allows natural selection to increase or decrease the
frequency of allele within a population
-enables individuals to adapt to the environment with
maintaining the survival of the population
129
what is gene therapy?
an experimental technique that replaces bad genes out of the body and replaces them with good genes.
130
what does GMO stand for?
genetically modified organisms
131
what is biotechnology?
using what we know about DNA and genetics to solve problems
132
how does GMO happen?
by turning genes on or off or even transferring genes from one species to another in order to produce the most desirable offspring
133
how come populations evolve but individuals do not?
evolution is an extremely long process, taking lots of time that is not included in an organism's individual lifespan, meaning the individual dies off before a full process of evolution can occur.
134
where is there more variation: in a large or smaller population?
in the larger population
