Genetics & evolution Flashcards
(26 cards)
Define Species
Organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Define Natural selection
Organisms that hae characteristic best suited for their enviorment survive and reproduce passing on their genes
What is antibiotic resistance
Bacteria becoming resistant means it cannot be killed by certain antibiotics.
What causes antibiotic resistance
Random mutations in bacteria & sharing resistant genes
What does the theory of evolution state
The theory of evolution states that all species of living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed more than 3 billion years ago
Name the person who suggested that changes that occur in an organism in its life time can be inheirited
Lamarck
State three reasons why darwins theory was only gradually accepted
1) Conflicts with the worlds belief that God made all living things 2.) Insufficent evidence 3) No mechanism to explain variation and inheritance
Who assisted darwin on this theory of evoluton
wAlfried russel wallace
What else did alfried work on?
Warning colourisation of animals and theory of specialisation
What is specialisation
the process by which two species evolve from a single original species by natural selection
Why can bacteria evolve at a higher rate
they have a higer reproduction rate
Suggest 3 methods to limit the about of antibiotic resistance
1) Dont overuse antibiotics 2) Restrict the use of antibiotics in agriculture 3) patients finish their antibiotic course every time
What would the best organism be to beat natural selection
adapted to their enviorment
Why were mnedals ideas of inheiretence not accepted at the time
chromosons werent discovered yet
Why must patients finish their course every time?
If you end the course prematurely the surviving bacteria might evolve into anti biotic resistant strains
Suggest three ways in which a hospital can reduce the spread of antibiotics
Only use antibiotics if really needed. Use strain specific antibiotics. maintain high hygiene standards between patient visits. Isolate patients infected with resistant strains. Visitors wash hands as they enter and leave
Why is it difficult to develop new antibiotics to combat the apearance of new antibiotic reistant strains of bacteria
The developmet of new antibiotics is expensive and slow
Define the process of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering is the process which involes modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic
Define genetically modified crops
crops that have their genes modified are called genetically modified crops. GM crops include ones that are resistant to insect or to herbicides. GM crops generally have an increased yield
Statr three traits plants might be engineered to have
Larger yield
Resistance to insect attacks
Resistant to herbicides
How is a gene cut out from the geneone of one species and inserted into another
Using enzymes
Into what is the gene inserted
vector
give two examples of vectors used in genetic engineering
Bacterial plasmid and a virus
What are the benefits of genetic engineering
Increased yield
Increased food quality
Improve growth rates
