GM + natural selection Flashcards
(22 cards)
natural selection definition
a process that occurs when organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce:
evolution definition
the change of inherited characteristics within a population over time through natural selection, which may result in the formation of a new species
selection pressure definition
the factor that will affect an organism’s chance of surviving and reproducing
antibiotic resistance definition
evolution of bacterial cells that means that antibiotic drugs are ineffective so they survive and reproduce
fossil definition
trace of an organism that lived millions of years ago that provides evidence for evolution
hominid definition
group of organisms that includes humans and their ancestors
who’s darwin
English naturalist and geologist who published his theory of evolution by natural selection
who’s wallace
English naturalist who supported Darwin’s work with evidence
classification definition
arrangement of organisms into groups based on how closely related they are
domain definition
largest of classification groupings, including eukaryotes, prokaryotes and archaea
selective breeding definition
artificial selection of plants/animals that are bred so the genes for particular traits remain in population
genetic engineering definition
transfer of a gene from one organism’s genome to another to introduce a desired trait
tissue culture definition
process used to create clones of organisms with desired traits by taking samples from a parent and reproducing them in an artificial growth medium
GMO definition
genetically modified organism; one that has a gene from a different organism transferred into its genome
restriction enzyme definition
enzyme used to cut DNA at specific locations so that new genes can be inserted e.g. endonuclease
plasmid definition
circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that’s often used as a vector in genetic engineering to transfer a gene into a host cell
fertiliser definition
chemicals that contain minerals (e.g. nitrates and phosphates)that are essential for plant growth, used to replace nutrients lost from soils
eutrophication definition
problem caused when fertilisers run into lakes/rivers and causes algal blooms and the death aquaic organisms
biological control definition
alternative to chemical pest control by using predators/parasites to reduce the number of pests that could damage crops
what are the parts of a binomial
genus species
what 2 methods do scientists used to date fossils
relative + radiocarbon dating
