Midterm 1

Question 1

Gene

Answer 1

A Selectable unit of DNA or RNA

Question 2

Allele

Answer 2

One of the alternate versions of a gene

Question 3

Locus

Answer 3

The location of a gene

Question 4

Genotype

Answer 4

Set of alleles across all relevant Loci

Question 5

Haplotype

Answer 5

haploid set of linked alleles

Question 6

Phenotype

Answer 6

The Set of measurable traits of an individual

Question 7

SNP

Answer 7

Variable site in the genome

Question 8

Evolution

Answer 8

Changes in Allele frequencies through generations

Question 9

Descent with modification leads to

Answer 9

1)Production of “new” genes and new traits
2)Splitting of lineages into new species

Question 10

Phenotypic plasticity

Answer 10

Change within individuals over time

Question 11

What are the four causes of evolution?

Answer 11

1)Selection
2)Mutation
3)Gene flow
4)Drift

Question 12

Evolutionary Fitness

Answer 12

An individual’s relative contribution of alleles to the next generation which can be quantified as a function of P(survival) and E(# of offspring)

Question 13

Adaptation

Answer 13

A trait that causes an increase in fitness relative to other traits(real or imagined) based on how well it fits the environment

Question 14

The four requirements for evolution

Answer 14

1)Variance in Phenotype
2)Phenotype variance in inheritable
3)More offspring are produced than can survive
4)Survival is not random but related to phenotypic variation

Question 15

Common Misconceptions of Evolution

Answer 15

Individuals evolve, selection acts for the good of lineage,natural selection acts on genes, natural selection looks ahead, natural selection creates variance

Question 16

Why is HIV or any virus that changes at its rate fatal to humans?

Answer 16

Natural selection lacks foresight
Transmission allows HIV to persist even though the host dies
Not enough time for coevolution
Not enough time for resistance

Question 17

What is the role of mutation in evolution?

Answer 17

It is the cause of all long-term heritable variation

Question 18

The three types of variance

Answer 18

Genetic Variance (Vg)
Environmental Variance (Ve)
Genotype by Environmental Variance (Vge)

Question 19

Genetic Variance

Answer 19

Variance caused by different alleles on a locus ex.Height of your parents and you

Question 20

Environmental Variance

Answer 20

Variation due to environmental differences is non-heritable and therefore does not contribute to natural selection ex. All men in a village are shorter than another village due to a lack of food

Question 21

Genotype by environmental variance

Answer 21

Variation of individuals that have the same genes but express different genotypes based on the environment ex. animals living northern have larger bodies than their southern counterparts despite having the same genes

Question 22

Draw the graph for the interaction between phenotype and plasticity when: No plasticity, No genetic variation

Answer 22

There is no difference in traits so there is no better trait

Question 23

Draw the graph for the interaction between phenotype and plasticity when: Plasticity but no genetic variation

Answer 23

There is variation based on habitat but it’s not because of a difference in traits

Question 24

Draw the graph for the interaction between phenotype and plasticity when: Plasticity and genetic variation exist

Answer 24

In this example, you can determine which trait is directly better

Question 25

Draw the graph for the interaction between phenotype and plasticity when: There is genetic variation for plasticity

Answer 25

In this case, which trait is better is dependent on what the environmental conditions are making it hard to compare traits

Question 26

Germline mutation

Answer 26

a mutation that occurs in the egg or sperm of an individual, it can affect any chromosome and will be passed onto the next generation in their offspring

Question 27

Somatic mutation

Answer 27

A mutation that occurs within the individual to a cell or set of cells in the body which will be passed on when the cells duplicate

Question 28

7 types of mutations

Answer 28

point mutation insertion deletion duplication inversion chromosomal fusion aneuploidy or polyploidy

Question 29

Point mutation

Answer 29

a single base pair is changed on a nucleotide, this is usually caused by errors in duplication or to damage of the DNA by external factors like UV radiation

Question 30

Difference between synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations

Answer 30

in synonymous mutations, the changed dna does not affect the amino acid produced whereas in nonsynonymous mutations the amino acid is changed

Question 31

Insertion

Answer 31

a segment of DNA is inserted into the middle of an existing sequence Ex. Hungtingtons

Question 32

Deletion

Answer 32

A segment of DNA is deleted from the sequence ex. Cystic Fibrosis

Question 33

Duplication

Answer 33

A segment of DNA is copied more than one time, this is actually one of the key components of evolution as this additional DNA can cause new traits to arise Ex.Douc Langur's ability to eat leaves

Question 34

Inversion

Answer 34

a segment of DNA is flipped during a bad repair job so the individual has trouble conceiving unless there has been a cross-over event and is thought to be associated with speciation

Question 35

Chromosome fusion

Answer 35

Two chromosomes are joined together Ex. how humans separated from apes

Question 36

Polyploidy or aneuploidy

Answer 36

Chromosomes are lost or duplicated ex. Plants we farm are polyploidy yielding higher amounts of produce