Phylogenetics and DNA comparison

Question 1

Phylogenetics (out of 2):

Answer 1

• the study of the evolutionary history and relationships between groups of organisms
• Involves collection of morphological, behavioural, and molecular (DNA, RNA, amino acids) data to compare the number of similarities or differences between them

Question 2

Phylogenetic Trees:

Answer 2

Branching diagrams showing inferred relationships between various biological species with the distance of the branch dependent on the amount of inferred evolutionary change

Question 3

DNA Hybridisation (out of 2):

Answer 3

• Technique used to determine the level of similarity between sections of DNA of two species
• DNA is heated to separate strands and combined with another organisms DNA strand. This can be joined to compare

Question 4

DNA Sequencing:

Answer 4

Provides a more accurate measure of sequence differentiation by allowing direct comparison of nucleotide sequences

• laboratory technique used to determine the exact sequence of bases (A, C, G, and T) in a DNA molecule

Question 5

Succession:

Answer 5

The sequential change in the relative abundances of the dominant species in a biological community

Question 6

Primary Succession:

Answer 6

Occurs as a result of initial colonisation on bare rock, volcanic ash, etc.
- pioneer species establishes –> new species emerges and overtakes –> eventually climax community reached