Quest 7

Question 1

Escape and Radiate Coevolution

Answer 1

An evolutionary process where one species evolves a defense to escape its predator or parasite, leading to its diversification, which is then followed by counter-adaptations and diversification in the interacting species.

Question 2

Coevolution

Answer 2

When heritable traits in species 1 drive changes to heritable traits in species 2 which feedback to changes in species 1 and so on

Question 3

Obligate Mutualism

Answer 3

Mutualistic relationship in which both species are entirely dependent on each other for survival or reproduction.

Question 3

Mutualistic interactions

Answer 3

Ecological relationships between two species in which both partners benefit from the association.

Question 4

Antagonistic interactions

Answer 4

Ecological relationships where one species benefits at the expense of another, such as predation, parasitism, or herbivory.

Predator-Prey

Question 5

Commensalistic evolution

Answer 5

Ecological relationships in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Question 6

Diffuse Coevolution

Answer 6

Reciprocal evolutionary change that occurs when a set of species collectively imposes and experiences selection pressures, so adaptations in any one species are shaped by interactions with many partners rather than a single counterpart.

Complex, non-pairwise relationships between organisms

Question 7

Aposematic coloration

Answer 7

Use of bright, conspicuous colors or patterns by an organism to warn predators that it is toxic, unpalatable, or otherwise dangerous.

Question 8

Batesian Mimicry

Answer 8

Form of mimicry in which a harmless species evolves to imitate the warning signals of a harmful or unpalatable species to avoid predation.

Question 9

Mullerian Mimicry

Answer 9

Form of mimicry in which two or more harmful or unpalatable species evolve to resemble each other, reinforcing predator avoidance through shared warning signals.

Question 10

Mosaic Coevolution

Answer 10

Process where coevolutionary interactions between species vary across different environments or populations, creating a patchwork (mosaic) of evolutionary outcomes.

Question 11

C-value paradox

Answer 11

Genome size does not correlate with an organisms complexity

(C-Value = Genome size)

Question 12

G-Value Paradox

Answer 12

The number of protein-coding genes does not correlate with an organism’s complexity

(G-value = number of protein-coding genes)

Question 13

Transcription factors

Answer 13

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate the transcription of genes by promoting or inhibiting the recruitment of RNA polymerase.

Question 14

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HZGT)

Answer 14

Movement of genetic material between organisms other than through vertical inheritance (from parent to offspring), often occurring between different species.

Question 15

Competent Cells

Answer 15

Bacterial cells that can adapted to take up foreign DNA from their environment through the process of transformation.

Question 16

Transduction

Answer 16

Method of horizontal gene transfer in which bacterial DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus, typically a bacteriophage.

Question 17

Transformation

Answer 17

Method of horizontal gene transfer in which a bacterium takes up and incorporates foreign DNA from its surrounding environment into its own genome.

Question 18

Conjugation

Answer 18

Method of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria where genetic material is transferred directly from one bacterium to another through a physical connection called a pilus.

Question 19

Virulence Factors

Answer 19

Molecules produced by pathogens that enhance their ability to infect and cause disease in a host, including toxins, enzymes, and surface proteins that help the pathogen evade the immune system.

Question 20

Pathogenicity Islands

Answer 20

Distinct regions of the genome in a pathogenic microorganisms that contain clusters of genes responsible for virulence.

Question 21

Synthetic Dot Plots

Answer 21

Compare the gene order of two different strains or species, providing a picture of the genomic reorganization that has occurred

Question 22

Why is there Codon Usage Bias?

Answer 22

The genetic code is unambiguous and degenerate.

Mutation rates – a non-selection driven reason
Selection based reasons –
1) tRNA availability
2) Mononucleotide repeats (AAAAA) of five or more are prone to slippage

Question 23

Selfish Genetic Elements

Answer 23

DNA sequences that propagate themselves at the expense of the organism’s overall fitness, often through mechanisms like transposition, horizontal transfer, or manipulating the host’s reproductive system.

Question 24

Conservative Transposons

Answer 24

A type of transposon that excises itself from one location in the genome and integrates into a new location without replicating, leaving the original site with a single copy of the transposon. Cut and reinsert

Question 25

Non-Conservative Transposons

Answer 25

Replicate during the transposition process, resulting in the transposon being inserted into a new location while leaving a copy at the original site in the genome. create copies, multiply...

Question 26

LINES

Answer 26

A type of non-coding, repetitive DNA sequence found in the genomes of eukaryotes, which can copy and insert themselves into new genomic locations through a reverse transcription mechanism, contributing to genomic variation. Retrotransposon. Long  Interspersed Element 

Question 27

SINES

Answer 27

(Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements) are short, non-coding repetitive DNA sequences that rely on the enzymatic machinery of LINEs to copy and insert themselves into new locations in the genome, often affecting gene regulation and genome structure.

Question 28

Deleterious Consequences of TEs

Answer 28

Screwed up genes Screwed up gene order Screw up gene transcription Potential for deleterious mutations Ectopic recombination (misaligned DNA)

Question 29

Beneficial Consequences of TEs

Answer 29

Gene copies, gene rearrangements, mutations Extra DNA for potentially new genes or uses