Terms to learn word for word (Learn-word-for-word worksheet) Flashcards
Define the term clade
A group of organisms that consists of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants
Define ecological niche
The role and space that an organism fills in an ecosystem, including all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment
Define keystone species
A plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions
Define the term carrying capacity
The size of the population that can be supported indefinitely on the available resources and services of that ecosystem
Define the term genome
All the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, including its genes and DNA sequences
Define the term gene
Region/s of DNA that are made up of nucleotides; the molecular unit of heredity
Define polygenic inheritance
When one characteristic is controlled by two or more genes
Define evolution
Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, which may result in the development of new species
Define microevolution
Small-scale variation of allele frequencies within a species or population, in which the descendant is of the same taxonomic group as the ancestor
Define macroevolution
The variation of allele frequencies at or above the level of species over geological time, resulting in the divergence of taxonomic groups, in which the descendant is in a different taxonomic group to the ancestor
Identify one example of an interspecific hybrid that does not produce fertile offspring
Mule
Identify the features of pioneer species
Ability to fixate nitrogen, tolerance to extreme conditions, rapid germination of seeds, ability to photosynthesise
Describe the process of making recombinant DNA
Isolation of DNA
Cutting of DNA (restriction enzymes)
Insertion of DNA fragment (plasmid vector)
Joining of DNA (DNA ligase)
amplification of recombinant DNA (bacterial transformation)
Recall that common assumptions of cladistics
A common ancestry, bifurcation and physical change
Recall the structure of DNA
Nucleotide composition complementary base pairing weak, base-specific hydrogen bonds between DNA strand. Students should be able to use a schematic model identifying nucleotides (nitrogenous base + phosphate + sugar) and the associated hydrogen bonds.
