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Ecology & Evolutionary Biology > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Biology

A

The scientific study of living things.

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2
Q

Eukaryotes

A

cells that have a nuclear membrane

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3
Q

Explain why humans use classification systems and the limitations of the systems we use.

A

We classify to be able to simplify by groups. Are limitations used to help us understand relationships between organisms; although it is not part of the real world.

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4
Q

Define hierarchy of structural organization

A

Life is highly organized from the simplest atoms to complex multicellular organisms. Along this hierarchy of structure, atoms form molecules that are used to form organelles, which in turn form the functional subsystems within cells. Cells are organized into tissues, and then into organs and organ systems such as the nervous system. This organization extends beyond individuals to populations, communities, ecosystems, and the entire biosphere.

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5
Q

Examples of each hierarchy level

A

Cellular Level = Atoms; Organismal Level = Organs; Populational Level = Ecosystems.

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6
Q

Explain the overall relationship among hierarchy levels with respect to complexity

A

Along this hierarchy of structure, atoms form molecules that are used to form organelles, which in turn form the functional subsystems within cells. Cells are organized into tissues, and then into organs and organ systems such as the nervous system. This organization extends beyond individuals to populations, communities, ecosystems, and the entire biosphere.

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7
Q

Explain how using the hierarchical system can help us understand life.

A

Hierarchy helps us simplify the complexity of life so we may better understand the relationships.

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8
Q

What is the goal of systematics?

A

To understand the history of ancestor-descendant relations that unites all forms of life on Earth.

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9
Q

What kind of characteristics reflect common ancestry?

A

Homologous characteristics

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10
Q

What is the major assumption of systematics?

A

That the greater the number of shared homologous characteristics between two species, the more closely they are related.

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11
Q

What kinds of information can we get from phylogenetics trees?

A

It shows us the relationship between groups of organisms.

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12
Q

How are organisms grouped in taxonomy?

A

They are grouped by shared characteristics.

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13
Q

State the assumptions underlying taxonomic classification.

A

That similar organisms have properties in common and that similar organisms are more closely related to each other than organisms in different groups.

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14
Q

Name the 5 kingdoms, the organisms found in each and the major characteristics of each kingdom.

A

MONERA = All prokaryotes like bacteria PROTISTA = Single celled organisms like algae PLANTAE = Multicellular eukaryotes autotrophs like plants FUNGI = Multicellular heterotrophs that absord nutrients like mushrooms ANIMALIA = Multicellular heterotrophs the ingest other organisms like humans

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15
Q

List 7 main levels of taxonomic classification.

A

KINGDOM, PHYLUM, CLASS, ORDER, FAMILY, GENUS, SPECIES

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16
Q

Be able to write out the taxonomic classification for one species.

A

KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS:Mammalia ORDER:Primates FAMILY: Hominidae GENUS: Homo SPECIES: Sapiens

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17
Q

Explain why taxonomic classification may change over time.

A

As more information is gained about them like their DNA structure.

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18
Q

What is the source of genetic variation?

A

Mutations in the DNA and sexual reproduction.

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19
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid

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20
Q

What is DNA?

A

A large & complex molecule found in all living cells. It’s job is to carry information between generations.

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21
Q

Where is DNA found?

A

Two places in eukaryotic cells 1.) In the nucleus - contains most of the genesthat control the cell. 2.) Mitochondria and plastids - contain extranuclear genes that control the function and reproduction of these subcellular components.

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22
Q

What are Chromosomes?

A

Nuclear DNA and protein

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23
Q

Where is DNA found in eukaryotic cells?

A

1.) In the nucleus - contains most of the genesthat control the cell. 2.) Mitochondria and plastids - contain extranuclear genes that control the function and reproduction of these subcellular components.

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24
Q

State the function of DNA.

A

DNA carries inform between generation.

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25
What are the 4 nitrogenous bases in DNA?
A.C.T.G. (Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine, Guanine)
26
What does RNA stand for?
Ribonucleic acid
27
What is the nitrogenous base in RNA?
Uracil
28
How many genes are in a chromosome?
Thousands
29
How many nucleotides are in a gene?
Hundreds to thousands
30
What are polypeptide chains?
Proteins
31
What determines a cells structure?
Polypeptides
32
What are triplet codes?
3-nucleotide sequences found in genes (64 combinations of AUCG)
33
Meiosis?
Separates the chromosomes of the parents into two complete sets. (diploid cells split into haploid cells and when male and female haploids join they become zygote cells which are diploids again.
34
Mitosis?
Somatic cell division; nuclear division in which the duplicated chromosomes separate to form two genetically identical daughter nuclei.
35
Extranuclear DNA?
control function and reproduction
36
Gene?
Determine the structure of the polypeptide
37
Genetic code?
Consists of all possible triplets that can be made by combining the four nucleotides in different ways (64)
38
Allele?
One form of a particular gene
39
What is the molecular structure of DNA?
Sugar, Phosphate, and Nitrogenous
40
Relationship between genes & DNA?
DNA provides the nitrogenous bases that form the triplets of genes.
41
Relationship between nucleotides & DNA?
DNA is made of subunits of nucleotides.
42
Relationship between genes & nucleotides?
Genes are made of many 3-nucleotide sequences called triplet codes.
43
Relationship between genes & proteins?
Genes determine the structure of proteins (polypeptide chains)
44
Which living things use the genetic code?
All living things use the genetic code
45
Explain the genetic basis of the differences between species?
Each species has a different amount of DNA in each cell.
46
Explain the genetic basis of the differences between individuals in the same species?
Each individual within a species gets a slightly different combination of alleles.
47
Explain the genetic basis of the differences between cell types within a individual?
Not all genes are active all the time in all cells.
48
How is DNA related to reproduction?
When reproducing organisms have to pass on a copy of their DNA to the offspring.
49
What is the cumulative effect of mutation over millions of years?
It has brought about the biological diversity that exists on the earth now.
50
Transmission of traits from one generation to another is known as
Heredity
51
A biome found along the coast of continent with rainy winters ans long dry summers is known as ____.
Chaparral
52
Semi conservative
A model describing principle of DNA replication
53
Mechanism to fix DNA that has been incorrectly replicated?
proofreading, mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair
54
One difference between bacterial DNA and Mammalian DNA is that bacterial DNA _____.
Is circular
55
What is an example of Darwin’s idea of descent with modification?
adaptive radiation of finches
56
One difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is that eukaryotes have a_____.
nucleus & organelles
57
Why can species all share the same exact genetic code but be different from each other?
species contain different proteins and different amounts of each protein
58
All inquiries that cannot be tested, repeated or rejected based upon a hypothesis are?
Pseudoscience
59
Biogeography?
The study of the distribution of species
60
Physical biogeography?
Based on explaining species distribution based on limitations caused by physical factors
61
Evolutionary biogeography?
Based on the evolutionary history of a species.
62
Island biogeography?
Explains species number in isolated areas based on their area and distance from a source of colonizers,
63
Tolerance?
The range of physical conditions within which an organism can survive.
64
Extremophiles?
Organisms the can survive in extreme conditions; like bacteria in volcanic vents
65
Two components of climate?
Temperature and precipitation
66
Two things that effect temperature?
latitude and altitude
67
Effect of latitude?
As you move away from the equator the temperature decreases and the solar radiation is spread out over larger areas and has to pass through more atmosphere.
68
Effect of altitude?
As you move up from sea level the atmospheric pressure decreases making the air less dense with fewer molecules to hold heat.
69
Ocean currents?
The movement of surface water caused by the rotation of the earth and the action of wind on the water.
70
Subsidence zone?
The area about 30 degrees north and south of the equator where dry air is forced away from the equator. This is caused by warm moist air at the equator raising which cools the water making rain the now dry air is then forced north and south and descends around the 30 degree latitude.
71
Rain shadow?
Moist ocean air is pushed up by mountains and cools the air causing rain which causes the air to be very dry once it passes the mountains.
72
How does the Gulf Stream change air temperature?
The stream picks up warm water as it flows passed the equator and circulates the warm water up the Atlantic coast around to Europe and down the African coast cause these coast areas to have warmer weather.
73
How does the Humboldt Stream change air temperature?
The stream picks up cold water from the Antarctic and carries the cold water up the South American coast creating a cooler climate along the South American coast.
74
Effect of Latitude on precipitation?
At certain latitudes the Sun's energy is great causing water evaporation in these areas creating rain.
75
The main effect of wind?
Is the distribution of moisture in the atmosphere.
76
Coriolis Effect?
Caused by the Earth's rotation it causes the south winds to deflect slightly west and the north winds to be deflected slightly east.
77
The three main nutrients plants need?
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
78
Factors that affect of aquatic species?
Light, temperature,nutrients, osmolarity, salinity, pressure, and oxygen.
79
Lake Stratification?
Occurs in temperate lakes that haave season cycles. During the Spring cold surface water from melted ice sinks mixing the water. This occurs again in Fall.
80
Oligotrophic?
Low nutrient levels. Characterized by clear water, high oxygen levels, low organic material.
81
Eutrophic?
High nutrient levels. Characterized by low oxygen levels, high organic material.
82
Biome?
A major type of ecosystem characterized by a certain range of environmental conditions.
83
The four major ecosystems of the ocean?
The Open ocean, Continental shelf, Upwelling regions, and Deep sea.
84
Intertidal zone?
The region where the tides rise and fall along the shoreline.
85
Photic Zone?
The water near the surface that light can penetrate.
86
Littoral Zone?
The shallows at the edge of a lake where the light reaches the bottom.
87
Aphotic Zone?
The deep waters that don't receive light
88
Limnetic Zone?
The layer of open water where photosynthesis can occur.
89
Estuary?
Areas along the coastline such as a bay that is partially surrounded by land and in which fresh water from a river or stream mixes with ocean water (brackish)
90
Compare physical, evolutionary, and island biogeography?
All try to explain the distribution of species but physical uses physical factors, evolutionary uses the study of evolutionary history and island uses the area and distance from a source species.
91
Explain tolerance?
Tolerance are physical conditions that are the limiting factors of an organism.
92
How tolerance can be used to predict species distribution.
Tolerance is used to predict distribution by looking at an organisms tolerance of specific physical factors like temperature. For example an organism that cannot survive in low temperatures will not be found in cold climates.
93
Tolerance Curve?
A graph showing the relationship between a species and a physical factor.
94
The major physical factors that affect terrestrial distribution?
Climate, Latitude, and Altitude
95
Discuss the major global wind patterns?
The wind patterns are created by the moist air rising cooling and the dry air is pushed outward to the north and south of the equator and 60 degree latitude creating a cycle that circulates. The Earth's tilt causes the wind to shift east and west.
96
What causes ocean currents?
Ocean currents are created by the earth's rotation and wind moving the surface water. These currents circulate warm and cold water creating a warming or cooling affect to the temperature of the coastal areas.
97
How does soil effect the distributions of terrestrial organisms?
The more nutrients in the soil the more plants with grow and in turn the more consumers there will be to eat the plants. The less nutrients in the soil the less plants will grow and in turn the less amount of animals will be there.
98
How does water nutrients effect distribution?
If there is too much nutrients then the water will become low in oxygen and distribution will drop. If nutrient stays low then oxygen will stay high and distribution will be high.
99
Describe the process of lake stratification?
Lake stratification occurs in a cyclic pattern. During the winter ice forms on the surface and the water become stratified with warmer water below. During the spring the ice melts and the cold water sinks to the bottom mixing the nutrients and oxygen in the water. During the summer the sun heats up the surface water making it much warmer than the bottom water. During the fall the surface water cools and sinks circulating the water again. This cycle help keep nutrients and oxygen circulated in the lake system.
100
What is Homeostasis?
A constant internal condition that is different from the outside environment.
101
Descent with modification?
Is evolution
102
How old is the Earth?
4.5 BYA
103
When did life on Earth begin?
3.5 BYA
104
What is a Phylogenetic Tree?
branching diagram showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species.
105
Genome?
Is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is 3 billion nucleotides long. It includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA.
106
Cladistic Method?
Is a systematic method using characteristics to workout the evolutionary relationships of organisms.
107
What is homoplasy?
Share similar characteristics that are not inhereited.
108
Monophyletic Group?
A group containing an ancestor and all of its descendants.
109
Paraphyletic Group?
A group consisting of an ancestor but not all of its descendants.
110
What is homogous?
Features/characteristics that derived from the same ancestoral source.
111
Clades?
A taxonomic group whose members share homologous features derived from a common ancestor.
112
What are bacteriophages?
Viruses that infect bacteria (Phages)
113
Phosphodiester bond?
The covalent chemical bond that holds together the polynucleotide chains of RNA and DNA
114
Photorepair?
DNA repair from the sun
115
Excision Repair?
Non-specific DNA repair
116
What are codons?
They are series of blocks of information in the genetic code (triplets)
117
What is a frameshift mutation?
Alterations in the reading frame of the genetic code.
118
What is a reading frame?
Is how the genetic code is read, in codons (sequence of 3)
119
What is Ribosome?
A complex composed of RNA and protein
120
What is a gyre?
Water movement in a giant closed curve (currents)
121
Monsoon?
Is the seansonally shifting wind patterns of the Asian Continent that cause major dry periods and major water periods.
122
Aphotic Zone?
The bottom of a lake.
123
Benthic Zone?
The ocean bottom.
124
Pelagic Zone?
All of the open ocean
125
Photic Zone?
The top layer of the open ocean that receives sun light
126
Nertic Zone?
Ocean waters over the continental shelf.
127
El Nino?
Is the weaking of the Westerly Trade Winds that cause warm waters to flow to the Upwelling areas of the ocean causing temperture changes and nutrient-depletion.
128
Characteristics of a Tropical Rain Forest?
Found around the equator, high tempertures, high precipitation, high biodiversity
129
Characteristics of a Savanna?
Are tropical grasslands found between troical forests and deserts. Warm tempertures and not enough rain to support trees.
130
Characteristics of a Tundra?
Vast treeless land that very cold and dry. Permafrost covers the soil year round. Migrating birds, arctic foxes
131
Characteristics of a Taiga?
Coniferous forest, cold harsh winters, animals hibernate like bears. Warm wet summers.
132
Characteristics of a Desert?
Extermely hot and dry climate, most animals are borrowing animals and nocturnal.
133
Characteristics of a Temperate Grasslands?
Praises and Great Plains areas. Rich soil, need fire to prosper. Bison and antelope
134
Characteristics of a Temperate Deciduous Forests?
Mild seasons, plentiful rains, Deciduous tree that drop their leafs. Deer and beaver
135
Characteristics of a Temperate Evergreen Forests?
Coastal temperate climate. Dominated by evergreens such as pine and redwoods.
136
Characteristics of a Chaparral?
Coastal areas with wet winters and long hot summers.

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (1 decks)

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