Word for Word DEFINITIONS

Question 1

Define the term clade

Answer 1

A group of organisms that consists of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants

Question 2

Define ecological niche

Answer 2

The role and space that an organism fills in an ecosystem, including all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment

Question 3

Define keystone species

Answer 3

A plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions

Question 4

Define the term carrying capacity

Answer 4

The size of the population that can be supported indefinitely on the available resources and services of that ecosystem

Question 5

Define the term genome

Answer 5

All the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, including its genes and DNA sequences

Question 6

Define the term gene

Answer 6

A small section of DNA made up of nucleotides that codes for the production of a specific protein or functional RNA

Question 7

Define polygenic inheritance

Answer 7

A single characteristic that is controlled by two or more genes

Question 8

Define evolution

Answer 8

Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, which may result in the development of new species.

Question 9

Define microevolution

Answer 9

Small-scale variation of allele frequencies within a species or population, in which the descendant is of the same taxanomic group as the ancestor

Question 10

Define macroevolution

Answer 10

The variation of allele frequencies at or above the level of species over geological time, resulting in the divergence of taxanomic groups, in which the descendant is in a different taxanomic group to the ancestor