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AQA A level Biology > 4.5 Species and taxonomy > Flashcards

4.5 Species and taxonomy Flashcards

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1
Q

Define species

A
  • Organisms with shared characteristics that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
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2
Q

Why doesn’t the definition of a species work

A
  • Doesn’t fit for single-celled organisms since they don’t interbreed
  • There’s a lot of variation between individuals in a species (e.g. in dogs)
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3
Q

Even where groups of extinct organisms have left fossils records, it is very difficult to distinguish different species. Suggest 2 reasons why

A
  • Can’t interbreed fossils to see whether they produce fertile offspring
  • Not all characteristics can be observed
  • Fossil records are pretty incomplete
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4
Q

What is the behaviour of members of the same species like

A

It’s more alike than that of members of different species

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4
Q

Suggest why it’s often difficult to classify organisms as distinct species

A

Variation within a species is very large

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5
Q

How does organisms of the same species acting in a similar way beneficial to the organisms

A

Individuals can recognise member of the same species by the way they act

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6
Q

How is the ability to display behave determined

A

Genetically determined

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7
Q

What 5 things do courtship behaviours do that enables successful mating and that the offspring have the max chance of survival

A
  • Recognise member of their own species
  • Identify a mate that is capable of breeding
  • Form a pair bond
  • Synchronise mating
  • Become able to breed
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8
Q

Why does the fact that courtship behaviours help individuals recognise member of their own species , ensure that mating is successful

A

It ensures that mating only takes place between members of the same species because only members of the same species can produce fertile offspring

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9
Q

Why does courtship behaviours enabling identification of a mate that is capable of breeding beneficial

A

Since both partners need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating

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10
Q

Why does courtship behaviours forming a pair bond beneficial

A

Since this bond will lead to successful mating and raising of an offspring

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11
Q

Why does courtship behaviour enabling synchronised mating beneficial

A

It takes place when there is the maximum probability of the sperm and egg meeting

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12
Q

Why does courtship behaviours enabling individuals become able to breed beneficial

A

By bringing members of the opposite sex into a physiological state that allows breeding to occur

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13
Q

What is courtship behaviours in humans

A

Foreplay

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14
Q

Explain how courtship behaviours enables successful mating

A
  • identify their own species
  • Synchronises mating and therefore increased the chance of offspring reaching reproductive age
  • Female being receptive
  • Creating a pair bond which increase the chance of fertile offspring and raising offspring
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15
Q

What are the 2 reasons why taxonomy is needed

A
  • Predict characteristics
  • Evolutionary relationships
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16
Q

What is the term of biological classification

A

Taxonomy

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17
Q

What are the 3 categories the 5 kingdom classification create

A
  • Cell type
  • Organisation of cells
  • Nutrition
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18
Q

What is the order of the hierarchical system

A
  • Kingdom
  • Phylem
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
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19
Q

What is meant when saying the hierarchical system groups are discrete

A

The groups don’t overlap

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20
Q

In the hierarchical system are the smaller groups have more in common or the larger groups

A

The smaller groups

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21
Q

What’s the kingdom of humans

A

Animals

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22
Q

What is the phylem of humans

A

Chordates

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23
Q

What is the class of animals

A

Mammals

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24
Q

What is the order of humans

A

Primates

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25
Q

What is the family of humans

A

Homonids

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26
Q

What is the genus of humans

A

Homo

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27
Q

What is the species of humans

A

Sapien

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28
Q

In the binomial naming system what 2 categories are used

A

Genus followed by the species

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29
Q

What language is the binomial system in

A

Latin

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30
Q

What is implied when the first word of the binomial system but the 2nd word is different for 2 organisms

A

The genus is the same but the species is different which implies evolution relationships

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31
Q

When writing the binomial system names, where is the capital letter and where is the lower case, write the human one

A

Capital letter of genus
Lower case of species
Homo sapien

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32
Q

What must you do when writing binomial system names

A

Underline when written by hand

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33
Q

What do phylogenetic trees show

A

Shows the evolutionary relationships

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34
Q

In a phylogenetic tree, what is the name of when the 2 lines split

A
  • Points of divergence
  • Common ancestors
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35
Q

What is the name of the line from the original ancestor to the end of the branch in a phylogenetic tree

A

Line of descent

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36
Q

What are homologous structures

A

Features with the same fundamental structure but different function

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37
Q

Homologous structures show what type of evolution

A

Divergent evolution

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38
Q

Name an example of homologous structures

A

Pentadactyl limbs

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39
Q

What are analogous structures

A

Different fundamental structures but same function

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40
Q

Analogous structures show what type of evolution

A

Convergent evolution

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41
Q

Are homologous structures or analogous structures used to provide evidence of common ancestors

A

Homologous structures

42
Q

What is convergent evolution

A

When different organisms with not necessarily common ancestors come together at the same place

43
Q

What is an extremophile

A

Organisms that can live in extreme environmentally conditions

44
Q

How are domains separated

A

Different rRNA base sequence

45
Q

Are eubacteria, archaea or eukaryota extremophiles

A

Archaea

46
Q

Where does domain come in the hierarchical system

A

Before kingdom

47
Q

What is genetic fingerprinting

A

The examination of VNTRS

48
Q

What does VNTR stand for

A

Variable number tandem repeats

49
Q

Where do you find VNTR

A

In the introns of human DNA

50
Q

Roughly what % of DNA is introns

A

About 95%

51
Q

What are introns

A

Non coding region of DNA

52
Q

What is the probabiltity like of 2 individuals having the same VNTRs

A

Very low

53
Q

When you’re closely related to someone, what are your VNTRs like

A

Get more similiar the more closley related you are

54
Q

What does the analysis of VNTRs DNA fragments determine

A

The genetic relationships and the genetic variability within a population

55
Q

What are the names of the 7 steps in order of genetic fingerprinting

A
  • Collection
  • Extraction
  • Digestion
  • Separation
  • Hybridisation
  • Development
  • Analysis
56
Q

Name 3 places where you might be able to collect the DNA sample for genetic fingerprinting

A
  • Blood
  • Body cells
  • Hair follicles
57
Q

What happens when the DNA you are sampling for genetic fingerprinting is very small

A

The DNA is cloned via PCR which is used to amplify the amount of DNA

58
Q

Why do we need digestion when doing genetic fingerprinting

A

To cut the large sample up into all the different VNTRS within the organisms/ human

59
Q

What is the name of the enzyme that digest/ cut the DNA during genetic fingerprinting into smaller fragments

A

Restriction endonucleases

60
Q

When selecting the restriction endonucleases, what must their active site be complementary to in order to digest in the genetic fingerprinting

A

Complementary in shape to the sequence just before the VNTRS

61
Q

Why must the restriction endonucleases active be complementary in shape to the sequence just before the VNTRS when doing genetic fingerprinting

A

So the enzyme cuts the DNA just before and just after the VNTRS so the entire length of the VNTRS is maintained

62
Q

Why do we need to separate out the VNTRS

A

So we can analyses which VNTRs the individual has

63
Q

During the separation process of genetic fingerprinting, where are the DNA samples loaded into to in the agar gel

A

Into small wells

64
Q

During the separation process of genetic fingerprinting, what type of liquid is poured over the top of the gel

A

A buffer liquid

65
Q

During the separation process in genetic fingerprinting, what is applied to the agar gel that has a buffer liquid on top

A

An electrical voltage

66
Q

What end of the gel has a negative charge in genetic fingerprinting

A

The end closest to the DNA

67
Q

What end of the gel has a positive charge in genetic fingerprinting

A

The end furthest away from the DNA

68
Q

Is DNA positively or negatively charged

A

Negatively charged

69
Q

Why does DNA being negatively charged help to move the DNA down the agar gel in genetic fingerprinting

A

Since the end furthest away from the DNA in the wells is positively charged and opposite charges attract

70
Q

What group in DNA makes DNA negatively charged

A

The phosphate group

71
Q

What is the name of the stage when the electrical voltage is added to the agar gel inn genetic fingerprinting

A

Gel electrophoresis

72
Q

What does the agar gel create when the DNA moves from the agar well towards the positive end of the gel in genetic fingerprinting

A

The agar gel creates resistance

73
Q

Do the smaller or larger pieces of DNA travel faster and further along the gel during gel electrophoresis, when the agar gel is creating resistance

A

The smaller pieces of DNA / The smaller length VNTRS

74
Q

What does the different distance travelled through the agar gel during gel electrophoresis do

A

It separates the different lengths of DNA VNTRS

75
Q

What is added to the agar gel after the VNTRS have been separated during gel electrophoresis

A

An alkaline

76
Q

Why is an alkaline added to the agar gel after the separation of VNTRS during gel electrophoresis

A

To separate the double strands of DNA into single strands

77
Q

What is hybridisation

A

Adding a different piece of DNA to the DNA that is in the agar gel - so you are left with a hybrid piece of DNA

78
Q

What is the name of the DNA that is added to the single stranded DNA in the agar gel

A

DNA probes

79
Q

What is a DNA probe

A

Short, single stranded pieces of DNA complementary in base sequence to the VNTRS and they are always labelled

80
Q

What are the 2 usual things that a DNA is labelled with

A
  • Radioactive chemical
  • Fluroescent chemical
81
Q

Are the DNA probes that are added to the single stranded DNA in the agar gel different or the same

A

DIfferent DNA probes

82
Q

After adding the DNA probes to the agar gel, what happens

A

We wash the gel to remove any unbinded DNA probes

83
Q

What is meant by the development stage in genetic fingerprinting

A

How we visualise the position of the VNTRS

84
Q

In the development stage in genetic fingerprinting, what are the hybrid DNA transferred on to

A

A nylon sheet

85
Q

Why are the hybrid DNA transferred onto a nylon sheet in the development stage of genetic fingerprinting

A

Since when the agar gel is taken out of the buffer liquid the gel will shrink and crack as it dries which wouldn’t produce a clear image so tranfer onto the nylon sheet so the DNA lasts longer

86
Q

What determines which development method is used to develop the image from the nylon sheet

A

The label on the DNA probe

87
Q

If the DNA probe was labelled using a radioactive label how is the nylon sheet developed

A

Expose the sheet to x-rays

88
Q

If the DNA probe was labelled using a fluorescent label how is the nylon sheet developed

A

Expose the sheet to UV light

89
Q

When the nylon sheet is exposed to x-ray what colour are the bands

A

Black and white

90
Q

When the nylon sheet is exposed to UV light what colour do the DNA probes attached to the VNTRS glow

A

A greeny / yellow colour

91
Q

When analysing the developed hybrid DNA, what is always put into the picture

A

A marker

92
Q

What is the marker in the analysis of VNTRS

A

A DNA sample with VNTRS of known lengths is put into the first well

93
Q

When analysing the genetic fingerprinting, what are you commparing

A

The position of the DNA bands

94
Q

How does genetic fingerprinting help in paternity tests

A
  • The child’s DNA will contain VNTRS from the mother and some from the father
  • Line up the mothers’s and child’s
  • So any band in the child that doesn’t match up with the mother must have come from the father
  • So the father can be identified
95
Q

What are 3 uses of genetic finger printing

A
  • Medical diagnosis
  • Forensic science to place suspects at crime scenes / paternity tests
  • To ensure animals and plants are not closely related before being breed
96
Q

How does genetic finger printing help with medical diagnosis

A
  • Examine someones DNA
  • And see if they have VNTRS in the positions which are expected or known to be in those positions of individuals who suffer from a particular genetic diesease
97
Q

How does genetic fingerprinting ensure that animals and plants are not closely related before breeding

A
  • Take 2 organisms that you want to breed
  • Examine their genetic fingerprint
  • And make sure their VNTRS are not too similar
98
Q

Why do people need to check the genetic finger print of 2 organisms to ensure they aren’t too closely related before breeding

A

It reduces the risk of passing on genetic conditions / harmful genetic conditions

99
Q

What are the 6 pieces of evidence that shows shared ancestry for all life

A
  • All have DNA or RNA as their genetic material
  • The genetic code is universal - same codon on mRNA for an amino acid
  • The proteins in all organisms are formed from the same 20 amino acids
  • ATP is the universal molecule for energy
  • All have phospholipid membranes
  • Vital physiological processes follow very similar metabolic pathways in all organisms
100
Q

What 3 comparisons of genetic diversity can be used to classify organisms

A
  • Base sequence of DNA
  • Base sequence of mRNA
  • Amino acid sequence
101
Q

Other than hunting, suggest 2 reasons why populations might show very low levels of genetic diversity

A
  • Populations might have been very small / genetic bottleneck
  • Populations might have started with small number of individuals
  • Interbreeding
102
Q

What is meant by genetic diversity

A

Number of different alleles of each gene

AQA A level Biology (35 decks)

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