A3.1 Diversity of Organisms

Question 1

taxonomy

Answer 1

the science of classification

Question 2

taxis

Answer 2

arrangement

Question 3

taxa

Answer 3

groups or categories within a classification system

Question 4

3 objectives for using binomial nomenclature (1)

Answer 4

To be sure that each organism has a unique name that cannot be confused with another organism;

Question 5

3 objectives for using binomial nomenclature (2)

Answer 5

So that the names can be universally understood, no matter what nationality or culture is using the name;

Question 6

3 objectives for using binomial nomenclature (3)

Answer 6

So that there is some stability in the system by not allowing people to change the names of organisms without valid reasons

Question 7

A hierarchy of taxa

Answer 7

Lol, Does Kenny Play Classical Or Folk Guitar Songs?

Life
Domain
Kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species

Question 8

Distinguishing between populations and species: wolly mammoth

Answer 8

Previously classified as Elephas primigenius because it shared many similar characteristics with Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Difficult to confirm because mammoth extinct and there are no live ones to study

Therefore, now classified as Mammuthus primigenius

Question 9

chromosomes in humans

Answer 9

46

Question 10

chromosomes in chimpanzees

Answer 10

48

Question 11

what is genome

Answer 11

genome refers to the total of all the genetic information in an organism

Question 12

do organisms of the same species share the same genome

Answer 12

Organisms in the same species share most of their genome but variations such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms give some diversity

Question 13

Karyotype

Answer 13

An individual’s complete set of chromosomes, the number and types of chromosomes in a eukaryotic cell

Question 14

Karyogram

Answer 14

Chromosomes arranged as homologous pairs in descending order of size

shows the gender of the individual and whether he’she has genetic disease like Down Syndrome (extra chromosomes)

Question 15

Diversity of eukaryotic genomes

Answer 15

Genomes vary in overall size, which is determined by the total amount of DNA. Genomes also vary in base sequence. Variation between species is much larger than variation within a species

Question 16

mitochondrial DNA

Answer 16

Mitochondria and chloroplasts are organelles that contains their one circular DNA

It is believed to be one of the evidence of the endosymbiosis theory - mitochondria were once aerobic bacteria and chloroplasts were once cyanobacteria got engulfed by ancestral prokaryotes

Question 17

Current and potential future uses of whole genome sequencing

Answer 17

Include the increasing speed and decreasing costs.

For current uses, include research into evolutionary relationships and potential future uses, include personalised medicine

Question 18

Applications for whole genome sequencing

Answer 18

Apply genome sequencing to study the evolutionary relationships of different species - phylogenetics

Apply genome sequencing to personalise disease treatments (different types of cancer) and medications to make them more effective and reduce side effects

Research on what other possible usage on this technology

Question 19

what group of organisms does the biological species concept not work well with

Answer 19

The biological species concept does not work well with groups of organisms that do not breed sexually or where genes can be transferred from one species to another

Question 20

examples of organisms that can reproduce asexually

Answer 20

Some species of insects like aphids and stick insects can reproduce without a male

Many plants can reproduce asexually, vegetative propagation (bulb, corm tuber, rhizome, runners, cuttings,…)

Bacteria reproduce using binary fission and able to carry out plasmid transfer to exchange genetic material with other bacteria (to increase genetic variation for survival, for example they can share antibiotic resistant genes)

Question 21

are viruses organisms

Answer 21

They are small infectious agents (small size and simple composition) that replicates inside living cells of other organisms like animals, plants and bacteria

They can also have gene transfer with other organisms (we have some viral DNA in us and also our ancestors passed down some of the viral DNA that then they picked up during the viral infection in their lifetime)

Question 22

Dichotomous key

Answer 22

A dichotomous key is an identification tool mainly used by scientists to classify and identify organisms into particular categories based on their traits

Question 23

what does a dichotomous key consist of

Answer 23

The key consists of a series of paired statements or clues about features or characteristics, providing a stepwise guide towards identifying each entity

Question 24

DNA barcoding

Answer 24

DNA barcoding is a method of organism identification using short, standardised segments of DNA (hundreds bp) found in the organisms and comparing them to the database. Every species has its own barcode, just as every person has their own fingerprint

Question 25

Limitations of analysing environmental DNA

Answer 25

lacking information about the amount of the species and how the species interact with other living things, as well as how the DNA got to the environment