A4.1 Flashcards
What is evolution
Evolution is defined as the process of cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population
what is cumulative change
a gradual accumulation of small changes
what are heritable characteristic
features which can be inherited (caused by genes, passing from one generation to the next, so it takes a long time to happen) (think about life span of different organisms; life span of bacteria vs cats and dogs vs human beings)
level of organisation
species –> population –> community –> ecosystem –> biome –> biosphere
what is species (Not define)
Species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank
define species
A species is a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile, viable offspring
what are fertile offsprings
Those which can in turn interbreed and pass on their genes to another generation.
define population
A population is a group of organisms of the same species that are living in the same area at the same time
define community
A group of populations living together and interacting with each other within a given area
define habitat
The environment in which a species normally lives, or the location of a living organism
define ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment (i.e. habitat)
what are abiotic factors
Non-living factors, such as pH, salinity, wind speed, type of soil, etc.
what are biotic factors
Living factors in an ecosystem, such as the plants and animals.
define biome
A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions
define biosphere
That part of the Earth inhabited by organisms
can members from one species reproduce with another species?
Members of a single species are unable to produce fertile, viable offspring with members from a different species
What happens when two different species interbreed?
When two different species do produce offspring by cross-breeding, these hybrids are reproductively sterile (e.g. liger, mule)
What is ecology?
The study of the relationship between living organisms, or between living organisms and their environment
What are the 3 ways organisms can obtain chemical energy?
autotrophs
heterotrophs
mixotrophs
biochemical evidence for evolution
Evidence for evolution from base sequence in DNA or RNA and amino acid sequences in proteins
sequence data
Sequence data gives powerful evidence of common ancestry
selective breeding for evolution
Evidence for evolution from selective breeding of domestic animals and crop plants
how is selective breeding an evidence for evolution
Variation between different domesticated animal breeds and varieties of crop plant, and between them and the original wild species, shows how rapidly evolutionary changes can occur