A4.1 SL / HL Flashcards
Evolution
The change in the heritable characteristic of a population over time
Heritable characteristics
traits that can be passed down from parent to offspring
gametes
a reproductive cell of an animal or plant
binary fission
a form of asexual reproduction in which an organism divides into two, each part carrying one copy of genetic material
Population
all the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
18th-century French naturalist and biologist. Lamarck is known for his classification of plants, invertebrates, and for a theory of evolution known asLamarckism
Lamarckism
a theory of organic evolution claiming thatacquired characteristicsare transmitted to offspring
Acquired characteristics
a non-heritable change in a function or structure of a living organism caused after birth by disease, injury, accident, deliberate modification, variation, repeated use, disuse, misuse, or other environmental influence
Charles Darwin
Englishnaturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. His proposition that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors is now widely accepted, and considered a foundational concept in science
Natural selection
a mechanism of evolution. Organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success
paradigm shift
a major change in the worldview, concepts, and practices of how something works or is accomplished
DNA polymerases
enzymes that create DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA
Mutations
Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell
base sequence
The order of nucleotide bases in a DNA or RNA molecule
gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child
Benign (silent) mutation
a change in the DNA sequence that does not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein produced
Harmful mutation
variations in an organism’s genetic code that cause harmful changes in gene expression
Beneficial mutation
variations in an organism’s genetic code that increase the fitness, survival, and competitive advantage of species
Coronavirus variants
13 different variations of the coronvirus that appeared due to mutations
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the respiratory illness responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic
D614G mutation
an amino acid change in the virus’s spike protein, D614G, emerged early during the pandemic that increase the ability for COVID-19 to infect cells
Artificial selection
the identification by humans of desirable traits in plants and animals, and the steps taken to enhance and perpetuate those traits in future generations
selective breeding
choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics
teosinte
a group of primarily outcrossing species in the genus Zeaendemic to a region stretching from northern Mexico to Central America
Wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
a plant species from family Brassicaceae that includes many common cultivars used as vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
Modern broiler
any chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that is bred and raised specifically for meat production
Red Jungle Fowl
a species of tropical, predominantly terrestrial bird in the fowl and pheasant family, Phasianidae, found across much of Southeast and parts of South Asia
Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
found in association with humans worldwide and in a wide variety of habitats
gray wolves (Canis lupus)
the largest wild members of Canidae, or dog family
Divergent evolution
the process by which two or more related species become increasingly different over time, often due to different environmental pressures or adaptations
Homologous structures
anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, even though they may serve different functions
Molecule sequence
the specific order of nucleotides in DNA or RNA, or amino acids in proteins, which carry the genetic information necessary for the functioning and development of organisms
Metabolic reactions
a chemical process in living systems that transforms molecules to make them more chemically stable, permeable, polar, and less toxic
Embryotic development
The growth and formation of the embryo; the course of development that occurs during the time period beginning with the fertilization of the ovum and ending when the developing animal can no longer be considered an embryo, the criteria for which may vary widely and arbitrarily depending on species
Vestigial structures
features of an organism that are considered to have lost much or all of their original function through evolution
Anatomical structures
a specific, identifiable part of an organism’s body, whether human or animal
Pentadactyl limb
any limb that has five digits(e.g. five fingers or toes) Pentadactyl limbs are present in many species from many groups of organisms, including mammals, reptiles and amphibians
tetrapod
vertebrates that have four limbs (2 arms and 2 legs)
ungulates
a hoofed typically herbivorous quadruped mammal(such as a pig, cow, deer, horse, elephant, or rhinoceros)
Convergent evolution
the process whereby distantly related organisms independently evolve similar traits to adapt to similar necessities
Analogous structures
features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature
Tendrils
a specialized stem, leaf orpetiolewith a threadlike shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment, as well as cellular invasion byparasitic plantssuch as Cuscuta
Speciation
the process, through evolution, that produces a new species of animal
gene flow
the introduction of genetic material (by interbreeding) from one population of a species to another, thereby changing the composition of the gene pool of the receiving population
Directional selection
the change in a phenotype or genotype of a population in one direction away from the mean (average) in a particular environment over time
extinction events
a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. Such an event is identified by a sharp fall in the diversity and abundance of multicellular organisms
Reproductive isolation
a set of barriers that exist between different species that make them unable to breed and produce healthy offspring
isolation mechanisms
The reproductive characteristics which prevent species from fusing
Geographic isolation
the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers
Behavioral isolation
when species arereproductively isolatedfrom others due to differences in behavior
Temporal isolation
a reproductive barrier which prevents interbreeding between distinct but closely related species due to differences in the timing of mating receptivity, activity, or fertility
Mechanical isolation
a physical incompatibility between reproductive organs of two organisms
Chimpanzees
a species of great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa.
Bonobos
an African ape that’s slightly smaller than a chimpanzee. Known for being timid and peaceful, bonobo groups are also matriarchal, led by females
differential selection
application of different selection pressure on related but separated popualtions due todifference in their environments
