Biology Topic 4 Natural Seletion and Genetic Modification Flashcards
Def Genetic Variation
When the characteristics of individuals varies due to differences in genes
Def Environment Change
When lack of resources (less food) leads to more competition between organisms
Def Natural Selection
By chance variations make some individuals better at coping in the environment (survival of the fittest) and survive better than others
Def Inheritance
They survive better and pass on better adapted variations to offspring so more individual have it
Def Evolution
If environmental change remains, natural selection occurs over and over again and new species evolve
How to work out the age of stone tools
Scientist can work out the age by looking at the amount of radiation in the rock layer above and below it
How stone tools relate to skull volume
Older tools = more simple
Newer tool = more sophisticated
The increasing complexity of tools suggests that humans evolved to become more intelligent
Also the skull volume of humans increases as they evolved
Def Common Ancestors
If two animals have evolved from the same species they have a common ancestor
Antibiotic resistant bacteria
Ending the antibiotic early causes the high resistant bacteria to survive and reproduce. Now the bacteria will be resistant and the antibiotic wonβt work
Rats resistant to warfarin
At first most rats died. Then after 10 years most rats were resistant. Due to genetic variation some rats were resistant. Warfarin killed the non resistant rats the the resistant ones survive and reproduce
Def Artificial Selection
When humans choose certain organisms that have useful characteristics
Def Selective Breeding
Breeding organisms with useful characteristics over and over again. This makes an new species with the useful characteristics
Reasons for selective breeding
- disease resistant
- yield
- coping with certain environmental conditions
- faster growth
- flavour
Def Genetic Engineering
Changing DNA often by inserting genes from another organism. Creates GMO with useful characteristics. Faster than artificial selection but more expensive
Selective breeding risks
- only certain alleles are selected so others become rare or disappear. They could be useful in the future but arenβt available
- All organisms are similar so a change in condition would affect all organisms
- Animal welfare e.g. chicken with so much breast meat they canβt stand