classification and evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

why do we classify (state 4 reasons)

A
  • for convenience
  • to make the study of living things more manageable
  • to make it easier to identify organisms
  • to help us see the relationship, between species.
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2
Q

what are the problems, with using observable features, to classify

A
  • insects and birds, both have wings but are not closely related
  • some features of an organism are not observable
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3
Q

outline the other possible approaches to classification

A
  • behaviour
  • physiology
  • cellular structure
  • molecular analysis
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4
Q

define taxonomy

A
  • the study of the principals, behind classification
  • involves naming organisms and organising them into groups, based on characteristics and differences.
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5
Q

who was Carl Linnaeus

A

the first scientist, to formally do taxonomy.

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6
Q

what is a domain

A
  • the highest taxonomic rank
  • split into 3
  • Archaea, bacteria and eukaryote
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7
Q

what is a kingdom

A
  • 5 traditionally
  • plantae, animalia, fungi, Protoctista and prokaryote
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8
Q

what is phylum

A

a major sub division, of a kingdom, that have the same body plan, e.g. the possession of a back bone

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9
Q

what is class

A

a group of organisms, that posses the same general traits, i.e. the same number of legs

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10
Q

what is order

A

a subdivision, of class, which needs additional information i.e. eat eating

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11
Q

what family

A

a group of closely related species

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12
Q

what is species

A

basic unit classification

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13
Q

at which taxon level, does the greatest difference exist

A

domain

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14
Q

at which taxon level do we need the greatest amount of information to classify

A

species

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15
Q

what is the biological definition of a species

A

a group of organism’s, that can freely interbreed to produce fertile offspring

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16
Q

what is the definition of phylogeny

A

the study of how closely related different species, it is the study of the evolutionary relationships, between organisms

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17
Q

what is the phylogenetic definition of a species

A
  • a species, is a set of individuals, which have the same evolutionary, lineage, where two lines diverge, sufficiently they are called separate species.
  • (textbook definition - a group of individual organisms that are very similar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics.
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18
Q

what is cytochrome c

A

a protein that is used in respiration

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19
Q

name 3 examples, of Protoctista

A
  • chlorella
  • amoeba
  • plasmodium
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20
Q

given a common feature of organisms in the animal kingdom

A

A heterotroph is an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients.

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21
Q

what is mycelium

A

a thread like structure, made up of hyphae

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22
Q

what is the circular loop of DNA found in bacteria called

A

plasmids

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23
Q

why have we been able to improve the way we group species

A
  • new data
  • new technology
  • peer review
  • evaluation of ideas / theories/ reclassification
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24
Q

what is molecular phylogeny

A

looks at DNA molecules, and proteins, to see how closely related organisms are.

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25
Q

what do phylogenetic trees shows us?

A

it shows us, the evolutionary relationship, between organisms based on molecular differences as a result of mutations accumulated over time

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26
Q

what is the change in a sequence of bases called

A

a mutation

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27
Q

how can we use DNA to classify

A
  • by using PCR and Electrophoresis to compare DNA fingerprints
  • to see how similar or different two organisms are.
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28
Q

what is Electrophoresis

A

Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA fragments according to their size. DNA samples

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29
Q

what is PCR

A

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a common molecular biology technique used in most applications of gene technology, for example, DNA profiling (eg. identification of criminals and determining paternity) or genetic engineering. It can be described as the in vitro method of DNA amplification.

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30
Q

who came up with the idea, of the three domain classification system

A

Woese

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31
Q

what are the key differences, between the Bacteria and Archaea, that suggest that they should be classified as different domains?

A
  • differing enzymes, to cope with extreme environments (extremophiles)
  • differing mechanisms, for DNA replication and RNA building
  • differing cell membrane
  • differing cell wall
  • differing flagella
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32
Q

what similarities, between the Eukarya and Archaea domains suggest that they have a more recent common ancestor, compared to Archaea and Bacteria

A
  • more similar enzymes
  • similar mechanisms, for DNA replication and RNA building
  • similar Proteins, associated with DNA.
33
Q

what is meant by convergent evolution

A

where two organisms show similar adaptations, but are classified in different taxonomic groups.

34
Q

how does convergent evolution by observable features, prove to be more difficult

A

due to the organism, having very similar adaptions, which may make it difficult, for scientist to make clear classifications, between the two species, just by observable features.

35
Q

why is it essential, to use molecules, such as DNA and cytochrome C when looking at evidence for classification

A

allows for very specific comparison, to see if there is differences, in the coding/ build up of the genetic material, that makes up the molecules

36
Q

what is monophyletic

A

in the same phylogenetic group (from the same ancestor)

37
Q

what is evolutionary distance

A

when looking at an evolutionary tree, a greater evolutionary distance, means that the species diverged longer ago

38
Q

what is an evolutionary tree

A

a diagrammatic representation, of evolutionary relationships

39
Q

what is cladistics

A

members, of a group, that share unique features, and they must share a common evolutionary history be closely related

40
Q

what does extant mean

A

still living

41
Q

what is variation

A

the presence, of differences between individuals

42
Q

how do identical twins form

A

1 cell divides into 2

43
Q

are identical twins exactly the same? why?

A

no, original DNA identical, but cell division post may introduce mutations, environmental factors.

44
Q

what is variation between species know as

A

interspecific

45
Q

what is continuous variation

A

two extremes, and a full range of intermediate values. ( most individuals, are close the mean (normal distribution)

46
Q

what is discontinuous variation

A

two or more distinct categories where there are no intermediate values. (regulated by 1 gene and not influence, by the environment

47
Q

what is variation caused by

A
  • genetic
  • environmental
48
Q

what are some examples, of continuous variation

A
  • height
  • leaf length
  • toadstool stalk length
  • number of flagella
49
Q

what sort of graph, would you use to show discontinuous variation

A

a bar graph

50
Q

what sort of graph, would you use to show continuous variation

A

a histogram

51
Q

explain why discontinuous variation, is often caused by just one gene

A

presence of different alleles, can produce the difference between characteristics, or decide, whether the characteristic is present or absent

52
Q

explain, why skin colour is a continuously variable feature

A
  • due to their being a large range of possible skin colours, however some tones of skin colour, will be much more common than others
53
Q

what are the 3 ways, of calculating an average

A
  • median
  • mode
  • mean
54
Q

what is range (maths context)

A

a measure, of how spread out you data is.

55
Q

what is standard deviation

A

standard deviation, is a quantative measure, that looks at the spread of data about the mean

56
Q

what does a large standard deviation tells us?

A

that there is lots of variation within a data set

57
Q

what does a small standard deviation tells us?

A

that there is little variation within a data set

58
Q

what is an adaptation

A

a characteristic, that enhances survival, in a habitat

59
Q

what is a behavioural adaption

A

an aspect, of the behaviour of an organism, that increases it’s chance of survival

60
Q

what is a physiological adaption

A
  • an adaptation, that ensures the correct functioning of cell process
  • e.g. hibernation, produce poison
61
Q

what is anatomical adaptation

A
  • a structure that enhances survival
  • e.g. streamlined for water movement
62
Q

what is convergent evolution

A
  • adaptions, are selected for by the environment
  • therefore, two unrelated species living in similar habitats, can evolve similar adaptions.
63
Q

what is a genotype

A

the genetic makeup of an organism

64
Q

what is a phenotype

A

an individuals observable traits (physical characteristics)

65
Q

what is a mutation

A

a change in the DNA sequence of an organism

66
Q

what is variation

A

differences between individuals

67
Q

what is selection pressure

A

an evolutionary force, that causes a particular phenotype to be more favourable in certain environmental conditions.

68
Q

what is natural selection

A

the selection by the environment, of particular individuals, that show certain variations

69
Q

what were the 4 observations that Darwin made

A
  • overproduction of offspring
  • struggle for survival
  • offspring, are generally similar to their parents
  • variation exists
70
Q

what is speciation

A

the formation of a new species, from a pre - existing species, that can no longer inter breed to produce a fertile offspring.

71
Q

list 3 biotic factors

A
  • food availability
  • predator
  • diseases
72
Q

list 2 abiotic factors

A
  • physical factors i.e. temperature
  • chemical factors
73
Q

how has pesticide resistance developed

A
  • pesticides, create a strong selection pressure.
  • those, with mutation, for resistance will survive and reproduce.
  • the whole population, can very quickly become resistant.
74
Q

why is pesticide resistance a problem, for the human population

A
  • higher concentration of pesticides, need to be applied
  • resistant individuals, do not die and instead are eaten by consumers, pesticides, can then pass through the food chain and accumulate (bioaccumulation)
  • new pesticides are costly
  • resistance, causes reduction in crop yields and increased disease transmission.
75
Q

what are fossils

A

animal and plant remains, preserved in rocks

76
Q

what do they show

A

anatomical features and can help to show relationships and age of species

77
Q

how can fossils be used as evidence for evolution

A
  • modern species, were often more complex
  • similarities, between closely related species.
  • different bands of rock, help age fossils - oldest further down
  • organism, have changed over time.
78
Q

what are the issues with using fossils

A
  • not complete record
  • conditions, need for fossilisation, no always present
  • organisms bodies decompose quickly
  • many fossils, destroyed or lie undiscovered.