Classification and Evolution

Question 1

Why do we classify organisms?

Answer 1

To identify species and avoid confusion

To predict characteristics

To find evolutionary links

Question 2

Define classification?

Answer 2

Classification is known as the grouping of organisms

Question 3

What is taxonomy?

Answer 3

A form of classification that focuses on similarities between different species for easy of naming and identification

Question 4

What is phylogeny?

Answer 4

A way of classifying organisms to show the evolutionary relationships between them so that every group shows a common ancestor

Question 5

What is artificial classification?

Answer 5

When organisms are divided according to similarities and differences eg. Colour, size

Question 6

What is natural classification?

Answer 6

Divided based upon evolutionary relationships between organisms and their ancestors.

Question 7

What is the order of classification?

Answer 7

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 8

What is binomial naming?

Answer 8

The Latin naming of organisms using their genus and species

Question 9

What does the first part of binomial naming include?

Answer 9

The first part indicates the genus which starts with a capital letter

Question 10

What is the second part of binominal naming?

Answer 10

The second part indicated the species which starts with a lower case letter

Question 11

Why is binomial naming still used?

Answer 11

It is in latin. Which is a universal language all scientists can understand. This prevents confusion caused by using common names.

Question 12

What is molecular systematics?

Answer 12

Molecular systematics uses molecules such as DNA, RNA and protein amino acids to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Question 13

What are the 3 domains?

Answer 13

Eukarya
Archaea
Bacteria

Question 14

What are eubacteria?

Answer 14

Found in all environments - bacteria you’re familiar with

Question 15

What are Archaebacteria

Answer 15

Ancient bacteria, can live in extreme environments eg. Hot vents, anaerobic conditions and highly acidic environments

Question 16

What is the evidence for evolution?

Answer 16

Palaeontology
Comparative anatomy
Comparative biochemistry

Question 17

Features of Fungi

Answer 17

Eukaryotic
Can exist as single cells or they have a mycelium that consists of hyphae
Walls made of chitin
Cytoplasm that is multinucleate
Mostly free-living and sacrophytic

Question 18

Features of animalia

Answer 18

Eukaryotic
Multicellular
Heterotrophic
Usually able to move around

Question 19

Features of plantae

Answer 19

Eukaryotic
Multicellular
Cells surrounded by cellulose wall
Autotrophic
Contain chlorophyll

Question 20

Feature of prokaryotae

Answer 20

No nucleus; loop off DNA
Naked DNA (no histones)
No membrane bound organelles
Smaller ribosomes
May be free living or parasitic

Question 21

Features of protoctista

Answer 21

Eukaryotic
Mostly single celled
Show a wide variety of forms
Mostly free living
Autotrophic or heterotrophic nutrition

Question 22

What are adaptations?

Answer 22

The ability of living organisms to adjust themselves to better fit their surroundings

Question 23

What are the three types of adaptation?

Answer 23

Anatomical
Behavioural
Physiological

Question 24

What do physical adaptations affect?

Answer 24

Physical structures/features (internal and external)

Question 25

What do behavioural adaptations affect?

Answer 25

The way an organism acts. These can be inherited or learnt

Question 26

What do physiological adaptations affect?

Answer 26

Processes that take place inside the organism (biochemical)

Question 27

Examples of anatomical adaptation

Answer 27

Communication
Camouflage
Body covering eg. Fur

Question 28

Examples of physiological (biochemical) adaptations

Answer 28

Antibiotic resistance
Hibernation
Respiration

Question 29

Examples of behavioural adaptations

Answer 29

Communication
Locomotion (response to a stimulus)
Responding to seasonal change

Question 30

What conditions are needed for evolution to take place?

Answer 30

•Variation - there must be differences within the population

•Heredity - the differences between organisms must be heritable

•Means of selection

Question 31

What is pre-adaptation?

Answer 31

When an organism can rapidly develop resistance for a new situation due to pre-existing resistance to a similar situation

Question 32

How does antibiotic resistance occur?

Answer 32

When you take antibiotics most bacteria are killed. However due to mutations it is possible some bacteria survive. The resistant bacteria survive and reproduce passing on the alleles that provide resistance to the antibiotic.

Question 33

What is INTERSPECIFIC variation?

Answer 33

Variation that exists BETWEEN different species

Question 34

What is INTRASPECIFIC variation?

Answer 34

Variation that exists WITHIN a species

Question 35

What is continuous variation?

Answer 35

Where there are two extremes and a full range of intermediate values between those extremes

Question 36

What are examples of continuous variation?

Answer 36

Height in humans
Length of leaves on an oak tree

Question 37

What is discontinuous variation?

Answer 37

Where there are two or more distinct categories with no intermediate values. (Basically One or the other)

Eg. Blood type, presence or absence of flagella in bacteria

Question 38

What causes genetic variation?

Answer 38

Genetic differences and/or environmental influences.

Genetic differences are due to the different genes individuals have

Question 39

How does an environment create variation?

Answer 39

Through tattoos, piercings, dying hair, nutrition etc.

Question 40

How to find uncertainty?

Answer 40

% error = uncertainty/reading X100