Classification and Evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

What is biological classification?

A

The process of placing living things into groups based on their characteristics/genes.

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2
Q

What are the benefits of classification? (3)

A

Predict characteristics.
Find evolutionary relationships.
Enable international recognition of organisms (common names lack precision).

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3
Q

What is phylogeny?

A

The study of the evolutionary relationships between organisms.
(the basis of classification)

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4
Q

What is taxonomy?

A

The practice and science of classification.

the grouping of organisms based on their evolutionary features into groups called taxa

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5
Q

What are the 8 taxa?

A
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
(dear king please can our friends go swimming)
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6
Q

What is the binomial naming system?

A

Underline when handwriting (italic when typed).
First the genus of the species using a capital.
Then the species name all lower case.

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7
Q

What are the 3 domains? What size ribosomes do they have?

A

Bacteria (70s ribosomes)
Eukarya (80s ribosomes)
Archaea (70s ribosomes)

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8
Q

What are the five kingdoms? (old system)

A
Prokaryotae     (Bacteria)
Protoctista        (Eukarya)
Plantae             (Eukarya)
Animalia           (Eukarya)
Fungi                (Eukarya)
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9
Q

What is a species?

A

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

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10
Q

What is modern evidence used in classification? (7)

A

DNA evidence
Haemoglobin/Cytochrome C polypeptide structure
rRNA nucleotide sequence
Cell membrane structure
Antibiotic sensitivity
Embryological evidence (developmental biology)
Fossil records (evolution)

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11
Q

How is the the protein Cytochrome C used in classification?

A

Protein used in respiration found in all living things.
There is variation in the amino acid sequence of this protein amongst different organisms. More differences suggesting the organisms are less closely related.

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12
Q

What is evolution?

A

Change in the genetic composition (allele frequency) of a population over many successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, which can result in the development of new species.

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13
Q

What is intraspecific variation?

A

Variation within a species, can be:
Genetic
Environmental

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14
Q

What is interspecific variation?

A

Variation between different species.

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15
Q

What is an organisms phenotype?

A

Observable physical or biochemical characteristics.

Genotype + environmental factors

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16
Q

What are the causes of genetic variation amongst individuals?

A
Random mutation (different alleles for the same gene).
Meiosis (independent assortment and crossing over).
Sexual reproduction (reduction and fusion of gametes).
17
Q

What are the causes of environmental variation?

A

Abiotic factors such as nutrient availability.
Competition
Predation/herbivory

18
Q

What is discontinuous variation?

A

Variation with two or more discrete categories of variation and no intermediate forms, usually unaffected by the environment.
e.g: sex, blood group, bacteria shape

19
Q

What is continuous variation?

A

Variation where there is a gradation between two extremes, usually described by a normal distribution, usually influenced by environmental factors.
e.g: height, skin colour

20
Q

How many genes usually control discontinuous/continuous variation?

A

Discontinuous - often a single gene.

Continuous - a number of genes (polygenes)

21
Q

What are the three types of adaptation?

A

Anatomical (external and internal physical features).
Behavioural (inherited or learned from parent).
Physiological (processes which occur inside an organism).

22
Q

What are some examples of anatomical adaptations?

A

Body covering, teeth, camouflage, mimicry

23
Q

What are some examples of behavioural adaptations?

A

Survival behaviours.
Courtship.
Seasonal behaviours such as migration or hibernation.

24
Q

What are some examples of physiological adaptations?

A

Poison production, antibiotic production, water holding.

25
Q

What is natural selection?

A

Individuals with better characteristics have a selective advantage and are more likely to survive to reproductive age.
Their genes/alleles are then passed on to the next generation.
Advantageous characteristics become more common over many successive generations.

26
Q

What are the requirements for evolution?

A

Pre-existing genetic variation (due to random mutation)
Selection pressure
Reproductive success/failure, and time (many generations)

27
Q

What is divergent evolution?

A

The process by which an interbreeding population or species diverges into two or more descendant species, resulting in once similar species to become more and more dissimilar.

28
Q

What is some evidence of divergent evolution?

A

The pentadactyl limb, an example of a homologous structure.

29
Q

What is convergent evolution?

A

The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages, giving rise to analogous structures.

30
Q

What are analogous structures?

A

Structures that have a similar form or function, but that were not present in the last common ancestor of these groups.

31
Q

What are some examples of analogous structures (evidence for convergent evolution)?

A

Bat and bird wings.
Similarities between marsupials and placental mammals. (definitely no recent common ancestor due to different reproductive methods)

32
Q

How is MRSA an example of modern day evolution?

A

Evolved resistance to many antibiotics due to repeated exposure.

33
Q

How are peppered moths an example of modern day evolution?

A

Industrial revolution caused buildings/trees to blacken with soot, causing the moths to evolve from white to black for camouflage.

34
Q

How should you answer a question about why a characteristic has increased in the population?

A

Identify the adaptation.
Explain how it helps the organism survive and reproduce.
Describe how alleles coding for the adaptation are passed on to the next generation.
State how this increases allele frequency in the population.

35
Q

What is the name for when a characteristic is controlled by two or more genes?

A

Polygenic inheritance

36
Q

Who co-published the theory of evolution by natural selection?

A

Darwin and Wallace

37
Q

What are some examples of how recent evolution has directly impacted humanity?

A

Drug resistance in microorganisms such as MRSA.

Evolution of pesticide resistance in insects.